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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wants Syria to use its influence to rein in Hezbollah. And Syria wants diplomatic engagement with the United States. But Rice isn't planning on talking directly to Damascus. She's counting on friendly regional governments to carry the U.S. message to Syria.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits Israel for talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Before their private meeting, Olmert said Israel would continue its fight against Hezbollah. Rice repeated her view that the solution to the current crisis must not return to status quo before the fighting began two weeks ago. Rice also met with Palestinian officials in the West Bank.

American forces are evacuating thousands of U.S. citizens from war-torn Lebanon. But smaller evacuations take place quite often and receive barely a mention in the media — the evacuation of families and non-essential personnel from U.S. embassies in countries that have become dangerous.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice paid a surprise visit to Beirut on Monday, where she said she was concerned about the Lebanese people but did not agree to calls for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.

With Kofi Annan's term due to expire at year's end, the U.N. Security Council is starting the search for a new secretary general. Asian nations insist it's time for someone from their region to hold the post.

Hezbollah continues to fire large numbers of rockets into northern Israel, while the Israeli military continues its air and artillery strikes on Lebanon. Israeli incursions into south Lebanon have encountered heavier-than-expected resistance from well-organized Hezbollah guerrillas.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in Beirut to begin a diplomatic mission to the Middle East. Her unannounced stop in Lebanon is intended to show support for the country's beleaguered government. Rice will work to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli warplanes keep up intense bombardment of Beirut and southern Lebanon on Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have been displaced from their homes, and lack of security and destroyed infrastructure has made it difficult to get aid to those who need it.

Guest host Don Gonyea and Michele Kelemen discuss the goals and problems facing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as she begins her trip to the Mideast and Italy, seeking a lasting solution to the problems facing Israelis, Palestinians and Lebanese.

The Saudi government has condemned Hezbollah for fomenting the latest round of violence, but many Saudis disagree with their government's position. Saudis vacationing in Zabadani, Syria, weigh in on the latest Mideast crisis and their government's diplomatic position.