Whither Lebanon?

When this blog began during the summer, the war in Lebanon was top of the agenda. I argued then that the war was a big mistake, since the traditional just war tenet that "the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated" was violated by Israel. Why? I listed four conditions: bombing civilian areas, intentionally destroying the Lebanese economy and infrastructure, threatening the stability of a nascent democracy, and boosting the hand of Hezbollah.

Pay attention to the last point. At a time when the "rah-rah" brigade of the war party has long forgotten Lebanon, the worst fears are coming to fruition. Hezbollah resigned from the Lebanese government, with the firm intention of bringing it down completely. They are demanding a staggering one third of all cabinet positions, which would give them veto power. What is their main aim? To keep doing the will of the Syrians and cancel the investigation into the murder of Hariri. Lebanon stands, quite literally, at the brink, as the hopes of dreams of 2005 fade.

So depressing, so predictable. Where is the war party now? As always, never around to learn the lesson that violence engengers violence and evil. Too busy pushing for an attack on Iran, no doubt.