Ceasefire Holding, But To What End?

The ceasefire is said to be holding, to what good end, I have no idea. Olmert can't be serious when he says he thinks the world will better understand Israel's plight. If that's what this is about, then Olmert is a fool.

Lebanon is balking at disarming Hezbollah. Big surprise.

Lebanese civilians are returning home, despite a travel ban. Now there's a recipe for disaster. They get back to find their homes leveled, meanwhile the IDF is still on the ground. How long before Hezbollah organizes spontaneous demonstrations and attacks?

The end game is still far from clear, but this whole thing is absurd.

Here's the latest war news from the Middle East: Pajamas Media, or read a few regional blogs. I like to check the JP headlines, as well.

Comments

[xxx]

Maybe you can now admit that Israel miscalculated.

They wanted a reason to go into Lebanon and take out Hezbollah, and Hezbollah furnished them with one when they kidnapped the soldiers, a Hezbollah miscalculation.

The Israelis thought they could destroy Hezbollah through air power, by bombing them. They didn't anticipate the network of bunkers, etc. that apparently was pretty extensive and pretty well put together. Hezbollah fought harder than they expected, which is pretty DUMB considering that Hezbollah's ferocity is one of the reaons they left Lebanon in the first place. Again, I say, when you start to believe your own PR when it comes to war you are on the road to destruction.

They also thought that the Lebanese would blame Hezbollah for the destruction, turn against them and their invasion would spur Lebanon to oust Hezbollah once and for all.

As I predicted, what we have now, a reasonable person would have to agree is pure crap for everyone.

Lebanon is a war zone again, infrastructure destroyed, civilians dead and homeless. Billions to come from where? France? Good fucking luck with that? to rebuild.

Hezbollah is weakened physically but still exists. Of course the UN won't disarm Hezbollah, geeze, the UN peacekeepers don't do anything pro active, not even protect civilians, did you forget they turned away Leb. civilains asking for shelter??

Hezbollah has more support within Lebanon now, not less, so it makes unlikely that Lebanon will take the steps necessary to remove them totally.

I hate to say I told you so, but we are looking at the exact same thing happening down the road...Hez will regroup, who knows, maybe next time they will get guides missles instead of glorified rockets, and soooner or later they will want to yank Israel's chain again.

Everyone loses really EXCEPT Hezbollah, which cannot be what Israel or the US had in mind.

[Phoenix]

Shit. I have that Barry McGuire song looping in my head: "Eve of Destruction"....