Lessons from Lebanon

In the month-long intense military campaign against Lebanon, Israel suffered a debacle beyond anyone's expectations and Hizbullah demonstrated a resilience that upset everyone's calculations. It was this surprising reversal of fortunes on the ground that changed the course of international diplomacy and led to the Security Council adopting a resolution for the cessation of hostilities, which the US had blocked for three weeks. The war in Lebanon has redefined the geopolitical situation and created new realities that will have far-reaching implications for all the parties involved. A reassessment will be required of the situation in the Middle East -- a region that will never be the same again.