We are presently witnessing in Lebanon, the third humanitarian disaster in which President Bush has had a direct or indirect hand. In Iraq over 50,000 are dead and dying thanks to President Bush's decision to invade and occupy it without the number of troops necessary to secure the country.

In New Orleans, the administration's incompetent preparation and slow response exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. And now, hundreds of innocent people are dying in a war in Lebanon that could be stopped by the international community if it was not handcuffed by the US. President Bush is determined to allow Israel enough time to devastate Lebanon while it seeks to destroy Hezbollah. We may recall that Israel failed to undermine a much weaker Hezbollah even after 18 years of warfare and occupation of southern Lebanon [1982-2000]. Why do we expect success now?

The US has so far achieved only two things in the two weeks since the conflict in Lebanon began, indeed in the month since the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier prompted Israel to unleash its ruthless war machine.

One, it has acted to ensure that no effort by the international community would succeed in stopping the mayhem in Lebanon. Three times the US has subverted the processes of peace, at the UN, at the G-8 summit and at the Rome conference, where it was apparent that if it was not for Tony "the poodle" Blair, the US would have been completely isolated from the rest of the humanity on this issue.

Two, even during the conflict, instead of working towards peace, we are arming one side with rockets and big powerful bombs which, in the words of the Lebanese Prime Minister, are "cutting his country to pieces." We are even smuggling these weapons through Britain, somewhat like Iran, smuggling weapons to Hezbollah via Syria. (Unlike Syria however, Britain is protesting.)

The administration claims that the Rome conference helped build a consensus for an international force to prevent future crisis. For those of us who are familiar with the history of the conflict, we know that it was only because of Israeli and American opposition that there is no real international force already in the area capable of policing the borders and keeping all parties peaceful. What Secretary Rice means by consensus is that finally the US has agreed with the rest of the world on one issue involving Israel.

This strategy of American foreign policy to arm, encourage and support extended and open-ended Israeli military action, I am convinced, will fail miserably in realizing its goals. By the time the Israelis finish in Lebanon, it will be a pile of debris with perhaps nearly a thousand innocent civilians dead and over a million homeless and displaced. All other major US goals in the region ᠤmocracy promotion, support for moderates, winning hearts and minds, undermining support for radicalism ű7ll also be buried under the debris.

Hezbollah fighters would have been dispersed all over the region, and will be regrouping to fight another day with more men, more support [thanks to elevated levels of anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments across the Middle East], and perhaps more deadlier weapons. They will also be more confident and experienced after their current showing. From their performance it is apparent that they are the best fighting force the Arabs have produced in a long time. (Perhaps they will conquer Saudi Arabia and Jordan just for fun, while they regroup.) The two monarchies probably fear something of that nature and are therefore huddling so closely with the US since this fight began.

I see no light at the end of the tunnel except wishful thinking that Hezbollah will be destroyed and the rest of the world will send their soldiers to defend Israel. It is like the neocon pipe dream of Americans being received as liberators by Iraqis. After seeing the current form of Hezbollah, I will be surprised if any country will volunteer its forces. If President Bush decides to send our troops, the party will move from Iraq to Lebanon. For al Qaida and the jihadis, it will be like a 'buy one get one free deal' [US and Israel together in the same fight].

The US will not talk with Syria or Iran because they are "part of the problem". From the steps taken so far, it is not clear to me if the US foreign policy is really a part of the solution.

Remember: the last time when Israel raped Lebanon, Hezbollah was born. It is scary to imagine what the current molestation will yield. American foreign policy is in wrong hands and is heading in the wrong direction. It is not in the interest of global peace, not good for America's many interests in the Middle East and will not make Israel safer.

What is true for Spiderman is also true for the US ɱ7th great power comes great responsibility. As the sole superpower it is the US' responsibility to maintain the global order and nurture the international system, not become a destabilizing force. American foreign policy is in a way a global public good and by acting in a highly partisan and short sighted fashion in the current Arab-Israeli conflict we are abdicating our status as a global leader.

Fairly well done.

>What is true for Spiderman is also true for the US ñ with great power comes great responsibility.<

Ugh.....oh no you didnt. Spidey only learnt his lesson after Uncle Ben died.......

>> I see no light at the end of the tunnel except wishful thinking that Hezbollah will be destroyed and the rest of the world will send their soldiers to defend Israel.

Allah is with those who fight for justice. Wanting Hezbollah to dissolve is different from wanting it to grow and transform. Were we as muslims to want to Hezbullah to disappear .. would be like wanting the only real social movements that the palestinians can manage to disappear. This would leave them even more ravaged as a nation. The growth of hezbullah from just rebels into a mobilised political body with clout .. thats exactly what was happening.

Don't knock these men whose lives are spent fighting the IDF and under constant harrasment and threat of death. Their choice is not the easy one. While IDF soldiers get to go home after serving and get education, housing subsidies and a life of general ease in Israel .. the members of Hezbollah are being warred on every single day of their life.

Indeed it is Hezbullah who are the spidermen of the middle east and thinking that they're all radical crazies is just as well labelling spiderman a vigilante .. America and Israel are green goblin and red goblin ... (comic book metaphors .. I feel guilty for taking advantage)

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