Angry Hezbollah supporters protest civilian deaths after Hezbollah terrorists fire rockets from residential areas

Life is full of irony. (See my prior post, "Angry Muslim Terrorists Protest Cartoon Stereotypes of Angry Muslim Terrorists.")

Ten years ago, Israel withdrew from Lebanon. More recently, it withdrew from Gaza. "Land for peace."

There is no peace.

After Hezbollah terrorists crossed the border into Israel a few weeks ago, killing 8 Israeli soldiers and kidnapping 2, and Israel responded by attacking Hezbollah positions, Hezbollah terrorists have fired more than 1,600 Katyusha rockets into Israeli cities, many launched from residential areas.


The caption of this AP photo: "Hezbollah supporters, furious over an Israeli attack that killed up to 57, storm their way into the main UN building in Beirut yesterday."

So. Hezbollah supporters blame the U.N. for civilian deaths in Lebanon? And they are angry about Israeli attacks that kill civilians? Really?

Instead of breaking U.N. windows they should look in a mirror.

Hezbollah terrorists are themselves "civilians." They wear no uniform. They represent no recognized nation state. They operate in residential areas, firing missiles at Israeli civilians (not military targets) in Israeli cities, using Lebanese civilians as human shields.

It is obviously a Hezbollah tactic to create civilian casualties in Lebanon so they can turn world opinion against Israeli counterattacks.

So "Qana" is now the buzzword.

But we should take a step back and consider
"the meaning of "civilian" in this conflict and in the larger global war on terrorism. And we should consider that every Hezbollah fighter killed in the conflict is a "civilian" casualty. And we should consider whether there is a moral equivalence between intentionally targeting civilian noncombatants with ball-bearing-warhead missiles, and targeting the launchers that fired them after dropping leaflets warning that such attacks will come.

As Glenn Reynolds has said, "Terrorism is an information war disguised as a military operation." Firing missiles at Israeli civilians from Qana was a Hezbollah operation in that war. And so far truth seems to be one of the most serious casualties.

Girlie men?

Is it possible that a test showed Tour de France winner, American Floyd Landis, had unusually high levels of testosterone because the test compared his level to the baseline French male level?

Vacated

Just returned from a wonderful family vacation. Maybe more on the trip in a later post.

Endowed with power from on high

Our son, David, received his own endowment in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple last night.

[T]here I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high;

And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand. --D&C 38:32-33

What's good for the goose...

Instapundit reader Stephen Clark points out a double standard:

A simple question asked in the context of recent events and prior discussions of the Geneva Accords: Why hasn't the International Committee of the Red Cross demanded access to the Israeli soldiers taken in Gaza and in northern Israel? The same could be asked for any other relevant organizations as well as governments who've recently been concerned with the treatment of non-uniformed combatants.

Certainly the soldier taken into Gaza is the responsibility of the quasi-Palestinian state and surely deserving of Geneva protections. Hezbollah while not a state or quasi-state has at least as much stature as Al Qaeda and it seems that the international community believes that Geneva extends to Al Qaeda's representatives; so, why would it not also extend to uniformed soldiers held by Hezbollah which, I believe, has declared itself to be at war with the state of Israel.

The Instapundit (Glenn Reynolds) has the answer: "Because, of course, the Geneva Conventions only apply against Israel, and the United States, never to their benefit. You can look it up."

Islamofascists sabotage Mideast democracies

It's no coincidence that the current fighting in the Middle East is in the three fledgling democracies there: Gaza, Lebanon, and Iraq. (Hat tip to Andrew Sullivan for pointing out Thomas Friedman's observation -- which is locked out to NYT nonsubscribers).

Why do radical Islamist extremists oppose democracy? Why indeed.

One reason is the President has it right: democracies do not sponsor terrorism, do not attack their neighbors. Create democracies, defeat terrorists.

Another corollary: Islamofascists are enemies of freedom. They are more radical than their political ancestors the Nazis -- they are suicidal in their hatred of freedom.

How do you destroy such enemies without destroying the hope for democracy in the countries where they operate? It is, indeed, a fight to the death.

Israel's War of Independence 2006

Krauthammer on why they fight.

U of Wisconsin hires 9/11 denialist

He "knows" 9/11 was an inside job because of the "overwhelming evidence" assembled by Dr. Steven Jones: the WTC towers were brought down in a "controlled demolition".

Right.

Hannity and Colmes video here.

Ann Althouse's analysis here.

Here's a war protest that's hard to stomach

Mark Steyn nails it on Hollywood antiwar activists' "rolling fast". Money quote:

The problem for the ''activists'' is that the entire anti-war movement is undernourished. Indeed, in all their contempt for America as an effete narcissistic ninny too soft and self-absorbed to stand any pain, even al-Qaida couldn't have come up with as withering a parody of the Great Satan's decadence as a celebrity pseudo-fast. As the great Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean said on his deathbed: ''Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.'' Not for Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon.

Read the whole thing.

Nothing from nothing

Over the falls with Dems

Family finds support

The highest courts in New York and Georgia uphold constitutionality of same-sex marriage ban. The Pope preaches traditional family in Spain.

Until then

You've seen this before. Worth seeing again. God bless the troops this Fourth of July!

America's Freedom Festival at Provo

It'a taken my parents-in-law living with us to reacquaint us with our home town. They have plunged in with both feet to learn about eateries and things to do here in Provo. We have taken some things for granted. They're helping make living here more fresh and exciting for us.


One of Provo's great traditions is America's Freedom Festival. I had to work late the last three days last week, so Jed went in my place with Cindy and my parents-in-law Friday night to the Freedom Awards Gala banquet where the Festival honored six individuals for their contributions to liberty and freedom in the world. Honorees included a survivor of the Bataan death march, the HQ USAF ACC commander, a man who has spent his life rescuing children from slavery in India, and a Green Beret who received the Distinguished Service Cross in for courage and bravery in Afghanistan.


On Saturday, after a traditional barbecue at my parents' house, catered by the producer, director, and crew of his recent DVD series, we attended Stadium of Fire (photo by my son Jed).


The event opened with the traditional F-16 flyover, with the pilot of the lead plane on camera in his cockpit emceeing the opening, welcoming the crowd, and listing the performers to the crowd's cheers. Headliners were hosts country music artist Keni Thomas and Miss USA 2005 Chelsea Cooley, the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute demonstration team, Raven (from Disney Channel's "That's So Raven") and the Family Faceoff Competition, a battle of the tribute bands (Queen, ABBA, and the Beach Boys -- guess who won?...), new American Idol Taylor Hicks, Lee Ann Womack, and a huge fireworks show (photo by my son Jed).


Sunday evening, we attended the traditional Patriotic Service at UVSC. A couple of Freedom Award honorees were introduced, and videos of their stories shown. The Festival's youth speech award winner ("Independence Forever") gave his speech. The Festival band played each of the service songs, and members who've served in each of the armed services stood with their families (it was fun to stand with my father-in-law and the fam during "Off We Go"). And Dr. Stephen R. Covey spoke about "Becoming a Patriotic Trim-Tabber." To cap off the evening, the band played Sousa's traditional Stars and Stripes Forever.

Last night we attended Freedom Days in downtown Provo -- lots of merchandise and food vendors, a carnival, and bluegrass and other great music under a tent. We heard Cold Creek, the Sam Payne Project (listen to "Spaceman"), and Peter Breinholt.

Today it's the early morning Balloon Fest hot air balloon launch (photos by my daughter Caroline) . . .




. . . and then the Grand Parade (photos by my daughter Caroline).





After the parade, we're going to Seven Peaks Water Park for a fried chicken picnic and fun.

No better way to do the 4th in the USA!