I'm just back from Aussie and many there are rightly concerned about the thousands of Australian Lebanese stranded after the outbreak of hostilities in Lebanon. Frankly, I don't know what to say about Lebanon except that it's heartbreaking to see a country that appeared to be climbing out of chaos and civil war fall right back in again. And anyway, Robert Fisk can say it better (full article in today's NZ Herald).

The news from Iraq is also extremely bleak. Reuters reports some in the new unity government have already given up and plans are afoot to divide the country, and to divide Baghdad along the Tigris. That could be another nightmare scenario - especially for the Kurds.

Turkey is already warning it may cross the border to deal with the PKK, a move that could be justified pretty much on the same grounds as Israel's response to Hizbollah's attacks. Turkey has always said it will not tolerate a Kurdish state across its border, so a division of Iraq can only spell more bloodshed and chaos.

Iraq is now, for all intents and purposes, a failed state. If you're a terrorist, that news is all good. Just like the news from Lebanon and Afghanistan and Somalia.