[Fredricka Whitfield, Cnn Anchor:] Here's what we know right now. What Israel calls its pinpoint operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon has widened. Tanks and more troops crossed the border earlier today. On both sides of the border, more attacks, as Israel launched new air strikes on Hezbollah targets. More rockets slammed into northern Israel. On the diplomatic front, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she will search for a sustainable end to the violence as she heads to the region tomorrow. Americans are weighing in on the Middle East crisis and on President Bush's response. A closer look at what the latest polls are showing from our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.
[William Schneider, Cnn Senior Political Analyst::] Do Americans want the United States to play an active role in trying to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah? The answer is clear no. The public wants to stay out of it. What about sending U.S. troops as part of an international peacekeeping force? That sounds better, but the public is still divided and worried.
[George W. Bush, President Of The United States:] The world must deal with Hezbollah, with Syria and to continue to work to isolate Iran.
[Schneider:] Only 38 percent of the public approves of the way President Bush is handling the Israeli-Hezbollah crisis. Do Americans believe Israel has gone too far in its response? No. Fewer than an third of Americans feel that way. Nearly half say Israel's response has been about right or hasn't gone far enough. Does the public think Israel should continue to take military action until Hezbollah can no longer launch attacks or seek a cease- fire as soon as possible? They are split, by party, in fact. Most Republicans say Israel should continue to attack until the threat is eliminated. Most Democrats want a cease-fire. What about the evacuation of Americans in Lebanon? Fifty-three percent think the government is handling it well. Some critics have made a comparison to another evacuation.
[Rep. John Dingell , Michigan:] It seems to manifest some of the same things that we saw when this administration handled Katrina.
[Schneider:] But the public sees a big difference. Last September, 63 percent thought the Katrina evacuation was handled poorly. Only 29 percent feel that way about the Lebanon evacuation. Fifty-seven percent of Americans say that they sympathize with Israel in this conflict. Only 4 percent say they sympathize with Hezbollah, although a lot of Americans, 39 percent, don't express sympathy with either side over the other Fredericka.
[Whitfield:] So, bottom line, Bill, lots of divisions all the way around. How might this conflict and the U.S. involvement, or lack thereof, affect U.S. politics?
[Schneider:] Yes, well that's a very big question and it very much depends on which war, the war in Lebanon or the war in Iraq, is at the top of the agenda. The polling shows that Iraq is the Democrats' issue. People prefer Democrats when they are asked which party would handle the war in Iraq better. But the war on terror is the Republicans' issue. Who would handle terrorism better? People prefer the Republicans. And the war between Israel and Lebanon is a war against radical Islamists. That's the same enemy that America faces in the war on terror.
[Whitfield:] Now, what about divisions in the Arab world? Are we seeing that, too?
[Schneider:] We are seeing some criticism of Hezbollah. A lot of Arabs, the Arab League, for instance, are critical of the fact that the anti-Israel cause may be hijacked by Shiites, by Islamic radicals who are backed by Iran. Iran is not an Arab country and there is some resentment that the anti-Israel cause is being picked up by people that a lot of Arab governments don't support. And they're very worried. And so is Israel and the United States. Because if radical Islamists take over this cause, there's really no way to negotiate and there's no possibility of a land for peace deal.
[Whitfield:] And is that what's underscoring why this conflict seems to be so different, or, at least, it's showing some hallmarks of a very different Middle East conflict?
[Schneider:] Yes. This is a conflict with Islamic radicals and Israel. Israel is not fighting simply Palestinian nationalists like the PLO or other Arab countries. So that it's a far more threatening conflict for both Israel and the United States.
[Whitfield:] Yes. And so is that why there have there is this world pressure, then, on the U.S. to perhaps do a little bit more than just talking with Israel, that it has to branch out and possibly, for once, talk to Syria, for starters?
[Schneider:] Well, a lot of people think that and there's pretty good evidence that Syria and Iran are part of this. It's a very complicated situation because the direct parties to the conflict Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah the two radical Islamist groups are not countries. It's very hard to talk about dealing with them. They're not countries with regular armies. So they're backed by Syria and Iran. But the United States does not have regular relations with Syria and Iran.
[Whitfield:] Right.
[Schneider:] So when Condoleezza Rice is going to the Middle East, she's not going to Syria. She's not going to Iran. She doesn't deal with Hezbollah and Hamas, who are terrorist groups. So she has to deal with the countries that we talk to. But they're not really direct parties to this conflict.
[Whitfield:] Interesting. All right, Bill Schneider, thanks so much. And much more to come on the crisis in the Middle East, including Nic Robertson's in-depth look at Hezbollah. He's running through the streets of Beirut after a recent attack our Nic Robertson is along with others. The U.S. calls Hezbollah a terrorist group. But millions support the organization. Why? That story next. Plus, CNN's International Desk is keeping a close watch on all the latest developments in the conflict, including the attacks on the communications towers in Lebanon. We'll keep you up to date as the events happen.