"What does that make the United States, to go along in a deal with the devil?"

Here are my notes on what Oliver Guitta told John Batchelor last night. For background to Hezbollah's takeover of Lebanon, see Guitta's March 12 Expected and undisturbed Hezbollah coup for the Middle East Times.

Hezbollah has taken over Lebanon but not overtly because they don't want to face sanctions, international pressure.

Hezbollah capturing Beirut is just one way to comply with what Damascus and Tehran want. But Hezbollah is now turning their sights on Israel. Since 2006 Hezbollah has gotten access to rockets that can target Tel Aviv. Israel will have to face the fire of 40,000 rockets.

Lebanon has been sold out by Western powers to Syria and Iran. Allowing Lebanon to return to Tehran's sphere will give the US 3-4 years of good weather in Iraq. Iran will slow down help to Mahdi Army and there will be less kills in Iraq.

The US cynically traded the democracy in Lebanon for a few years of peace in Iraq.

"What does that make the United States, to go along in a deal with the devil?" - John Batchelor's summary of the situation.
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I don't want to hear from any of the 70% of Americans who have been demanding that the US sharply reduce troop levels in Iraq and leave the country fast that you didn't mean it to work out like this.

I can understand pacifists -- those who would prefer to be slaughtered rather than take up arms. I don't agree but I understand. What I can't understand is people who decide war is something they can leave without horrific consequences.