From Greg Palast's expose, Vultures' Picnic:
If you've forgotten, here is the gist: Jacob was scared shitless that his brutal brother Esau, like the meaty messenger of the MSN, would beat him to death.
The Green professor looked to the safety of our British diplomatic power to protect him from his fellow Azeri, just as Jacob begged God to "stay my brother's hand." God, as usual, was silent.
In the Bible story, darkness falls and Jacob is suddenly attacked by a demon, a dark angel. They struggle all night. As dawn comes, Jacob, unvanquished, won't let the attacker go—until the dark spirit, the dark angel of Jacob's own fear and guilt and complicity, agrees to bless him. This was the blessing: The Angel told Jacob he wouldn't be Jacob anymore. From now on, his name would be Israel, that is, "He who has wrestled with God." Then Israel/Jacob crossed the sea to the land of Edom, to confront his brother without fear.
