Nicholas Kristof ($link) and others repeat the mantra that somehow Hezbollah was on its way our of power in Lebanon and that Israel will not only prevent this dynamic from playing out but will further strengthen Hezbollah.

He fails to point out that Hezbollah had two Cabinet seats in the Lebanese government, had been willfully arming and mobilizing its terrorists for years, had also sent missiles and terrorists across the border into Israel to kill people. All without any restrictions from Lebanese government. And now Hezbollah openly boasts that it had informed government leaders that it intended to kidnap Israeli soldiers..

Of course, he also says relative peace reigned when Israel refrained from defending itself. But attacks continued at an accelerating pace. Hezbollah also was busy during those years of "quiet" arming itself, builing underground bunkers, brainwashign Muslim children, and training its terrorists. If all this doesn't refute the myth that Hezbollah was on its last legs, I don't know what will.

Furthermore, Shiites now comprise 30—40% of the Lebanese population and, most probably, a higher percentage of the Army. How likely is is that the Lebanese governmet would take any steps that would antagonize that population? They vote in Lebanese elections, Israelis don't.

Hassan Nasrallah:"I Told Them [Lebanese Political Leaders] That We Must Resolve the Issue of the Prisoners, and That the Only Way to Resolve it is by Abduting  Israeli Soldiers"

Interviewer: "Did you inform them that you were about to abduct Israeli soldiers?"

Hassan Nasrallah: "I told them that we must resolve the issue of the prisoners, and that the only way to resolve it is by abducting Israeli soldiers."

Interviewer: "Did you say this clearly?"

Hassan Nasrallah: "Yes, and nobody said to me: 'No, you are not allowed to abduct Israeli soldiers.' Even if they had told me not to... I'm not defending myself here. I said that we would abduct Israeli soldiers, in meetings with some of the main political leaders in the country. I don't want to mention names now, but when the time comes to settle accounts, I will. They asked: 'If this happens, will the issue of the prisoners be over and done with?' I said that it was logical that it would. And I'm telling you, our estimation was not mistaken. I'm not exaggerating.

Ed Lasky   7 25 06