So where are we?

Where are we in this fast moving chaotic mess? Nowhere, I guess. Israel has massed troops (big time) at the Lebanese border for a massive expansion of their attack on that unfortunate country. They are holding off temporarily to see what diplomacy might accomplish. Ha, ha. They are actually waiting to see if the UN can be conned into giving them what they want without them having to risk any more troops (or embarrassing defeats). If the UN gives them the right to occupy southern Lebanon they will do so, of course. If the UN doesn't give them southern Lebanon they will expand their attack and take it anyway (and then thumb their nose at the rest of the world, as usual). They say, of course, they don't want to occupy southern Lebanon, just move Hezbollah farther away. Don't believe it. If they get control of Lebanese territory all the way to the Litani river they will not easily give it up (unless Hezbollah can drive them out again). Lebanon has agreed to send 15,000 of their army to southern Lebanon to protect Israel from Hezbollah. Israel won't agree because they say the Lebanese army won't be up to the task. Of course they won't because by now they are entirely in sympathy with Hezbollah. Israel may have a point here. But they also don't want a UN force in southern Lebanon unless it has enough firepower, etc., to control Hezbollah. In other words, for all intents and purposes, an extension of the Israeli military. In short, Israel wants to control southern Lebanon by itself, and will do so unless somehow the international community can raise enough of a fuss about it to stop it (don't bet on it - Israel up to now seems to get away without whatever they want). In fact, Israel doesn't give a damn what the UN or the international community thinks about it, and as long as they can count on American support they will go on just pillaging whatever they want.

Oh, yeah, another terrorism attack foiled (just in the nick of time). It was foiled by the British but we were closely involved as our fight against terrorism has been nothing but a resounding success. Now you will not only have to take off your shoes to fly, you'll also have to go without any liquids. The British claim they acted on this now (even though they've been investigating for some time) because it was about to happen. In all fairness I have to point out that it is not at all clear it was about to seriously happen. Let us wait for all the facts. Bush/Cheney won't need any facts, Rove will make hay with this while the sunshines and whatever truth there may or may not be will be obscured by Rovian propaganda. And how convenient this exciting story broke just the day after Bush's kissing buddy lost his primary. Wonders never cease. Like all the other terrorist attacks Bush/Cheney claim to have averted it will be better to wait and see what is actually involved (not that I would distrust their account even for one minute).

If you want to sleep well tonight just think of Rummy out there baying at the moon in his senile incompetence while Condi is telling the rest of the world what we are going to do for them. Watch out Cuba, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and all the rest of humanity, 'cause Condi knows best. American democracy is on the march - right down into the toilet of oblivion. My son is worried about me. He says he hasn't seen me smile for several days. What am I supposed to tell him? Things are going well? We are making progress? We should stay the course?