[libstripper]

For anyone who believes Israel and the US actually won a victory with this fiasco, this article gives a good idea of what's really going on.

[Brilliant]

Let this be a lesson for the American liberals.

[sgtbono2002]

There is only one way to fight a war, and that is to win with the least amount of damage to self.

Limited wars do not work.

If the supplies for the war are coming from another country , that country is fair game.

[goldstategop]

Prime Minister Olmert and the government should be forced to resign. And the top military brass needs to be retired. There must be a through house-cleaning of the Israeli government and the appropriate lessons must be learnt.

(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)

[veronica]

Well if true, perhaps it will lead to the emergence of a new Sharon, or a leader comparable to Sharon in his prime. But by the way, the US has fought the war in Iraq in a manner not unlike the timid fashion Israel is accused of doing in this war on Hezboallah. Who told me that? Someone close to the US military.

[veronica]

I won't win any fans here for saying this, but Condi Rice is the big problem. She's weak, and a woman like her gets ZERO RESPECT from the Arabs. The Sec. of State should be a military man in times of war. Just my opinion. I know Bush likes Condi personally but she doesn't have the resume for the job.

[B.O. Plenty]

...into what went wrong in what many here are calling the worst defeat in Israel's history.

explore a further indignity: how the Jewish state has come for the first time to agree to negotiate the relinquishment of land...

How about:....this is what you can expect with liberal appeasers in charge. The IDF's response to the hezzbos was a relative disgrace. Moshe Dyan is turning over in his grave...and Netenyahau, I bet, is so pissed that he can't see straight.

We can all hope that Israel gets its act together......Pres Bush and Condi get out of the way and tells the U.N. to take a flying f%&*K at a rolling donught......and, of course, we know that the hezzbos will do what we know they cannot keep from doing....shooting at Israel.

[untrained skeptic]

The inquiry also will explore a further indignity: how the Jewish state has come for the first time to agree to negotiate the relinquishment of land, the Shebaa Farms, in direct response to a deliberate act of military aggression.

While I'm also inclined to say that Israel was too timid in pursuing victory, I haven't seen anything indication that Israel is negotiating for the Shebaa Farms.

I've seen demands by others that they do so, but I haven't seen anything from Israel that they are willing to do so.

This article has it's own share of negative spin, and is presuming a lot.

Hezbollah's "victory", if there is one, is symbolic. They are claiming success, even though they gained nothing. They claim success just because they were not utterly crushed.

Articles like this one risk affirming Hezbollah's PR victory. However, not making harsh comments about Israel's failing to pursue victory in this conflict risks making even worse mistakes in the future.

I don't think Israel has lost this yet. I am not encouraged by this cease-fire agreement which ends the large scale fighting, but really accomplishes nothing. The second resolution is where Israel will win or lose.

The first resolution leaves me with the impression that Israel is not in a strong position for getting what they want out of the second resolution, nor does add to my confidence that a strong resolution against Hezbollah would be enforced.

However, a political victory is what Israel was aiming towards, and it's the second resolution that might be able to give them the foundation for that victory, so it's still premature to admit defeat.

In terms of the military conflict, Hezbollah lost this battle. However, even though the fighting has paused, the situation that created the battle still remains.

I also would have to say that there is a good chance that the war is not yet over. If Israel gets what it wants in the second resolution, Hezbollah will renew the fight, they have no other option.

If the UN caves to Hezbollah, and Israel gives in as well, then Israel will have lost.

Rather than just placing blame, I think we would all be better served by encouraging Israel's leadership not to accept a weak resolution, and to not give ANYTHING to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah is going to claim victory regardless, even if they are disarmed in Lebanon, they will claim victory saying that Israel was unable to destroy them.

However, if the lose their ability to operate freely in Lebanon, they will have suffered a serious and obvious loss.

Israel still has hopes of gaining that victory.

If that doesn't happen, their only other option is to go into Syria, and possibly Iraq which they are trying hard to avoid.

While I believe they have to do that, I sure wouldn't want to be the person who has to make that choice.