This is a good one.

I think you have to break it down from perspective side.

From the Israel side?

It will show the Israeli public that the new (post Sharon) leadership is willing to fight to support their state.

It will measure how much support they still get from the US

It will try and keep Arab nations from taking back their land

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On the other side, it will make them even more hated than they are already by the rest of the world.

Depending on how little we distance ourselves from them, it will do the same for us.

It will solidify the UN as a peacekeeping "system" if the UN can strong-arm them into ending the murder.

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In the end, it will most likely be another Golan Heights. They are going to steal some land in the Southern Lebanon -- call it a "buffer" zone for a few years, and then start to put a few settlers on it... you'll have Golan all over again -- this will REALLY piss off the region.

It will be VERY interesting to see the boundaries of Israel when this is all over. In the end, I suspect they will pick up slightly more land (and better land) than they gave up to Palestine recently (gave back). For each acre they give back, they'll make back 1.1 acres... it's just the way things work.

In the public eye, this UN Out Post and the constant civilians murdered needs to stay on the front page. People need to be reminded who the murders are here -- that isn't going to bode well for them.

They will play the victim, with US standing next to them.

In the end, we'll pay some how -- let's just hope it is only with high-oil prices and not with another 9/11.