Everybody's a winner!

Preznit.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 — President Bush on Monday defended his handling of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, declaring that Hezbollah had been the loser in the monthlong fight and warning Syria and Iran against resupplying the Lebanese militia.

Mr. Bush spoke as he and his advisers sought to portray the cease-fire deal that was established under a United Nations Security Council resolution as an affirmation of American foreign policy.

“It took a while to get the resolution done,” Mr. Bush said at the State Department. “But most objective observers would give the United States credit for helping to lead the effort to get a resolution that addressed the root cause of the problem.”

Hezbollah.

Hezbollah supporters passed out leaflets throughout Lebanon, especially on the main highway used by refugees returning to the south of the country, congratulating the nation and the terror group on their "big victory" over Israel.

The leaflets, as reported by the AP, read, "Congratulations to you on the big victory, with the support of Allah, the holy warriors and your patience."

Travelers on the southbound highway were seen flashing "V" for victory. One woman told reporters she was very thankful to Hezbollah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, who "from the first day told us he would return us to our homes, and now he has fulfilled his promise."

Israel.

General Halutz, the chief of staff, said he hoped Israel would be out of Lebanon in 10 days. “It is not by chance that the Hezbollah is honoring the cease-fire, just as we are honoring it, since it paid a direct price in human lives and the destruction of its infrastructure, in its long-range missile ability and in its status within Lebanon and the world,” he told Israeli Radio.

[In fact, looks like General Halutz really was a winner in this deal.]

Iran.

In their comments today, both the Iranian and Syrian leaders were highly critical of the United States. Mr. Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, said Hezbollah had thwarted American plans to create a new Middle East dominated by “the United States, Britain and Zionists,” who should “compensate Lebanon for the damage.” He said that Iran was ready to help the Lebanese with reconstruction aid.

Mr. Ahmadinejad told a large crowd in Ardabil that “on one side, it’s corrupt powers with modern bombs and planes, and on the other side is a group of pious youth relying on God.” He did not mention their supply of modern rockets and antitank weapons, most of them supplied by Iran.

It's like T-ball. Everybody gets to hit and reach base.

So, who are the losers in this game of declaring victory?