Alvaro Vargas Llosa is now in Lebanon and writing of the experience from his brilliant political and economic perspective, as well as from his eyes on the ground. Like some of our Publius posters, he warns that Israel risks destroying Lebanon’s vibrant civil society, just as it’s beginning to regain its confidence, even as it must end the terrorism that is destroying it. It’s a very tragic picture.

With the destruction of all Lebanon, what is likely to happen is that Hezbollah barbarians will fill that civil-society void, because they are never happier than when they are in a failed state.

It’s a beautiful essay, and well worth reading here.

UPDATE: Boli at Boli-Nica has further intelligent thoughts about this here.