Watching the tv and reading the newspapers these days is depressing. Oil is running out, western civilisation is in decline and the bulk of the worlds population is overweight and brain dead, apparently!

In the middle east things are a little less sedentary but just as worrying, Israel has finally cracked and turned on its Islamic tormentors. Like the big kid at school Israel has dominated the region for years with ever really unleashing his full force. Hamas and Hezbollah benefited greatly from Israel's reticence, taking their enemies reluctance to massacare them as a sign of weakness. Now things have changed, Israel doesn't really care about world opinion any more. The failed peace of the last ten years is proof that the weight of world opinion doesn't have the power to stop islamic terrorism. Israel is now following a rational foreign policy option for a sovereign state; i.e. taking military action to prevent attacks on its territory. I suspect Israel will not stop until they achieve their objective of neutralising Hezbollah permanently.

Why does Israel feel able to act in a rational manner without fear of retribution from the rest of the world? Simply because Britain and America have led the way by knocking out Saddam Hussein's Iraq and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The traditional apologist nations like Russia and France have been rendered impotent by George W Bush and his 'Wild Bunch in the White House'. The politics of the Old West have been resurrected. If a man calls you names or insults your 'Maw' its ok to shoot him or invade his country, depending on whats most effective. France and Russia's favoured approach of maintaining a balance of power by subtly arming anyone who fancies a crack at the Anglo-Saxons and the Israelis whilst demanding a ceasefire at the UN is not working this time. The angry giants have had enough of being stung by ants, this time they are going to burn the ants nest. Or to continue the western anology 'the posse is gonna hunt down every single one of that damn Apache raiding party!'

If Syria tries to intervene in Lebanon do not be surprised if the US/UK invades Syria from Iraq. We are at a tipping point in the 'War on Terror'. Israel will be allowed to crush Hezbollah, regardless of the cost. The US will watch and see who comes to Hezbollah's aid, whoever it may be,Syria or Iran, they will suffer. The US with its presence in Iraq is able to strike quickly at either state.

World War 3 will begin the day that the US attacks Iran, because that will be when Iran's shadowy friends in the world community will have to act to prevent the US achieving total hegemony over the Middle East oil reserves.