The scene at the border since the Israeli army pullout is on most days as good natured as any tourist scene around the world.Families pose in front of "history", uncertain of the place Hezbollah will take in their lives but grateful for the price the guerilla warriors paid to liberate their land.

In the center, the girl's T-shirt reads: "I have a Boyfriend. I love he and he loves me, too! Love Beach." But if Hezbollah really gets its way, she can kiss Lebanon's "Love Beach" good-bye.

On Hezbollah's yellow flag the 'L' of Allah extends into a fist holding a Kalashnikov rifle.