This is John Batchel. Colleague David Diyud, in conversation with myself and Bill Rajo,

identifies the profound challenges for Lebanon. What is at risk here is Lebanon itself. It's at the

edge of becoming a failed state or being declared one. What is to be done? What about Hezbollah? What about how we see

Hezbollah's functioning within Lebanon? What can the Israelis do? Right now, there's reason to

believe that Hezbollah is awakening. Here's David to describe. David Ayyude, foundation for the defense of democracy.

More of this tonight.

Well, there have been different approaches, I mean, historically and currently.

The way we approach Lebanon and Hezbollah differs from, say, how France does.

France, for example, refuses to designate Hezbo's so-called political wing as a terrorist

organization, and French officials routinely visit Lebanon and meet with senior Hezboa officials

as if, you know, it's all business as usual, forgetting the fact that, you know,

Hezbollah terrorists murdered French paratroopers alongside our Marines in the

1983 barracks bombings.

But, you know, the French, that's their business.

So there's that approach.

And the French tend to, rather than press Lebanon, they tend to make excuses for Lebanon

and cover for Lebanon as part of, you know, understanding

Lebanon's special circumstances.

You know, if they move to disarm, Hezbole, it's going to lead to civil war.

And so the French, their interest is in maintaining short-term stability, increments of short-term

stability in Lebanon in perpetuity.

Their idea is that if you maintain it, maintain, if you shepherd Lebanon

...