Rebuilding Lebanon

OK, via billmon, we get this article from the LA Times:

The Bush administration is scrambling to assemble a plan to help rebuild Lebanon, hoping that by competing with Hezbollah for the public's favor it can undo the damage the war has inflicted on its image and goals for the Middle East.

Administration officials fear that unless they move quickly to demonstrate U.S. commitment, the Lebanese will turn more fully to the militant group, which has begun rolling out an ambitious reconstruction program that Washington believes is bankrolled by Iran.

OK: kudos to the administration for figuring out where the real battlefronts are. But given the fact that the damage was caused by Israel, with the explicit support of the United States, I think the opportunity to win hearts and minds is going to be limited. If you want to get credit for building things, it helps if you weren't backing the military that blew them up. But still, I rather hear this administration making noise about out-competing Hezbollah in rebuilding than making noise about World War III/IV. Let's hope there's some follow through. Our track record in New Orleans, Iraq, and Afghanistan does not speak well to our rebuilding abilities.