An emergency summit is being convened by various Arab nations, all of whom are arrayed against Iran and Syria, who are Hezbollah's controllers. Things are not looking good for Lebanon...
Didn't they say on the news that the Lebanon army interfered only at the last minute and now the city is under their control? So who are they with? The govt, or hezbollah? Look for Israel to get involved again if things start to get worse. (can't blame them either)
I don't think Israel wants to get involved in Lebanon unless Hezbollah starts or escalates attacks against Israel from Lebanese soil.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ May 10 2008, 11:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Didn't they say on the news that the Lebanon army interfered only at the last minute and now the city is under their control? So who are they with? The govt, or hezbollah? Look for Israel to get involved again if things start to get worse. (can't blame them either)</div> The military took the position that they didn't want a division within their ranks, much like the one that happened during Lebanon's 1970s civil war - but their inability to do much probably played a significant role as well. Israel is watching carefully, as are every Arab nation. At some point, Israel will probably have to do something - for which it will be condemned etc. Last year's half-assed incursion looks stupider and stupider...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ May 10 2008, 11:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think Israel wants to get involved in Lebanon unless Hezbollah starts or escalates attacks against Israel from Lebanese soil.</div> Unless - or until?
Their government is so weak that it probably wouldn't make sense for the US to intervene militarily. On the other hand, the US has used Israel to further mutual aims in Lebanon before... This could actually provide an excellent opportunity for the US though. OPEC has been 'punishing' the US by raising gas prices, as recent US actions in the Middle East have not been to their liking. However, an Iranian power play is something that seriously worries the Gulf States that comprise OPEC's core - to the extent that they've even said they'd be under Israel's nuclear umbrella than bowing down to Iran. So, the US has a bit more of a countermeasure than before. The key now is whether that will actually get utilized properly as leverage, or if the OPEC-paid senior staffers in State etc. continue to pass such chances up.
