Border Force

This decision by Lebanon to send 15,000 troops to the Southern border seems like the first major breakthrough we've had in ending this conflict. A positive aspect of having a large Lebanese force there is that if Hezbollah continues fighting after a cease-fire is brokered, and Lebanese troops are stationed in the danger zone, it could turn Lebanese sentiment against Hezbollah again, which would be great. Of course, the preferred outcome is that Hezbollah agrees to a ceasefire.

Having heard the news so far on the draft UN resolution, however, I'm not certain that the US and Israel want a ceasefire at all. The keys words are Rice's:

We'll see who is for peace and who isn't.

Well, that's fine, but it reminds me of just the kind of trip-wire this administration loves, like the UN resolution regarding Iraq which they knew Iraq would not heed. Well, if they craft a ceasefire resolution that is pro-Israeli enough, they know that Hezbollah will not heed it and that it will open doors toward further action, perhaps against Syria and Iran. If that seems far-fetched, check this post again.