It may not be a surprise to say that things are screwed up in the world. Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran are threats to everyone. Their spreading terror, Islamic extremism and eventually weapons of mass destruction undermine the security of the Middle East and the entire world.

It is in the interest of the international community that the threats they pose be dealt with responsibly. And, if they are, Israel would also benefit from such action.

To a large extent, however, the opposite happens. The world does not act sufficiently. Even when it passes a resolution, as in the case of 1559 two years ago in the Security Council, nothing happens on the ground.

As a result of that inaction, Israel is forced to defend itself for its own protection. And then much of the world criticizes Israel for doing what the world should have done in the first place but actually benefits from what Israel has done.

In other words, things are completely upside down.

Of course, we've seen part of this scenario before. In the 1930's, Europe should have acted early on for its own sake against Hitler when it could have stopped him. If it had, the Jewish people would have found themselves in a very different situation than came to pass. Instead, Hitler was allowed to accumulate massive military power and the Jews were helpless, trapped, and doomed.

Fortunately, today the Jewish people in the form of the State of Israel and with the support of the United States, are not helpless when the world fails to act. Amid all the internal criticism now taking place in Israel, let's keep this vital distinction in perspective.

It was the international community and Lebanon that failed and put Israel in this difficult situation. If Israel hesitated to put in massive ground forces in Lebanon, let's remember the 1200 Israeli boys died there in the 1980's and 1990's.

And, in the end, even if Israel made mistakes and didn't accomplish everything, it did make clear that it will do what it has to do to protect itself.

Nothing ilustrates this more than comments by Lebanese Prime Minister Sinora that there must be no more mini-states in Lebanon and by Lebanese Defense Minister that any party that launches rockets into Israel is a "traitor" because it will give Israel an "excuse" to attack. I call that deterrence.

But it shouldn't work that way and Israel pays a heavy price for this mess.

Now the international community faces one more critical test of its seriousness. Resolution 1701 provides for an international force, which together with the Lebanese army, are authorized to gain control of southern Lebanon, prevent Hezbollah from reentering with arms, and stop the rearming of the terrorist group by Iran and Syria.

Will we see more UN broken promises? Already, comments by French officials and others resisting sending sufficient forces and questioning whether the force should be robust, should give pause.

Are we witnessing a replay where the international community knows where its interests lie - to stop Hezbollah in order to forestall an even worse war and to check Iran in Lebanon - but finds excuses to take the course of least resistance.

This would be a disaster for Lebanon. And could be a harbinger for an even greater disaster, for the region and the world, inaction in the face of Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Rationality tells us that the world will act in both cases, because they have to know, if they don't, Israel will. But rationality often does not prevail in these scenarios.