Destruction of Lebanon Completed within one more Week?

The US intends to give the IDF at least another week in which to complete the destruction of Hezbollah, before applying pressure for a cease-fire, or so it is broadly interpreted by the international media.

While the IDF can certainly claim a number of successful raids on Hezbollah missile launchers and rocket depots/transports, Hezbollah's capacity to fire rockets into Northern Israel appears largely undiminished and there has been no let-up in the number of rocket barrages, some sources are in fact claiming the opposite. Isaac Herzog last night when confronted by Stephen Sackur on BBC 24's "HardTalk", admitted that the destruction of Hezbollah was probably unachievable and that the goal is rather to cripple its capabilities and push it back from the Northern border. That doesn't quite seem to be working all that well either, at least at first sight.

Meanwhile, the wholesale destruction of Lebanese civilian infrastructure continues unabated and much more successfully. Airports, civilian population centres, factories, petrol stations, highways and more all seem to fall into the IDF's idea of "Hezbollah targets".

Here are the first week's casualty figures in Lebanon according to the Jerusalem Post:

At least 229 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than 450 wounded since the fighting began one week ago, according to figures reported by Lebanese police and the military. Among the dead are 20 Lebanese army soldiers and three Hizbullah guerrillas.

Among the civilian deaths are eight Canadians, two Kuwaiti nationals, one Iraqi, one Sri Lankan, and one Jordanian, police have reported.

It's increasingly hard to believe this is but the result of unwanted and "regrettable" collateral damage.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Siniora claims infrastructural damages worth $3 billion. An estimated half million displaced persons have also been created by the IDF. Israel are succeeding in setting back the clock in Lebanon by twenty years, as promised.

A bombardment of the "Lebanese wall flowers that look snazzy in uniform", aka the regular Lebanese Army, was also successfully completed, resulting in 20 casualties. Forgive this here simpleton but aren't these guys sooner or later to take control of the border with Israel? Isn't that very much part of what the Israelis claim to be one of their objectives? But it is suspected some might be assisting Hezbollah, a contentious claim based on the presumption that they too are Shia Muslims. Better go bomb them as well, presto!

Who will be the real victors in this conflict? Olmert and Amir Peretz will come out stronger than ever before, now having proven their military credentials, so necessary to be a credible Israeli leader. Shimon Peretz must be eating his heart out, this Poulidor of Israeli politics never really gets a look in when the shooting gets going.

Hezbollah? Serious damage to its capabilities may yet materialise when the smoke has cleared but personally I feel they too will have scored points: while some Lebanese are undoubtedly turning against them, others will rally around them with greater fervour. And if the onslaught on Lebanon continues for another week or possibly more, few Lebanese will not feel at least sympathy for this contradictory organisation. Nor is all this going to motivate Nasrallah to further trade in the AK-47 for the ballot box, instead further entrenchment can be expected.

Meanwhile Israel can continue its rightful mantra that she has the right to defend herself. Very rightful, indeed. Then why does it ring so hollow to me?