I'm so very dissapointed by the distance that the international community, particularly Europe, seems to be placing between themselves and the Lebanese issue. The greatest tragedy of the last few weeks of conflict will be if the international community fails to fix the issue of non-state actors within Lebanon for the second time. My feeling is that the best the UN will be able to muster is a half - assed peacekeeping force that will not disarm Hezbollah - once again they operate as a shield from behind which Hezbollah and their allies will regather and prepare for their next assault upon their sworn enemies. Only when Israel no longer exists will you see these parties pleased with the state of affairs within the Middle East.
Hezbollah has played a large sector of the Western media so scarily well that it makes me fear for the future of warfare. How does a terrorist organistation operating with the goal of inflicting maximum casualties upon Israeli civilians and actively abusing and using the Laws of Armed Conflict (Geneva and Hague conventions) come out looking like an oppressed legitimate political party in majority of the Western media? Time and time again the media has printed and screen Hezbollah propaganda of the worst kind - photo and video opportunities choreograhed by Hezbollah for the maximum effect. Damaging false stories and photos that affect public opinion, images that cannot be fixed with a retraction or trying to pass on the truth - negativity sells much better after all.
Only time will tell weather any action of significance is carried out by the UN or its peacekeeping force. Somehow I don't think the same reporters who heavily criticised Israel will be holding the Lebanese government or the UN to their responsibilites of disarming Hezbollah.
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