The New U.S. Strategy on the Lebanon Conflict: Let It Play Out

After weeks of intensive diplomacy aimed at securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants, the United States has settled on an altogether different approach: let the unfolding conflict in Lebanon play out.

Just two weeks ago, the United States and France were demanding an immediate 21-day ceasefire to ward off an Israeli invasion of Lebanon. That effort was derailed by Israel's assassination of Hezbollah leader Syed Hassan Nasrallah, the Oct. 1 launch of Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon and Israeli airstrikes that have wiped out much of the group's leadership.

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Washington also believes that military pressure could force Hezbollah to put down arms and pave the way for the election of a new government in Lebanon that would oust the powerful militia movement, which has been a significant player in Lebanon for decades.

Jonathan Lord, a former Pentagon official now with the Center for a New American Security in Washington, said that would be hard to achieve.

"On the one hand, many Lebanese people bristle under the weight of Hezbollah's presence in Lebanon. But at the same time ... this change is being foisted upon Lebanon through a very violent campaign," Lord said.

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