Lebanon.

Are you commenting on the fight between Dave Israel and Pete Hezbollah, Styx? It seems that their scrap has resulted in smashed shop windows, damaged cars and serious injuries to many innocent bystanders. A high-ranked police spokesman commented: "They are always brawling and no attempt will be made to arrest them until a solution to their long-standing feud can be found. What's the point of breaking it up now? It will just start up again next time they get pissed."

I wasn't trying to be flippant Styx. I just hoped people might see what a ridiculous excuse the B-team are giving. Why on Earth should it be easier to find a solution while they fight? Still, perhaps it's better that we don't interfere since thanks to our help in Iraq about 3 times more people die there every day than in Lebanon. On the other hand we have managed to get opium production back on track in Afghanistan after those nasty Taliban people almost stopped it entirely.

I've been following it all in The Independent and online. Robert Fisk is a great foreign correspondent. It makes you realise how complex, varied and tortuous the history is; so many ins and outs, so many stories. I suppose we all realise what a hugely complicated set of problems there are; but when you read it all, it does make you see that. I wouldn't presume to offer blame or recrimination, save to say that the Israeli response to what is undoubtedly terrorist provocation of long standing, does seem to be very wrong. Those poor children, it's heartbreaking. 45% of the Lebanese dead are children. How can this be? It is so dauntingly complex that it needs a solution (if there can be one) of great imagination, intelligence and mutual generosity of heart; qualities which I fear are singularly lacking in the simplistic, black-and-white responses of our 'leaders', Messrs Bush and Blair.

World War I might have been less complex than this. Pardon the overused American expression: I'm worried some real **** is about to go down.

Hiya Cuz. Long time no hear. Still in Kansas?

You know it may just be that 'W' has a lot of pals in the construction industry. Give us trouble - we'll bring you rubble. rebuild it slow and charge you double. So you will be homeless, demoralised while we get the next war organised. Don't cha know we've doing our best to help the Muslims join the West steer them to better democracy Show then there's only one Land of the free!

Hey cuz!!!!! I'm in Edmonds Washington at the moment, but I'm going back to Kansas in less than two weeks. I'm finally going to gradate college! Yeah, it's actually going to happen!

Great news Cuz! You'll miss the pizza delivering though :O)

A snippet from the Guardian. If true, it might help to explain Blair's dogged siding with Bush. "The New Statesman's editor, John Kampfner, says he was told by more than one official source that the US government knew in advance of Israel's intention to take military action in Lebanon. The Bush administration told the British government. Israel's assault, then, was premeditated: it was simply waiting for an appropriate excuse."

Jesus christ, that's some revelation. Israel has some of it's soldiers kidnapped and they take revenge! I would never have thought it. I must be so dumb.

(Reckless) "Blair's dogging with Bush"? No way! I didn't see that! Mind you, the way that pair have been sneaking around the White House, it wouldn't surprise me! I don't have much respect for the Oval Office since Bill and Monika turned it into a knocking-shop. I think Syria is just shy. Bashir Assad wants to ask George W out on a date. He just can't find the right words. I think Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wouldn't mind a night out on the tiles, too. I think Mahmoud and Bashir are just being coy, and supplying commando training and Katyusha rockets to Hizbollah is just their way of getting George's attention.