A last-minute blitzkrieg by Israeli troops and warplanes:
Faced with mounting civilian casualties and increasing celebration in the Arab world every time a Hezbollah rocket struck Israel, Bush and Blair went on holiday leaving Rice in charge of finding a face-saving diplomatic exit.Allen-Mills - Mahnaimi/Times 13.Aug.06
Although military experts agreed that Hezbollah has been seriously weakened - and Iran's influence in Lebanon at least temporarily reduced - Washington has paid a heavy price for abandoning its traditional role as the so-called "honest broker" of the Middle East.
Rice's reputation for cool competence has been severely tarnished by her handling of the crisis. When Lebanese civilians were being bombed in Beirut, Rice was photographed playing the piano at a minor summit in Asia.
