Both sides declare victory, peace is at hand, pigs fly…
In the great tradition of mid-East warfare, both sides have declared victory. All-powerful media manager, Hassan Nasrallah kicked off the festivities by declaring a “strategic, historic victory.”
Lines of cars — some loaded with mattresses and luggage — snaked slowly around huge holes in the roads and ruined bridges. Hezbollah fighters hugged each other and celebratory gunfire and fireworks erupted in Beirut when the Islamic militant group’s leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah claimed a “strategic, historic victory.”
Meanwhile, back in Washington, the fantasies continued where we learn that actually Israel “won”.
President Bush said Monday that Israel defeated Hezbollah’s guerrillas in the monthlong Mideast war and that the Islamic militants were to blame for the deaths of hundreds of Lebanese civilians.
One thing is certain, the Lebanese have been defeated and the country brought to near destruction. And relying on the Lebanese army to maintain the peace, even with nearby Blue Helmets, seems uncertain at best.
The U.N. plan calls for a joint Lebanese-international force to act as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah militiamen. France and Italy, along with predominantly Muslim Turkey and Malaysia, have signaled willingness to contribute troops to the joint force, but consultations are needed on the force’s makeup and mandate.
Since Hezbollah has already humiliated and turned back the Lebanese army, it is not clear how this fragile, and largely illusory peace will be maintained.