Let them learn the hard way

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said:

“I don't intend on announcing an end to the operation. They (Hizbullah) will figure it out on their own, the hard way.”

He is also reported to have said:

“We want to stop the operation as fast as possible, but we will not conclude it until we achieve the results which would justify the price we have paid and which would prevent us paying a price which we cannot pay.”

Of course he would continue the war. After all he has the backing of the world. His Justice Minister Haim Ramon said:

"We received yesterday at the Rome conference permission from the world... to continue the operation."

But the good news is that Israel won’t expand its military offensive in Lebanon, although it will send in additional troops to bolster its fight against Hizbullah.

So far, this war which started on July 12, has killed hundreds and displaced thousands, especially in Lebanon where at least 401 people - mostly civilians - have been killed in Israeli strikes.

As for the Israeli casualties, the death toll from Hizbullah rockets striking Israel and the fighting in southern Lebanon stands at 50, 19 of them civilians, and this includes the loss of nine soldiers yesterday – their single largest loss of life in this conflict.

And now we have al-Qaeda's No 2 Ayman al-Zawahri saying:

“How can we remain silent while watching bombs raining on our people. Oh Muslims everywhere, I call on you to fight and become martyrs in the war against the Zionists and the Crusaders… The war with Israel does not depend on ceasefires ... It is a Jihad for the sake of God and will last until (our) religion prevails ... From Spain to Iraq.”

Now it all gets interesting. All the potent mixtures are in it now. The question now is:

“WHO is going to learn the hard way?”