Tuesday digest

- Last week, it was suggested here that one of the things Hezbollah has in its corner are the forces of political correctness. Despite the fact that the terrorists (and that's what they are, terrorists) clearly base a significant part of their operations in residential areas, we seem to be back to a September 10 mentality when it comes to combatting radical Islamic fundamentalists. Don't downgrade - destroy. It's unfortunate that collateral damage sometimes involves women and children but I suspect that deep down, Hezbollah's leaders love when that happens because it gives them ammunition in the propaganda war that has been plaguing Lebanese society internally, and for that matter, the "Arab street" worldwide, for decades. Meanwhile, the French have fallen back into their usual diplomatic stupor , and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez (pictured here with houseguest Cindy Sheehan) has received a medal from Iran, presumably for supporting Ahmedinejad in his quest to "wipe Israel off the map". Hence, Dennis Prager is bang on here when he suggests that when the US and Israel are on the wrong side of "world opinion" , they're usually doing the right thing.

- David Frum on Mel Gibson: "If a drunken Mel Gibson did indeed call out, 'Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world,' then there can be only one possible place for a man who believes such things: as the next Secretary General of the United Nations." (H/T: Right Wing News.)

- Encouraging news from Cuba this morning for those who value freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, democracy, and the rule of law.

- Interesting article here about the relationship between the two '08 frontrunners.

- The forces of respect, diversity and tolerance strike again in Montreal.

- Finally, can anyone remember a summer in the last 15 years where some sex offender out on conditional release has NOT re-offended? This happens over and over and over again and no one seems to have the guts to do anything about it. Three words: mandatory minimum sentencing, so that the terms of punishment for heinous crimes like this are set by the people through their legislators rather than by wrong-headed judges who believe that child molesters can be rehabilitated. Sorry, but if you're a child molester, I don't even think you deserve the chance.