What Can You Say, They Do What They Want

[wei yau]

Ironically, I'm not fearful of an escalation of events beyond Israel striking Lebanon. It's not because I'm an optimist, but because I'm a pessimist.

It is no one's interest to get involved in the conflict. I believe that all regional powers benefit from maintaining a status quo in the conflict with Israel. It serves as good rhetoric and distraction. Also, with an Israeli military backed by the considerable power of the US, the Arab regional powers simply cannot win in a conventional conflict.

So, despite their rhetoric and bluster, the Arab countries won't involve themselves unless attacked directly. And I doubt that Israel would do that, despite their own rhetoric and bluster.

In the end, those are just words and at the end of the day, these powers are going to act in the best interests, even if it means back down from the rhetoric.