I'm not a big follower of events in the Middle-East, meaning Israel. I know that I am in awe of what the Israeli people have carved out of the deserts of the region, how they have managed to bring their country along as democracy in a region infested with ancient feudal governments and how they have managed to move on after the collective horrors inflicted on them in all the centuries leading to the Holocaust and the years of that genocide. As some might say; "It's all good", but now with their country being threatened again by some of the same people who can't seem to get over the reality of Israel, I have to wonder if the bombing of Lebanon is not crossing a line they might regret later.

Do the Israelis have right to defend themselves? Not even a question. Are they justified in bombing Beirut and other places because they suspect that Hezbollah forces occupy civilian areas? I'm not sure that falls into the scope of defensive action, as I understand it.

Military action to attempt to find and take out the rocket launchers in range of the border is an understandable and explainable objective. Strafing ambulances, and bombing apartment buildings in Beirut and destabilizing the government of a fledgling Democracy, well perhaps somewhat less supportable.

I also see the lack of involvement of the 1600 Crew until day 12 of the current crisis as being nothing short of accomdationist to the Israeli version of Six-shooter Diplomacy as practiced by Preznit Shower Boi. So is it any surprise that Condi the Would-be Dominatrix of Diplomacy is having a tough time inserting herself into the process this far down the road?

The United States and Britain opposed the push for a quick cease-fire, saying any truce should ensure that Hezbollah no longer is a threat to Israel and should ensure a durable peace.

Palestinian officials said after their private meeting with Rice that she presented nothing new on their dispute with Israel. Separately, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, whose Hamas party was not present at the session, said from what he heard about Rice's conversation with President Mahmoud Abbas, it "doesn't augur well" for a solution to the Middle East crisis.
...
"I have no doubt there are those who wish to strangle a democratic and sovereign Lebanon in its crib," Rice said. "We, of course, also urgently want to end the violence."

Somehow the reality of the use of terrorism as a political tactic, which can be countered long-term by political means as has been conveniently overlooked by those who seem to think that frontal assaults of military forces will win the day. It's evident that the macho nonsense of the Neo-cons and PNAC have again won the day in influencing policy from the Oval Office. I suspect that had the occupant of the Oval Office been anyone other than Shower Boi, the G8 meeting would have had a predominant subtext of beginning a peace process in the Middle East, and not one of making jokes about Chirac's gastronomical preferences and massage therapy for Angela Merkel.

It's a mess, and I have to suspect that even Daddy Bush is pissed that Junior is making as mess of it in a way that may become irreversible for a generation or more.