SummerKiss: No, the kidnapping of 2 soldiers isn't good enough a reason to go to war. But, Hezbollah has been attacking and harassing Israel for a very very long time... the kidnappings and subsequent bloody fleeing across the border into lebanon were simply the last straw in a massive pile of straws that broke the proverbial camel's back. **EDIT/Addition: After a bit of thought... the kidnapping of 2 soldiers is good enough reason for some sort of military action to try and free them... if for no one else than their families.**

"But of course the problem in the Middle East is Israel is an ostracized member of the neighborhood. What the Middle East needs is more capitalism and less fanaticism, imo."

Really, that is the problem. I agree. If the rest of the Middle East would get over having jews in "their" region and everyone would start exchanging goods and ideals we could see some sort of peace... but the fanatics show no sign of dampening their fervor any time soon, unfortunately.