November 14 marks three months since UN Resolution 1701 brought an end to the 34-day conflict in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah militants. Just before the resolution was adopted last August, a number of European Union countries — including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden were quick to pledge troops to reinforce the international peace-keeping force known as the UN In-terim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), ostensibly with the aim of transforming the cessation of hostilities into a durable ceasefire.

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On Feb. 22, terrorists bombed the Askariya shrine in Samarra, Iraq. The attack shocked Iraqis and infu-riated Shiites. The Iranian govern-ment sought to direct public anger toward Washington. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei blamed \"intel-ligence agencies of the occupiers of Iraq and the Zionists.\" Iran\'s Arabic-language al-Alam television re-peated the accusations on Feb. 23. Because al-Alam is broadcast terres-trially, it is particularly influential among poor Iraqis who cannot af-ford a satellite dish.

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