How the World sees it

ITALY
La Stampa, Milan, July 16: When U.S. President George W. Bush decided to start two wars as a reaction to the 9/11 attack, many in America were thinking (that this was a chance) to quickly reshape the Middle East and the surrounding area. ... They imagined to be able to make it a democratic, peaceful area in the long-term. They imagined a wide area made of countries that were friends of America and living in peace with Israel.
Not only have Americans never fully understood what happened afterward, but they never accepted it.
They did not understand, they did not even foresee the rising of Islamic integralism ... and they have not been able to build a policy for the new Middle East and the Gulf regions.
Source of damnation
What is happening today in Lebanon clearly shows that the U.S. (policy) has failed while becoming a source of damnation for Israel.
The outcome is catastrophic for Israel. The world war against terrorism fortified Israel's enemies, increased their extremism, strengthened their words and provocations. Whoever accuses Israel's reaction of being disproportionate is right, but fails to properly consider what occurred in the last few years: a State which is surrounded by enemies does not have many alternatives when even its more reasonable actions -- such as the withdrawal from Lebanon and the Gaza strip -- have failed to calm down its opponents and only succeeded in stimulating their destructive triumphalism.
JAPAN
Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo, July 18: The agenda for the latest summit meeting of the Group of Eight major industrial countries was laden with some of the heaviest issues seen in recent years. The leaders of the powerful nations who gathered in St. Petersburg, Russia's old capital, are facing severe challenges.
Just one week ago, world powers were bickering over how to deal with the tricky issues related to North Korea and Iran. We welcome the united front the G-8 leaders have presented on these important issues.
Concerted action and cooperation by key international players are crucial to solving these challenges. The St. Petersburg summit again highlighted the importance of the esprit de corps this forum aims to create among the world's powers. The leaders of China, India and other emerging economies also joined discussions on the final day of the three-day summit, adding vital perspectives to the forum.
Middle East crisis
Overshadowing this summit was worry over the surging violence in the Middle East amid Israel's escalating military operations in Lebanon. The G-8 leaders called on the Israeli government to exercise self-restraint -- but things appear only to be getting worse.
North Korea, Iran and the Middle East are all dangerous tinderboxes ready to flare up into a global firestorm if mishandled.
The unity among the G-8 powers displayed at the summit will be severely tested in their ongoing efforts to deal with these incendiary issues.
BRITAIN
Daily Telegraph, London, July 19: The Government has been to the fore in urging the deployment of a multinational force to stabilize Lebanon. It has, however, procrastinated over the more immediate problem of evacuating British citizens from that devastated country.
Last Saturday, the aircraft carrier Illustrious and the amphibious assault ship Bulwark were ordered to make for the Levant from the western Mediterranean. Yesterday, they had still to arrive, leaving the initial evacuation, of only 60 people, to be conducted by helicopter. By contrast, France had removed 700 of its citizens and other Europeans aboard a chartered Greek cruise ship, and the Italians had carried out an operation of a similar size by air and sea.
Deplorably hesitant
The Government's approach to what it has described as possibly "the biggest evacuation since Dunkirk" has been both ill-informed as to the extent of the crisis, and deplorably hesitant.
It is characteristic of an administration which remains adept at grabbing the headlines (see the Prime Minister in St. Petersburg on the multinational force) but is an incompetent manager. Yesterday, the Type 42 destroyer Gloucester docked in Beirut for what we hope will be the start of a rapidly accelerating evacuation of British nationals. If this is a latter-day Dunkirk, it is high time the Government rose to the occasion. The lives of British civilians are at stake.
SWEDEN
Sydsvenska Dagbladet, Malmo, July 18: Criticism of Israel's attacks in Lebanon has been severe during the past days. Very rightly.
The Israeli attacks not only strike Hezbollah but also hit Lebanese civilians hard. Too many innocent people have lost their lives during the past days.
It is also hard to believe that Israel's own security will improve if neighboring Lebanon is again thrown into political chaos. Israel has everything to win from listening to the international community, which appeals for restraint and negotiations.
Indirect support
There is a risk, however, that the criticism of Israel's actions can be transformed into an indirect support for Israel's enemies. That the position of the extremists is strengthened. This would be the worst thinkable scenario.