Supporters of this argument claim that Hezbollah was too strong internally to be disarmed by the Lebanese state or through any domestic Lebanese formula. The United States cannot involve itself in an adventure to disarm Hezbollah with so much on its hands in Iraq, according to this argument, but it can turn a blind eye to Israel's war on Hezbollah. President George W. Bush has in fact condoned Israel's actions, speaking on the crisis from a state-visit to Germany, where he said that Israel has a right to defend itself against "terrorists."

It is highly doubtful, however, that someone with Nasrallah's wisdom, advisors and survivor's instinct would get dragged into such a conspiracy -- knowing that many in Lebanon and the West are dreaming of his downfall. He would not give his enemies the pleasure of seeing him defeated in such a manner.

Apart from analyzing the crisis and finger-pointing at who is responsible, one must be calm today in order to find a solution to the new war in Lebanon. Clearly, at first glance, war cannot continue for long because the losses for Lebanon are much greater than those of Israel. To date, over 100 Lebanese has been killed, and over hundreds have been wounded. Billions will be needed to repair the national infrastructure destroyed by the Israelis, including airports, roads, bridges and private property.

Although Hezbullah is strong for a non-state entity, at the end of the day, its abilities are very limited when compared to Israel, which has the strongest army in the Middle East. Collectively, the Arab states, with mighty Egypt included, were unable to defeat the Israelis in 1967, when Israel was much weaker than today. Why would anyone believe that Hezbollah can defeat or force maximum pain on the Israelis?

Nasrallah, however, is saying otherwise -- and Arabs are believing his claim that Israel can be defeated for the first time since they believed Gamal Abdul-Nasser when he nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956. Yesterday, on July 14, Arab audiences were glued to their TV screens watching him pledge to strike deep into Israel "we will reach Haifa and believe me, even beyond Haifa." Nasrallah was the first to announce the hitting of the Israeli warship 16 kilometers from the shore of Lebanon, telling the millions who were watching: "Look at the warship that has attacked Beirut, while it burns and sinks before your eyes."

Just when many were starting to say that this was the limit of his abilities, Nasrallah stunned the Arabs with sending yet another heavy blow to the IDF. Not only did he hit the warship, which was immediately towed back to the port of Haifa, but four Israeli soldiers were reportedly missing on Friday after the Hezbollah attack. The IDF said that the four probably were wounded in the blast and fell into the sea. According to al-Jazeera reports, the Israelis then tried to land paratroopers in Sidon, but their attempt was foiled by Hezbollah.

In his speech, aired on al-Manar TV, Nasrallah again defiantly addressed the Israelis saying: "You wanted an open war and we are ready for an open war!" He added, "Soon you will find how stupid your new government is and how it is incapable of reading the situation. It has no experience. You said in your opinion polls that you believe me more than anyone else. Believe me now -- you attacked every house in Lebanon and you will pay for that." He then said: "Our homes will not be the only ones to be destroyed. Our children will not be the only ones to die."

As Nasrallah wrapped up his speech, celebration fire ripped through the skies of Beirut, Damascus, Amman, Baghdad and Cairo. Some, however, remainl skeptical, despite Nasrallah's promises. They claim that, very sadly, this is the limit of Hezbollah's abilities. These pessimists argue that Nasrallah did not bomb Haifa because he is unable to bomb Haifa. Hezbollah can insult, embarrass, irritate, hurt, wound and injure the State of Israel. But it cannot defeat it.

Since this is a reality, Hezbollah must come to see that Lebanon is paying too high of a price for the Israeli atrocities. The Sunnis and Maronite Christians of Lebanon do not want to live in a war-torn country. They want Lebanon of the 1960s: a Paris of the East, that thrives on tourism and a booming economy. They do not want to become the Gamal Abdul-Nasser of the 21st century. The Maronites of Mount Lebanon are uninterested in the plight of the South (as they have been since the 1950s) or in the prisoners of Hezbollah, despite all the solidarity talk being heard in Lebanon today.

Likewise, Hezbollah is uninterested in the Maronite districts of Lebanon. This division is not new: It existed long before the Lebanese Civil War of 1975. Many Lebanese are saying that they are paying the high price for a war that does not concern them. Hezbollah cannot blame them for their views, nor can it force them to be Arab nationalists, since this is how they had been brought up and educated, along with their fathers and grandfathers, due to the divisions in Lebanon's confessional system.

Likewise, the Sunnis and Christians must realize that Hezbollah is a party that must be respected and seriously considered in any future discussions of Lebanon. Although this is already being done by including Hasan Nasrallah in the National Dialogue Conference, all parties must be careful not to cross the Hezbollah leader or his sect because he has proven that if he so wishes, he can create havoc in Lebanon and the entire Middle East.

He would never turn his guns on Lebanon, but the rest of the Lebanese must not try to turn their guns on him or seek to disarm by force. Demographically, the Shiites represents the largest confessional group in Lebanon (with 1.37 million of the nation's population of 3.8 million). Lebanon is no longer the Christian pre-war Lebanon nor is it the Lebanon dominated by the towering influence of Sunni Prime Minister Rafiq al-Harriri. Lebanon today is 40% Shiite.

At any rate, the attacks are unjust and it is an unfair world. Israel has committed ugly war crimes in Lebanon. But this is a reality that we cannot change. It is as ugly as all the atrocities being committed in Gaza. We can slightly alter this realty by showing the Israelis that we too can respond, with our limited means.

Nasrallah has proven to the world that we are not passive bystanders who watch our nation being attacked and stand aback idly, doing nothing in its defense. The attack, after all, is on all of Lebanon and not only on Hizbullah. The airports, the bridges and homes are property of all the Lebanese, not only of Hezbollah. By targeting all of Lebanon, Israel has unintentionally united the Lebanese. It has temporarily muted the division between Maronite Christian and Muslim Lebanon. No longer can the Maronites say: "South Lebanon does not concern us," nor can the Muslims say "Christian Lebanon is none of our business."

Many are already speculating that Nasrallah is going to surprise the world and that he is stronger than what most people expected. Has he been bluffing for 10 years now, making us believe that he truly has limited means, all the while preparing a very strong army (with the help of Iran) that can seriously damage or defeat Israel? Many want to believe this. They are keeping their fingers crossed because they refuse to believe that the charismatic leader of Hezbollah, this Nasser of the 21st century, was dragged into a conspiracy and has actually committed political suicide.