I'm John Batchelor. I welcome my good colleague of many years, Mary Kissel, Executive Vice President

Stevens, Incorporated, former senior advisor to the Secretary of State. I call upon Mary's

experience at State now because there is much, much fog of diplomacy underway, but there are

positives to begin with. There could be positives across the landscape. However, we know

that as of yesterday, that was an historic

meeting between representatives of the state of Israel and representatives of Lebanon and Hezbollah

at the State Department to discuss either resolving the conflict or a ceasefire or some turn away from the warfare that is now

underway. The IDF has had another call-up. They're preparing for combat operations not only along

the border of Israel with Lebanon, with Hezbollah, but also as far north as the Latani River Valley,

and also continuing to target Hezbollah, but also as far north as the Latani River Valley, and also continuing to target Hezbollah leadership and resupply in Beirut.

The bombing campaign of these last days is directed again at the reawakening of Hezbollah's

leadership.

Mary, a very good day to you. Historic at the State Department yesterday,

the meeting, and within 24 hours, we have a rumor, just talk, that the Israeli cabinet will

address the question of a ceasefire in Lebanon immediately. This is all very good news for the State Department, and what I

like about it is that that meeting took place at state, and if DOD was there, they didn't tell

me in the news reporting. Good evening to you, Mary. Good evening to John. Well, it is good news.

It's not a solution just yet, as you say. There was continued fighting just in these last hours. But it's positive on a number of levels. First of all, it's another sign that Iran's proxy forces around the Middle East, including Hezbollah, have been significantly weakened

by U.S. and Israeli action over the past year. And that is an unalloyed good thing.

Secondly, it's also encouraging to see the United States, in particular the Secretary of State,

play the mediating role to such a comprehensive and serious degree to actually physically

bring the parties to foggy bottom. That's important to show our support. And thirdly,

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