Looks like the axis of evil may be about to stir up the pot:

A series of op-eds in the Lebanese daily Al-Mustabal, by Nusair Al-As'ad, warned of a planned Syrian-Iranian coup in Lebanon. [9] According to these articles, Hizbullah was planning to launch, in the near future, a new stage in the coup being led by Syria and Iran in Lebanon, during which it would use its weapons on the domestic Lebanese front. The threats by the Lebanese opposition to establish a second government in Lebanon were part of this planned coup, and the coup was to be carried out under the banner of establishing a second government.

The articles stated that the threat voiced by Syrian President Bashar Assad during his April 2007 meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, namely, that the situation in Lebanon would "reach the point of civil war," was actually "an official declaration of the coup he is now staging in Lebanon."

That would be the end (at least temporarily) of the Cedar Revolution. The State Department is supposedly gung-ho on democracy in the Middle East. Do they have a plan? I'd like to think so, but only because, like a second marriage, it would be a triumph of hope over experience.

Many have been expecting, and Israel has been prudently preparing for, another war this summer. This may be the precipitating event. Let's hope that they learned from their mistakes from last summer.

[Early afternoon update]

And then there's this:

The London based Al-Hayat reported Saturday that Israel was "concerned" that Syria's decision to remove military checkpoints on the road to Kuneitra on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights could be a preparation for war.

According to the report, the checkpoints in question had been in place for 40 years, ever since the Six Day War.

Jeez, and when exactly isn't "the party of god" planning on staging a coup?

If Hizbullah does gain power, I don't think the state department need worry. Israel is just going to completely level the country.

Axis of Evil? Is there North Korean involvement?

I assume Iraq is no longer a member of the Axis and one party does not an Axis make.

With only Iran and N Korea remaining, perhaps we can call them the Axle of Evil? I think the State Dept plan is simple. If Syria and Iran do indeed incite violence and Israel feels they are in danger, Israel will defend itself. Then the State Dept steps in and we help our ally, giving us reason to seriously combat Iran. I truly think the only reason we're not more active against Iran is a lack of critical evidence. We have a ton of circumstantial.