First, the description of how Hezbollah cannot be allowed to fail because it would be viewed as a Shiite community failure illustrates that they do not see the division between religion and government or politics that Western philosophy holds so important. To them, they are the same thing. For us to ignore this is folly. The West is pretending there is a difference, and basing strategy, policy, actions, and goals upon it.

Second, what Hezbollah is promising in the aftermath has happened before, many times. The actions of the West do not match the promises. Those who are sympathetic to the West and who dared let it be known in any way will suffer deadly reprisals after the half-measures fail.

Hezbollah is right about the West on one crucial aspect; it underlies their entire strategy. This is the policy of Western Betrayal, as described in the Wiki journal by that name. Regardless of what is said or by whom, the policies and actions are quite predictable. The end result is that the people we try to protect end up dead.

From Poland before World War II to the Kurds, our systems have consistently betrayed those who we encourage to resist. And now, ‘Moderate Muslims’ will learn the same lesson.

This is why Hezbollah is claiming victory, Syria and Iran are thumbing their noses at us, and even Lebanon who are powerless to resist either side are dictating the terms they will accept an occupying force (?!).

Hezbollah counted on a half-measure response, and that is what happened, even if was stronger than they originally thought. Their opinion that the West is weaker than they are, that the West will lose the will to fight before victory is achieved, is based on historical observation and fits nicely into their view of infidels as weaklings.

While we pretend that democracy will fix the problems in the region, the price of ignoring the reality of their philosophy and being wishy – washy is the lives of the victims.

–John Danforth–

They would have been free of hezballah, had a safe, secure border with Israel, and a tough ally to keep Syria from meddling in their country’s affairs. It seems some people never miss an opportunity to shoot themselves in the foot.