n 1967 the so-called Six Day War was over so quickly it became a legendary victory for Israel. It was fought against a group of collective Arab armies. Again, in 1973 in a war with Egypt, the swiftness of the Israeli military in its conquest, firmly established Israel's military superiority in the Middle East. Today, as the pounding continues into a second month, in the attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel's reputation of military invincibility in the Middle East has surely been dented. Thus far the Israeli forces have not been able to achieve any of their strategic and tactical objectives. Israel's strategy appears to have been to deliver a swift and devastating blow against Hezbollah. There is still time for Israel to achieve its aims, but Hezbollah causing the Israeli forces to pound civilian areas, is gaining support among the Lebanese and several other Muslim states. As has been frequently noted in confrontations between conventional military forces and guerilla movements, the guerilla's are considered the victors by not losing, and the conventional forces lose by not winning.
This may be a slightly premature assessment, but it would appear that Hezbollah has had good intelligence about Israel, while Israel had less than adequate intelligence about Hezbollah.
By the day more people are calling for an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, but that will not occur until Israel has managed to remove the terrorist threat.
Hezbollah has been supplied and financed by Syria and Iran with massive numbers of rockets; hundreds of which are landing daily in Israel. Bloodshed on either side is mounting. Hezbollah must not escape from this conflict with even a perceived victory. If, or when, Israel is victorious, then Syria, possibly Iran, and Palestinian extremists may have to reconsider their determination to eradicate the Jewish state.
And for those who consider Israel an occupying power in Lebanon - Not so, the Israelis pulled out of Lebanon some six years ago; behind an internationally recognized border (That was in 2000). The pull-out was supposed to have been followed by the disarming of Hezbollah as called for by the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559. Of course, that didn't happen.

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The most straightforward question of the week gone by came from New York Democratic Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton who accused Donald Rumsfeld of painting an overly positive picture of the warring in Iraq. She said, "We hear a lot of happy talk and rosy scenarios...given your track record, Secretary Rumsfeld, why should we believe your assurances now."Wow!
Why does he, or should he, still have the office of the Secretary of Defense?
I'd enjoy reading your comments.