It is interesting these days to see how some flip flop from one stand to another, all depending on what the public opinion polls show or indicate.

Take Chirac from France and how at the beginning he pledged thousands of troops, then when push came to shove he put up 200 troops, then when the outcry grew suddenly his position changed. Now he’s adding up to 2000 troops but at the same time claims that the required force is too much, that it is overkill.

Yeah right, and if your life is in danger, when will a handful ever be enough?

Now we have the head of Hezbollah retracting his actions, claiming that for ‘humanitarian’ reasons (among others) he would not have authorized the kidnappings (and some think he’s a savior not a terrorist thug?) had he known that it would trigger the response it did. ( see full story )

“Had we known that the kidnapping of the soldiers would have led to this, we would definitely not have done it,” he said in an interview on Lebanese TV. ( full story )

I have to admit, it is refreshing to see even a Terrorist having second thoughts. Perhaps there is indeed hope for peace, but at what price?

In some sense, his comments rather show that perhaps the response of Israel was indeed appropriate, despite the whinings of others, though time itself will tell.

It seems crazy to me that when you plan something, irrespective of what it is, that you should take into account worse case scenario and balance that with a historical analysis. Israel has NEVER stood still for such tactics and its short 58 year history has shown that cleary.

Obviously Hezbollah forgot that, just as perhaps George Bush has forgotten, nations do not like to be Invaded as in the case of Iraq. Seems to me that lately too much is being decided based on public opinion polls or public opinion goals. I mean ever since the hostage crisis in Iran in the Jimmy Carter days, things have spiralled out of control.

You had a President who for 8 years operated by what the polls said, in Bill Clinton and now you have George Bush operating on the principle that spreading Democracy is his life time mission, based on conversations with God no less.

What ever happened to the time when Politicians had a dream and expressed it, which is what determined their support or lack of it?

When did events become more concerned with Public Relations than with reality? Surely Hezbollah had to know that it would not just negotiate its way out of this. After all, kidnapping is not something one forgets. Ask any parent of a child held hostage?

Yet despite this confession, one still has to ask the one burning question:

Where are the two kidnapped soldiers?