Israel's war against Hezbollah continues to be interesting. Lebanon has offered to put 15,000 of its own troops on the southern border so that Israel can go home, but refuses to do so until Israel actually does go home. Israel has agreed to go home once those troops actually show up to continue fighting against Hezbollah.

So we're down to brass tacks. Both sides are in agreement that 15,000 Lebanese troops will take responsibility for Southern Lebanon and for rooting out Hezbollah terrorists. The only question is whether they show up while Israeli troops are in the area, or after.

Israel's driving a hard line on this one because Lebanon hasn't been very enthusiastic about fighting Hezbollah ("Saniora has my sympathy, but he still sounds like a victim of the Stockholm Syndrome. His solution today reverts back to the 'give them what they want and then they'll go away' strategy").

With Lebanon demanding Israel withdraw before it started fighting Hezbollah, Israel is sending troops twice as far into Southern Lebanon. I don't think that's a coincidence. I believe it's a message from Israel that they'll go home on their terms, and Lebanon can accept those terms or continue to be beseiged.