first posted: july13

Today's big question: will Israel move to re-occupy southern Lebanon? Israel has called the kidnappings of soldiers acts of war, while its blockade and strikes on Beirut's Rafic Hariri (civilian) airport are apparent examples of disproportionate force. In western capitals, positions on Israeli intervention are perfectly aligned with national interest. Could Hamas and Hezbollah be 'proxy armies' of Iran? The UN began to shift from military to police presence in Liberia. OSCE Chairman De Gucht calls for calm and restraint on both sides of Georgia-Ossetia conflict. Transnistrians will vote this fall on independence and possible union with Russia.