"At least 443 people have been killed in Lebanon since fighting broke out between Israeli forces and Hezbollah guerrillas, most of them Lebanese civilians, according to security officials....

Thirty-three Israeli soldiers have died in the fighting and 19 civilians were killed in Hezbollah's unyielding rocket attacks on Israel's northern towns, the army said."

The spinmeisters say all this death and destruction is supposed to be a precursor to peace and friendship, the birth of a new Middle East. Well, as the poet said, 'the grave's a fine and peaceful place, but none do there I think embrace.' (a deliberate misquotation of Andrew Marvell).