Missiles from LebanonAccording to a story in the London Telegraph, President Bush has given the CIA the go-ahead to take down Hezbullah.

The Central Intelligence Agency has been authorised to take covert action against Hizbollah as part of a secret plan by President George W. Bush to help the Lebanese government prevent the spread of Iranian influence. Senators and congressmen have been briefed on the classified "non-lethal presidential finding" that allows the CIA to provide financial and logistical support to the prime minister, Fouad Siniora.

The finding was signed by Mr Bush before Christmas after discussions between his aides and Saudi Arabian officials. Details of its existence, known only to a small circle of White House officials, intelligence officials and members of Congress, have been passed to The Daily Telegraph.

It authorises the CIA and other US intelligence agencies to fund anti-Hizbollah groups in Lebanon and pay for activists who support the Siniora government. The secrecy of the finding means that US involvement in the activities is officially deniable.

Yeah, well, it's not so secret any more, is it, Mr. Telegraph Editor?

If this is true, it comes at a good time, because a new poll shows that 40% of Israelis don't think the IDF has the stuff to take on Hezbullah.  I can't find that poll anywhere else but at Naharnet, which is a Lebanese source, and via AFP, which is the vehemently anti-Israel French news service, so take it with a grain of salt. Or let me know if you can find another news source for those poll figures.