THE QANA SMOKESCREEN

By Michelle Malkin

First, take a look at mob scenes across the Muslim world this weekend, ostensibly--ostensibly--in response to the civilian deaths in Qana, Lebanon (via Yahoo! News). Angry Muslims from Beirut to Gaza to Lahore are setting fire to American and Israeli flags. Burning effigies of Western leaders. Raising their voices in death chants:

(Tigerhawk has more shots.)

It all seems so...so familiar, doesn't it? Didn't we go through this same routine, the same scripted jihad theatrics, barely sixth months ago over the Mohammed cartoons? From February:

The truth about Muslim outrage over Qana is that it's not really about the tragic deaths at Qana--just like the cartoon jihad was not really about the cartoons.

Remember: Muslim outrage over the Danish cartoons was stoked and manufactured amid attempts to bully Denmark over the International Atomic Energy Agency's decision to report Iran to the UN Security Council for continuing with its nuclear research program. Iran blamed Israel for the cartoons:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is at odds with much of the international community about Iran's disputed nuclear program, launched an anti-Israeli campaign last fall when he said the Holocaust was a "myth" and that Israel should be "wiped off the map."

In a speech marking the 27th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution on Saturday, Ahmadinejad linked his public rage with Israel and the cartoons satirizing Islam's most revered figure.

"Now in the West insulting the prophet is allowed, but questioning the Holocaust is considered a crime," he said. "We ask, 'Why do you insult the prophet?' The response is that it is a matter of freedom, while in fact they (who insult the founder of Islam) are hostages of the Zionists. And the people of the U.S. and Europe should pay a heavy price for becoming hostages to Zionists."

Now, the Qana jihad, gleefully stoked by Iran, is unfolding amid mounting U.N. Security Council pressure on Tehran and a looming resolution calling for the country to suspend its nuclear program.

US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton, bless him, isn't falling for the ploy:

U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton said Hezbollah's actions were the ``fundamental cause'' of the conflict, and accused the group of hiding behind civilians.

``It says something about the morality and respect for human life of Hezbollah that they would use innocent civilians as shields; that's just something that for civilized people is not acceptable,'' Bolton said.

What better way to distract from Hezbollah's atrocities and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's annihilation plans than to start screaming about Israel's "war crimes" and Western crimes against humanity. John Hinderaker at Power Line points to prefab jihadi banners demonizing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. EU Referendum looks at morbid photo posing. Bob Owens wonders where all the men were.

But never mind all that, right? The Muslim world is united again. And some short-sighted Westerners are allowing themselves to be duped.

Robert Spencer at Jihad Watch has is right:

Western analysts continue to miss the fact that if it weren't Qana, it would be something else, and that Qana is just the latest in a long, long line of similar incidents used by jihadists to stir up a sense of grievance among Muslims and thereby increase support for the jihad du jour.

Exactly.

If it's not Qana, it's Gitmo.
Or cartoons or pop singers. Or filmmakers.
Or books. Or more books.
Or beauty pageants and bikinis.
Or American fast-food joints.
Or Valentine's Day.
Or playing cards.
Or Piglet.
Or soccer.
Or South Park.

There's always something burning with the jihadi members of the Religion of Perpetual Outrage. It's time to see through the smokescreen.

***

Now, go read Allah Pundit, who has a video double for you, plus a riddle:

"[W]hy is it that “fury erupt[s] around the world” when a building in the Middle East goes down, but when one goes down in lower Manhattan we get nothing but candlelight vigils and morons beating peace bongos in Union Square?"

A TREMENDOUS DAY FOR THE ISLAMIC JIHAD

There is just no other way to describe it. Yesterday an Israeli air strike killed a number of civilians in the Southern Lebanon town of Qana.

What didn't really make the news yesterday? How about the fact that while the world's media was busy telling and re-telling the story of the tragedy in Qana, Hezbollah was firing about 150 missiles into civilian areas of Iraq. This is business as usual for Hezbollah. They fire these missiles -- well over 1300 so far -- every day, and they fire them intending for them to kill civilians.

What tactics do Hezbollah use while firing these rockets at Israeli civilians? They fire them from densely populated civilian areas. We've seen video from Israeli drones that show Hezbollah mobile rocket launchers firing rockets from civilian areas ... then the trucks drive into a densely populated area to hide. The purpose is clear. When the Israelis come to destroy the rocket launcher civilians may die, and Hezbollah and it's Muslim apologists will rush to the media with pictures of dead Lebanese women and children.

Make no mistake. Hezbollah is glad this happened yesterday. Not just glad .. elated. This is part of their strategy .. a designed disaster. These Islamic terrorists hide behind their civilians while trying to kill innocent Israelis. There are reports that Hezbollah takes steps to prevent civilians from leaving the area.

The world's reaction was typical. Typical and totally expected. Kofi the Korrupt, the leader of the hideous anti-American United Nations talked yesterday of how outraged he was at the Israeli action. Does anyone remember Kofi condemning Hezbollah for their rocket attacks on Israel? Does anyone remember Kofi condemning Hamas for lobbing over 1000 rockets on Israeli settlements after Israel withdrew from Gaza?

Muslims, of course, were reacting in an entirely predictable way. They rioted and protested. The stormed the United Nations headquarters and destroyed some property. They marched in the streets. They burned flags. They shook fists. They threatened carnage. They acted as Muslims act when Muslims are killed. They acted as Muslims seem to never act when Muslims kill innocent civilians.

Muslims killing innocent civilians apparently isn't all that much of a problem for Muslims -- or for Kofi Annan.

Why no protests against Hezbollah? Muslims don't protest when Muslims kill innocent non-believers. That's apparently not a problem for them.

Why did Israel attack this particular building? Was Hezbollah launching rockets from the vicinity of this building? Did Hezbollah then hide their rocket launchers near the building .. hoping to draw an Israeli attack?

What's next? Well the pressure is on for a cease fire. Israel has stopped its air campaign for a 48 hour period to give relief personnel a chance to do their work in Qana.

If a cease fire occurs without Hezbollah being disarmed this whole episode can be considered to be no less than a magnificent victory for Hezbollah and radical Islam. Hezbollah attacks Israel. Hezbollah tries to kill Israeli civilians with rockets loaded down with metal balls ... a design for carnage. Hezbollah does all of this while hiding behind civilians in Lebanon. Israel responds and civilians in Lebanon die. The world condemns Israel and forces a cease fire. Hezbollah gets away with their aggression, Israel is demonized in the world's media, and Hezbollah is left alone to regroup, rearm and prepare for the next offensive.

About the 50 civilians who died. This is exactly what Hezbollah wanted to happen! This is their design! There was celebration within the leadership ranks of Hezbollah when those civilians, including children, died. Hezbollah brings death to Lebanese civilians, and the Lebanese honor and adore Hezbollah.

Kofi Annan says that there cannot be any military solution to this crisis. It will have to be a political agreement. Kofi is wrong. The only solution to this war with radical Islam is a military one. Muslim radicals only negotiate under two conditions; when they're in danger of being totally destroyed and need time to regroup; and when they can use the negotiations to the disadvantage of their adversaries.

This is a war. Israel realizes it. We don't.

Sure, it's tragic when innocent people die, that has occurred in every war since the beginning of time. For instance, you may not know that the Allies firebombed German cities in World War II...killing thousands of civilians. It was seen as a way to demoralize the Germans and bring about a surrender. The nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed thousands of innocent people. But they saved thousands of American lives in that it brought Japan to its knees and forced the surrender.

Israel is in a fight for its very existence. They are fighting an enemy, Islamic Hezbollah, that is being harbored by a democratically elected government in Lebanon. It is a given that when they attack an Islamic terrorist enemy that hides among civilians, there is going to be some collateral damage. That's what happens during a war.

But sadly, that's not how the rest of the world, including the Bush Administration, sees it. Despite what they say, it appears that severe limits are about to be placed on just how Israel is allowed to defend itself. If we hold Israel back now, how many lives will be lost when we finally have to act against a strengthened Hezbollah down the road?

COMING CLEAN

It’s time that John Murtha came clean and showed us who he represents. In the past, people refered to Murtha as a “Democratic hawk”, something that I didn’t totally buy into. I certainly don’t buy into it anymore.

Still, it’s worth noting that Murtha got a -2 rating from Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel for 2003-2004. A -2 rating is roughly a D- or an F. Here’s how VoteSmart worded it:

2003-2004 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel’s position, Representative Murtha received a rating of -2.

The ‘parent’ organization for Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel is United for Peace & Justice, which advocates, among other things, getting us out of Iraq. Immediately. Here’s their official position on Iraq:

1. Bring the U.S. troops home now.

2. Iraqi sovereignty must be reestablished immediately.

3. The Iraqi people, not foreigners, should make the decisions about the future of their country, including security. Iraqis should decide the structure of their economy and control Iraq’s reconstruction. The corporate invasion of Iraq must be ended and the privatizations laws passed under the occupation repealed. Labor and human rights should also be guaranteed.

4. The United States should pay for the reconstruction of and reparations to Iraq, in accordance with international law.

5. The United Nations and other international organizations should refuse to endorse or collaborate with the U.S. occupation of Iraq. But once the U.S. ends its occupation, if representative sectors of Iraqi society invite it, the UN, backed by other international bodies such as the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, should help the Iraqis establish mechanisms through which to choose their own leaders and reclaim sovereign control of their own country.

Let’s fast forward to November 17, 2005. Let’s remember John Murtha’s press release from that day:

Staying the course in Iraq is not an option or a policy. I believe we must begin discussions for an immediate re-deployment of U.S. forces from Iraq. I believe it can be accomplished in as little as six months but it must be consistent with the safety of U.S. troops. We must insist that the Iraqis step up and seize their own destiny.
The public is way ahead of Congress and is thirsting for a new direction. Over 70% of the responses I have received are in favor of my re-deployment plan. The public knows this war cannot be won with words. Most agree the insurgency cannot be won militarily. The Iraqis themselves must be the driving force. Yet we have lost the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. America wants and DESERVES real answers: What is the clear definition of success? Is there a plan? How much longer and how many more lives? In short, what is the end game?
Aside from the fact that the original plan to win the peace was flawed, two and a half years later, the indices that would determine the ultimate success of a stable Iraq have not improved. Electricity and oil production are below pre-war levels, unemployment remains at 60% and insurgent incidents have increased from 150 to over 700 per week. Average monthly death rates of U.S. service members have grown since the Abu Ghraib prison incidents from 1 per day to almost 4. Despite the addition of MORE troops, MORE equipment and MORE money, Iraq and the region have become LESS stable over time. Global terrorism has risen. What is MORE of the same going to do for Iraq or the region?
Some claim the answer is to put even more troops on the ground, but many of our troops are already on their third deployment, our Army cannot recruit to its current target, even as they lower recruiting standards. We cannot do this without a draft.
My plan calls for a more rapid turnover of Iraq to the Iraqi people. General Casey said in a September 2005 hearing, “the perception of occupation in Iraq is a major driving force behind the insurgency.” We have become a catalyst for violence. A recent poll showed that 80% of the Iraqi public are “strongly opposed” to the presence of coalition troops and 45% believe attacks against Americans are justified.
The Iraqis are a smart and proud people. They must take control of their country. My plan motivates the Iraqis to take control, sooner rather than later.

Notice the breathtaking similarities between UFPJ’s official position and Murtha’s ‘immediate redeployment’ proposal.

UFPJ: 1. Bring the U.S. troops home now.
Murtha: I believe we must begin discussions for an immediate re-deployment of U.S. forces from Iraq.

UFPJ: 2. Iraqi sovereignty must be reestablished immediately.
Murtha: We must insist that the Iraqis step up and seize their own destiny.

UFPJ: 3. The corporate invasion of Iraq must be ended and the privatizations laws passed under the occupation repealed.
From Murtha’s Press Conference:

All of Iraq must know that Iraq is free, free from a United States occupation.

UFPJ:5. The United Nations and other international organizations should refuse to endorse or collaborate with the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Murtha: I said two year ago, “The key to progress in Iraq is Iraqitize, internationalize and energize.”

This isn’t to say that Murtha’s done anything illegal. He’s entitled to his opinions. My point is that Murtha went from disagreeing with an anti-war organization all the time to agreeing with that anti-war group’s parent organization like they were writing his press releases. This raises troubling questions like: Why would Murtha accept as fact that the US is an occupier? Why would he think that “the international community” would help the Iraqi people when they haven’t helped in the rebuilding thus far? Why does Murtha think that immediately pulling our troops from Iraq would make Iraq safer? Does he think that Saddam’s thugs will stop their attempted ‘hostile takeover’ if we leave?

This information raises the question what other policy ramifications this might have if Murtha becomes the House Majority Leader. UFPJ’s position on Iran is troubling at best:

United for Peace and Justice opposes any military action against Iran, as well as covert action and sanctions. We reject the doctrine of “preventive war.” All diplomatic solutions must be pursued.

Does Murtha support their position on Iran? God help us if he does. Based on how totally he’s accepted their position on Iraq, I can’t rule it out that he’d oppose any action on Iran except endless ‘negotiations’ with Iran until they develop a nuclear weapon capability.

Here’s UFPJ’s view of the Israeli-Hezbollah war:

We condemn Hezbollah’s attacks on Israeli civilians, and we condemn the Israeli assault in Gaza and Lebanon. We also see the vast differences in the scope and scale of these actions. As the French Foreign Minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy, described it, Hezbollah’s seizure of the soldiers and firing rockets into northern Israel were “irresponsible acts”; Israel’s bombing of the Beirut international airport was “a disproportionate act of war.”

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy is wrong: “Hezbollah’s seizure of the soldiers and firing rockets into northern Israel” weren’t “irresponsible acts”. They were acts of war. Does Murtha agree with UFPJ on that, too?

George Bush is giving a green light to Israel’s use of force, which is being conducted in part with U.S.-supplied weapons. The Bush administration’s trampling of international law and national sovereignty in its war on Iraq has also emboldened Israel to disregard international condemnation of its behavior.

Based on this quote from UFPJ’s website, it’s obvious that they think that George Bush is a war criminal and that Israel’s ignoring of the international community’s condemnation for its behavior is unacceptable. Israel has every right to ignore the international community’s condemnation, especially if they abandon Israel when Israel is attacked by international terrorists.

DEMOCRATS LAUNCH SIX POINT PLAN

The Democratic Party has decided to lift a page from the Newt Gingrich playbook and come up with their own 'Contract With America,' which was the plan the House Republicans ran on in 1994. For the first time in 40 years, the Democrats' were blown out of the House and the rest is history.

So what are the Dems calling their plan?

"Six for '06." How nice. Just six? What are they? Well, here they are: national security, jobs and wages, energy independence, affordable health care, retirement security and college access for all. Now, since these points were written by Democrats, they will need a bit of translation, so here goes.

National security? The correct word, when talking about Democrats would be appeasement. That is their doctrine. Nobody could possibly believe that the Democrats are serious about fighting the Islamic radicals. Hell, they won't even call them what they are!

Energy independence? That's a code phrase for government-mandated small cars no one wants, gas lines and higher gas taxes. It also means tens of millions of taxpayer dollars sent to colleges and universities to study alternate fuels, and quite possibly a nice little windfall tax on energy companies to top things off!

Affordable health care? Your answer there is socialized medicine. Simple as that. Remember HillaryCare? Well, wait until you see the second coming!

Retirement security? What they really mean is huge increases in Social Security taxes in order to fund a bankrupt program with a poor return on your money. They surely don't mean letting you plan and control your own retirement savings.

College access for all? That's even more of a joke. Everybody already has access to college, but what the Democrats want is 100% taxpayer-funded government schools.

So really, their 6 points really come down to 3 points. Appease the Islamic terrorists, raise taxes and grow government. Since it's all more of the same, this is unlikely to energize the voters. Besides, they forget their 7th most important point: we hate George Bush.

AL-QAIDA CALLS FOR HOLY WAR AGAINST ISRAEL- AND THE REST OF THE WORLD, TOO...

AP reports: “Al-Qaida’s No. 2 leader issued a worldwide call Thursday for Muslims to rise up in a holy war against Israel and join the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza until Islam reigns from “Spain to Iraq.”

In the message broadcast by Al-Jazeera television, Ayman al-Zawahri, second in command to Osama bin Laden, said that al-Qaida now views “all the world as a battlefield open in front of us.”

The Egyptian-born physician said that the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and Palestinian militants would not be ended with “cease-fires or agreements.”

Do you hear that, liberal protesters?

“It is a jihad (holy war) for the sake of God and will last until (our) religion prevails … from Spain to Iraq,” al-Zawahri said. “We will attack everywhere.”

Well, there you have it. That’s the plan.

Diplomacy? Anyone?

He said Arab regimes were accomplices to Israel. “My fellow Muslims, it is obvious that Arab and Islamic governments are not only impotent but also complicit … and you are alone on the battlefield. Rely on God and fight your enemies … make yourselves martyrs.”

Appeasement and negotiation are not options.

He also called for the “downtrodden” throughout the world, not just Muslims, to join the battle against “tyrannical Western civilization and its leader, America.”

Sounds like Cesar Chavez and his pal, Cindy Sheehan. Is he also blogging on the DailyLostKos?

“Stand with Muslims in confronting this unprecedented oppression and tyranny. Stand with us as we stand with you against this injustice that was forbidden by God in his book (the Quran),” al-Zawahri said.

Y’know, maybe we should rethink our strategy and forget about military might. Instead, simply send armed liberals and the ACLU to the Middle East. Just like the successful battle they’ve been waging in U.S., in no time they would have all references to religion driven from politics and the public square.

Only problem is, unlike Christians today, who allow themselves to be mocked and persecuted by remaining nonviolent, the Islamists would respond to the ACLU much differently.

Terrorism is a plague upon the earth. And that’s no joke.

UPDATE:
Austin Bay: “What About The Next Hezbollah?”
Michelle Malkin: “Israeli Soldier Release?”
CounterTerrorism Blog has more.

SURPRISED? MAYBE WE HAD BETTER WAKE UP HERE

I don't know if you've noticed, but the Israeli army is having a rather tough time with Hezbollah. In story after story you read that the Israeli army doesn't seem to be the awesome, feared fighting machine it once was, and that Hezbollah is showing no fear of the Israelis and putting up a stalwart fight. Some reports I've read even say that Hezbollah is winning this confrontation - this war - and that it will soon be the Israelis who are looking for a cease fire; a cease fire they can use to regroup and consider their options.

Israel, at the urging of the world community, sowed the seeds for this current situation when they withdrew from Southern Lebanon years ago. The Israelis responded to world opinion (usually a mistake) by pulling back without any agreement from either the terrorists in Hezbollah or in Lebanon. The idea behind the pullback was that maybe, just maybe, Hezbollah and Lebanon would be content to honor the international border between the two countries and leave Israel in peace.

Fat chance.

Instead, Hezbollah remained loyal to the Islamic dream of a Middle East with no Israel. They used the time to build its fortifications in Southern Lebanon, moving the bulk of them underground. They used this time to build their military capability and to stash rockets and arms -- most of which were supplied by Iran with no small amount of help from Syria.

When Iran and Hezbollah felt that the military buildup and the entrenchment was sufficient, they launched their provocations against Israel, knowing that Israel would respond.

Muslims around the world are cheering Hezbollah on. Not only Muslims, but a goodly number of anti-Semitics in this country who suffer from that strange form of dementia that causes one to blame every evil in their personal life and in the world on "those Jews."

I hope the rest of us are paying attention here, and I fear we are not. This is much more than a battle between Israel and Hezbollah. This is one front, one battle in World War III, the war between the West and radical Islam.

Israel tried to do the right thing. They withdrew. They sought peace. They asked nothing more to be left alone. The Islamists in Hezbollah and their supporters and enablers in Lebanon, Syria and Iran saw this as a sign of weakness. Israel is tired. Israel doesn't want to fight any more. Israel is weak. Israel can be defeated.

These Islamic murderers see the same weakness in the United States. Oh, to be sure, for a while they feared George Bush. In George Bush they saw an American leader who understood their intentions and who was bent on their destruction. Soon after Bush showed his resolve by invading Afghanistan you saw Muslim leaders starting to backtrack. They were starting to retreat back into their holes ... until, that is, the American left stepped forward.

For American liberals, for the Nancy Pelosis, Ted Kennedys and Howard Deans of this world, the hatred of George Bush and the bitterness of the 2000 election just couldn't be overcome. It mattered not that the president understood the danger presented by Islam, and was prepared to fight. It only mattered that George Bush defeated their Damien, their precious Al Gore, and that Democratic honor had to be assuaged. Bush had to be demonized.

As the Democrats intensified their attacks on George Bush over the war in Iraq, the Muslims started to see the weakness they were looking for. Another Western weakness ripe for exploitation.

Right now Israel is paying the price for appeasement. Some in Israel thought that there might be a better way .. .a way to live in peace with radical Islam. They now know better.

Do we?

Now ... before you move on, read this Ann Coulter column. Once you have you'll realize that we are, indeed, in a world war against radical Islam. It's time for some folks to decide which side they want to support.