Letter from the editor.

In this issue, we examine what was behind this summer's month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah, and what it means for the Mideast and for America's role in the region. In a related article, we look back at Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution: How did a reliable ally of the West become one of its biggest adversaries?

Back on these shores, in "The Not So United States," we see how states are ignoring Washington and going their own way on a range of issues. Is this 2006 version of federalism what the Founding Fathers had in mind in the Constitution? We also look at a topic very close to home for many of you and your students: As high schools stop ranking their graduating classes, how does it affect the college admissions process?