If this report is accurate, and I believe it is, then we might be closer to a ceasefire than previously imagined because Hezbollah’s offensive capacity will have been dramatically decreased, which was the purpose behind Israel’s not accepting the ceasefire in the first place. There’s more good news in the JPost article, too:

In the course of the fighting, the IDF asserted that it had killed some 200 Hizbullah operatives. Though most of the names were not released, one of the more prominent targets hit was Jihad Atiya, who was said to be responsible for the killing and kidnapping of IDF soldiers Benny Avraham, Adi Avitan and Omar Sueid in 2000. Meanwhile, it was released for publication that an IAF UAV bombed a truck that was said to have been importing weapons from Syria, through the Masnaa border crossing, into Lebanon. The driver of the truck was wounded, as well as four additional Lebanese customs workers.

Jean Francois Kerry got out his pack of spitballs and attacked Rush Limbaugh for Rush’s statement that President Bush is the best friend that the Israelis have ever had. Here’s Kerry’s official statement from his website:

"Rush Limbaugh's ignorance and willingness to divide Americans knows no bounds. His latest statement about Israel is beyond offensive to all of us who have fought to protect Israel in the face of enemies committed to its destruction."

That was written by Jerusalem Post columnist Jonathan Rosenblum in July, 2002. That isn’t the only person saying it. Many is the time that Ed Koch has said that President Bush has been Israel’s best friend.

Instead of Kerry telling Rush to pick up a history book, I’d suggest that he pick up a newspaper. Better yet, he should start reading the Right Blogosphere so he finally gets a clue.

Yesterday, the U.S. House voted 410-8 on Resolution 921. Here’s the first article of the resolution:

It’s incredibly irresponsible to have a representative that doesn’t think that a sovereign nation has the right to defend itself. It’s equally irresponsible for a congressman to vote against holding terrorists responsible for their actions. This isn’t a difficult intellectual decision. In what should’ve been an easy vote, Jim McDermott got it wrong. Badly wrong.

Since that time, I've had the time to do some digging into Mr. McDermott's past. What I found was disturbing. Here's an article in the Seattle Times that is quite revealing. I can only characterize it as the ultimate puff piece.

American Muslims mingling in a ballroom at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in downtown Seattle last night showed no outward sign of the pressure many are feeling. At the annual banquet for the Seattle chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the issues of war abroad and civil rights at home surfaced at the podium, and participants were ready with opinions when asked.
Yet this formal gathering of more than 300 people breathed the warmth and intimacy of a close-knit community. Children dressed in their best filled the room with a family feeling. Men from Africa, the Middle East and Malaysia greeted each other with broad smiles, tight bear hugs and soft kisses to the cheek. Young women mostly wore headscarves, and a few had their faces veiled.
One overt political note was sounded as U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, was introduced and given CAIR’s public-official-of-the-year award for his support of the Muslim community.

After reading that much puffery, I was left wondering if this was given to the columnist by McDermott's PR director. What's even more offensive is the fact that CAIR is anything but a moderate Islamic group.

CAIR has a decent enough public image but they’ve got some character flaws. Here’s a brief summary of those flaws:

For starters, it's on the wrong side in the war on terrorism. One indication came in October, 1998 when the group demanded the removal of a Los Angeles billboard describing Osama bin Laden as "the sworn enemy", finding this depiction "offensive to Muslims."

and:

When President Bush closed the Holy Land Foundation in December for collecting money he said was “used to support the Hamas terror organization,” CAIR decried his action as “unjust” and “disturbing.”

Does that sound like a moderate? McDermott likes and supports terrorist appeasing organizations like CAIR. The fact that he gladly accepts their awards is insulting to people who care about America.

It’s time the people of Washington’s 7th District fired him this November. It’s time they elected Steve Beren.

• Republicans are the majority party in America;
• America doesn't hate politicians nearly as much as Democrats hate Republicans; and
• The American people won't vote for politicians who stand for nothing but hating their opponents.