Thus far George Bush has been in no hurry to push the issue as Israel and Hezbollah continue apace in their bid to annihilate each other. And every day the death toll of innocent civilians grows.

It is America's dragging of its heels on the crisis and lack of will to curb Israel that is central to what happens next. Since the bombing began on 13 July, the UN Security Council has been unable to act because of America's threat to use its blocking veto.

This stalling has bought time for Israel to continue its bid to destroy Hezbollah and thereby achieve America's desired outcome . . . that Lebanon becomes a US protectorate, Syria is isolated and Iran is contained.

Thousands marched in London yesterday in support of an immediate ceasefire, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. The international community's response has been couched in such conciliatory language that they might as well have stayed silent. To express outrage at Israel's indiscriminate bombing is somehow to align yourself with Syria or worse Iran. And nobody is prepared to pull against America.

Meanwhile Israel plans to expand the ground invasion of Lebanon and Hezbollah threatens to target Tel Aviv if central Beirut is attacked. Already over 900 Lebanese civilians have been killed and 3,000 injured . . . a third of these casualties are under the age of 12.

One after one, world leaders are lining up to express their commitment to a "lasting" settlement of the Middle East problem, but not a single one has done a single thing to save a single child's life.

At the UN in New York, US secretary of state Condolleeza Rice has been expressing cheery optimism all week that a deal is close. Even if a deal on a UN resolution is voted on as early as tomorrow, the suspension of hostilities may take longer.

British prime minister Tony Blair says he's been misunderstood on the issue. After extensive criticism at home, he committed last week to personally lead a drive to reenergise the peace process . . . after the holidays in September. After a five-day break in California he went so far as to describe Israel's bombing campaign as "unacceptable".

Former British ambassador to Washington Rodric Braithwaite said Blair's "total identification with the White House has destroyed his influence in Washington, Europe and the Middle East itself; who bothers with the monkey when he can go straight to the organ grinder?"

In an article in the Israeli daily paper Ha'aretz, political scientist Zeev Sternhell made an interesting point. He contends that President Bush seems to want Israel to both destroy Lebanon and sustain painful losses thereby providing him with an alibi for the war in Iraq.

Regardless of what happens next, or how quickly the UN ceasefire resolution comes, America has as much blood on its hands since 13 July as both Israel and Hezbollah.

Events like Qana are outrageous but lethargy to act to stop them happening again and again is just as contemptible.