It is probably the Olmert government's hope that this posting will set the Lebanese army against Hizbullah, producing intra-Lebanese fighting that serves Israeli interests.

Israel, however, does not always get its way. We'll see. Peacekeeping is a ways off. The Israelis will fight their war first.

Over 3,000 Iraqi Civilians Died in June, UN Reports New York Times

Americans have fewer friends than ever before. (Here's a link to the Duke study, published in the American Sociological Review).