Twofer...

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U.S. and UK say Hezbollah weaker after Beirut fighting

The United States and Britain said on Thursday they believed Hezbollah had been weakened by this month's fighting in Beirut despite the greater influence the militant group gained in Lebanon's Cabinet. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Secretary David Miliband rejected the view that the show of force by Hezbollah had increased its power. "Hezbollah lost something very important, which is any argument that it is somehow a resistance movement on behalf of the Lebanese people," Rice told reporters...

[their additional seats now allow them to veto any legislation they disagree with. So, are we going to act on their weakened state - while it lasts - to wipe them out? Of course not? Then they won.]

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Sharia law part of deal to stop attacks

Islamabad - A Pakistani Government deal to bring peace to the conflict-ravaged Swat valley will introduce Sharia law in return for an end to Taliban suicide bombings, attempts to stop girls going to school and attacks on barbers who shave beards. The peace deal was signed on Wednesday by the newly elected Government of North West Frontier Province and representatives of the cleric Maulvi Fazlullah, whose fighters battled the army last year.

[translation: they won]

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