Reporting from Beirut...no not me

My expertise is in American politics not international or comparative politics. Therefore, I will try to refrain from commenting on areas outside of my expertise. I will also direct readers to sites that I think are illuminating. I regulary read Juan Cole's blog since he is a professor of Mideast history, reads Arabic and simply knows that part of the planet. Today I read a blog reporting from Beirut on the latest conflagration in the Middle East. It captures my views as well. I've copied the opening and the link can send you to site for the rest.

Back to Iraq 3.0

BEIRUT — Why, oh, why do people with access to really big bombs continue to think they can change people’s loyalties by dropping those big bombs on their homes and families?

Israel’s strategy in Lebanon is pretty clear now: Make the pain of “supporting” or “harboring” Hizbullah so great that the Lebanese will deal with the group. That was also the idea behind the attack on Gaza and Hamas as well as the so-called Bush Doctrine — the U.S. will make no distinction between the terrorists and those who harbor them. It’s also the hot air for the trial balloon often floated in D.C. regarding regime change in Iran: Bomb the mullahs and watch the pro-American youth embrace the Pax Americana!

Except… it almost never works.