All war is terrible. But it's important to remember, as reporters only cover what's happening in Israel and Lebanon, that Americans are still fighting - and dying - in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And no matter whether you believe we should be in Iraq or not, we should all feel great loss about the innocent American and Iraqi people who continue to die on a daily basis.

At the end of this outstanding Jimmy Breslin article, you'll find a list of American soldiers who died from fighting in Iraq from July 1 to Aug. 6. It includes their ages, hometowns and causes of deaths. I suggest reading every entry.

Success and failure in any military operation is based upon the ability of an action to achieve it's objectives, Israel set out almost a month ago to degrade and destroy Hezbollah, get back it’s soldiers, and kill Hassan Nasrallah. In every objective it set it has failed abysmally, Israeli officials speak of degrading the infrastructure of Hezbollah. But the infrastructure of Hezbollah remains largely intact, the ability of Hezbollah to continue fighting is a testament to the resiliency of the organization. Hezbollah will not be pushed back to the Litani River for at least a month, and as Hezbollah is pushed north Israel’s supply lines will grow longer as Hezbollah supply lines grow shorter. Israel will have more land it has to defend and Hezbollah will be able to concentrate it’s efforts.

After over a week of watching and waiting, I’ve thought long and hard about where this war will go, and I don‘t like what I am seeing. And for the first time I find myself in open disagreement with General Clark unless as I hope I have misunderstood his position on what Israel is doing. Though I know our General is the last person who would criticize citizens expressing dissent. But to tell the truth... Kofi Annan is right, the fighting has to stop.. right now. Personally I just don’t think the Israeli targeting system is as effective as many believe it to be.

Hezbollah has proven to be a far more effective organization than anyone had predicted. Israel’s attack is having the opposite effect it intended. Instead of weakening Hezbollah the Israeli’s have failed fundamentally to understand the methods and motivation’s of Hezbollah. The Israeli's air campaign by targeting Lebanese infrastructure is moving the Lebanese people and to some extent even the government into the sphere of Hezbollah.

History may just show how President Bush started WWIII.

un-Presidential Arrogance:

Is it clearer now, why the Iraq war (you know, the "War of Errors") was the greatest "strategic blunder" ever made my a US President? In total arrogance and from percieved leadership, President Bush opened the Pandora's box of Evil around the world; and what was once a diplomatic process towards regional stability is now an escalation of hatred, tensions and regional chaos in the Middle East. OBL must have a huge grin stretched across his face as he looks down on this President.

As many of you know, I am a U.S. citizen who grew up in Beirut. Since I went to the American Community School there and then the American University of Beirut, I am still in contact with alumni and other people who live there.

I have called my contacts there since the Beirut airport was first bombed - early morning of July 13 and again last night - also early morning there - from Texas there is eight hours difference.

My main contact could not sleep at night due to the bombing and is now attempting to get some rest. She has enough water and electricity, although both have been sporadically supplied since the 15-year war that sputtered to an end in the late eighties. For now, the phones are working.