Plus, the US and/or Israel could intervene at "crunch time" via air power, changing the course of a civil war, without setting foot in the country.
Agree.
Very true, if Bush does't loose heart-soul then we very well could defeat hizzbollah with a strange but effective co-alition: (US); Israel; Pro Gov Lebanese Armed Forces; Sunni, and Christians/Druze vs. Hizzbollah, Shia, Iran, Syria! We would smoke them!
The Israeli Ambassador to the UN said the following at the Security Council on Jul 19, 2006:
Mr. President, with your permission I would like to make a personal appeal to my esteemed Lebanese colleague.
Your Excellency, you know deep down that if you could you would add your own brave voice to those voices of your brave compatriots and colleagues. You know deep in your heart that if you could you would be sitting here right next to me right now because you know that we are doing the right thing, and that if we succeed, Lebanon will be the beneficiary. And I believe that most members around this table, as well as many in this chamber, including our neighbors, realize this reality.
Mr. President, this council and the international community have a duty today to help the Lebanese people achieve the goal of a free, prosperous, democratic Lebanon. The sad and tormented life of this war-torn land has today entered another sad chapter in its history. It is up to every one of us to help right this chapter to ensure that this opportunity is seized not only for the benefit of the Lebanese and Israeli people, but for the sake of generations to come.
Labanon's salvation would have been an Israeli victory over Hezbollah.
The Lebanese Government sided with Hezbollah and welcomed the cease fire that will be their end.
The US/Rice did just the wrong thing if the aim was to preserve the current Lebanese Government. If the desire was to further Islamic terrorist aims, the cease fire was perfect.