Israel v. Lebanon... over soon?

At least one more week.

This is the implicit word that Israel seems to be receiving from the rest of the world. Keep the bombing up - no matter who you are killing - and we'll get back to you with further "advice." It doesn't even bother anyone that Israel may well be borrowing a page from the PLO's playbook, using terror to force international intervention.

Lebanon's government was viewed as weak. They were unable to control Hezbollah through political means, and military means (~50% of the military are Shia) proved innefective. Is viciously, indiscriminately bombing the country to smithereens supposed to help it be strong? I fail to see any logic in this argument.

How does a man in a plane - or someone monitoring a drone - identify which vehicles are civilian and which are not? Many Lebanese people who are fleeing are being missiled to death/injury by Israeli aircraft as they are leaving. Then the Lebanese Red Cross gets attacked by Israelis. Are the Israelis supposed to be able to see white flags or red crosses from their planes? Why were people instructed to do something that does them no good?

Hezbollah has authorized the Lebanese government to broker a deal with Israel for a prisoner exchange on its behalf. Israel says it will not make a deal that does not involve the disempowerment of Hezbollah.

They really don't understand diplomacy, do they? Absolutes are anathema to compromise. Look at how positions that are considered non-negotiable disable any compromise other than "my way, the highway, or I'll whine endlessly if I can't get my way and you won't let me have it." See abortion and gay marriage for examples of how absolutism gets no one anywhere.

-R.