Robert Fisk and Andrew Buncombe

Thank you Kel. As usual, on top of things, if not because of your continued attention, than the fact that you're at least 8 hrs ahead of me. Two worthwile articles to ponder over with the apparent ceasefire that, on all accounts, is set to be doomed to failure. First, Robert Fisk's "As the 6am ceasefire takes effect... the real war begins". :

The real war in Lebanon begins today. The world may believe - and Israel may believe - that the UN ceasefire due to come into effect at 6am today will mark the beginning of the end of the latest dirty war in Lebanon after up to 1,000 Lebanese civilians and more than 30 Israeli civilians have been killed. But the reality is quite different and will suffer no such self-delusion: the Israeli army, reeling under the Hizbollah's onslaught of the past 24 hours, is now facing the harshest guerrilla war in its history. And it is a war they may well lose.

This will become a quagmire and hopefully, sane voices,
no, wisevoices will prevail. If only we (US) had a moderate government in place because this one would love to get their hands on Iran, and Israel, is the perfect proxy pansy to do the job. Who needs friends like this? Israel needs to become independent from the US because 'it' should realize, that its existence is merely seen as a political and military tool in order to control the Middle East. Are Israeli lives worth that? Strip away the religious and emotional rhetoric, what it all boils down when you peel away the layers of the onion, it's about resources, resources, resources.
Now Andrew Buncombe's "Bush 'viewed war in Lebanon as a curtain-raiser for attack on Iran' " :

The report by Seymour Hersh quotes an unidentified US government consultant with close ties to the Israelis who says: "The Israelis told us it would be a cheap war with many benefits. Why oppose it? We'll be able to hunt down and bomb missiles, tunnels, and bunkers from the air. It would be a demo for Iran."

A former intelligence officer, also quoted, says: "We told Israel,'Look, if you guys have to go, we're behind you all the way. But we think it should be sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the less time we have to evaluate and plan for Iran before Bush gets out of office'."

Even the San Fransisco Chronicle had this to say;

"Israel's military response by air, land and sea to what it considered a provocation last week by Hizbollah militants was unfolding according to a plan finalised more than a year ago". The report said that a senior Israeli army officer had been briefing diplomats, journalists and think-tanks for more than a year about the plan and it quoted Gerald Steinberg, professor of political science at [Israel's] Bar-Ilan University, who said: "Of all of Israel's wars since 1948, this was the one for which Israel was most prepared."

Israelis ought to have their leaders' head on a plate! This was a huge miscalculation and with these American and Israeli leaderships in place, hopefully a future regional war which could lead to a world war, will be prevented. This is the time to be vigilant as a people. This is the time to cut through the chase, and watch for rhetoric as no doubt, they're going to find a way again. Lord help us all.