by JAMES TARANTO
Monday, July 17, 2006 3:16 P.M. EDT

Shiite Hits Fan
Let's look at the bright side, shall we? There are quite a few countries that have waged war on Israel before (1948, 1967, 1973) but are not doing so now. Jerusalem is formally at peace with Egypt and Jordan. Iraq is busy recovering from Saddam Hussein's misrule. And as the New York Times reports, Saudi Arabia, among others, is actually taking Israel's side, sort of:

Key Arab governments have taken the rare step of blaming Hezbollah, underscoring in part their growing fear of influence by the group's main sponsor, Iran.

Saudi Arabia, with Jordan, Egypt and several Persian Gulf states, chastised Hezbollah for "unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible acts" at an emergency Arab League summit meeting in Cairo on Saturday.

The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, said of Hezbollah's attacks on Israel, "These acts will pull the whole region back to years ago, and we cannot simply accept them." Prince Faisal spoke at the closed-door meeting but his words were reported to journalists by other delegates.

Israel is at war ostensibly with Lebanon, whence have come kidnappings of soldiers on the border and rocket attacks on Israeli cities. But the government in Beirut is disunited and unable to control its own territory, as Ha'aretz reports:

On Saturday Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora called for state's authority to extend over southern Lebanon.

In an emotional address to the nation, he called on the Lebanese public "to work to extend the state's authority over all its territories, in cooperation with the United Nations in southern Lebanon."

Siniora called for an immediate cease-fire with Israel, and asked for help in deploying the country's army in the south, from where Hezbollah has for days pounded northern Israel with Katyusha rockets.

Siniora also called on Lebanon to "work to recover all Lebanese territories and exercising full sovereignty of the state over those territories."

Hezbollah, a Shiite terrorist group, doubles as a political party and is part of Siniora's government. But plainly it is acting on its own, and Lebanon continues to take a pounding from Israel because the government in Beirut is too weak to surrender. This led to a rather amusing exchange last week at the United Nations, in which Israel's ambassador, Dan Gillerman, lectured his Lebanese counterpart, as CNSNews.com recounts:

"You know, deep down, that if you could, you would add your voice to those of your brave countrymen. You know, deep down in your heart, that you should really be sitting here, next to me, voicing the same opinion," said Gillerman.

"You know that what we are doing is right, and, if we succeed, your country will be the real beneficiary. I am sure many of our colleagues around this table and in this chamber, including many or our neighbours, share this sentiment," Gillerman added.

Those neighbors--Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, etc.--are Sunni, while Hezbollah and its patron Iran are Shiite. The dictator of Syria, which backs Hezbollah (and also Hamas, which is attacking Israel from the unoccupied Gaza Strip) belongs to the Alawite sect, a Shiite offshoot. So it is the Shiites shooting while Sunnis sit on the sidelines. As Reuters reports from St. Petersburg, Russia:

A microphone picked up an unaware President Bush saying on Monday Syria should press Hezbollah to "stop doing this [scatological vulgarity]" and that his secretary of state may go to the Middle East soon.

Reuters, which considers terrorism taboo, actually quotes the vulgarity, which we've omitted, in part because this Web site is published by a family newspaper and in part because we're not sure the president didn't actually say "Shiite."

These Shiite stirrings make this New York Times report from Iraq--the only major Arab country with a Shiite majority--especially pertinent:

As sectarian violence soars, many Sunni Arab political and religious leaders once staunchly opposed to the American presence here are now saying they need American troops to protect them from the rampages of Shiite militias and Shiite-run government forces.

The pleas from the Sunni Arab leaders have been growing in intensity since an eruption of sectarian bloodletting in February, but they have reached a new pitch in recent days as Shiite militiamen have brazenly shot dead groups of Sunni civilians in broad daylight in Baghdad and other mixed areas of central Iraq.

The Sunnis also view the Americans as a "bulwark against Iranian actions here," a senior American diplomat said.

Talk of withdrawal from Iraq seems to have died down while we were away, but if it comes up again, keep in mind that one very plausible consequence of cutting and running would be to turn Iraq into a satellite of Iran.

Meanwhile, what will Israel do? Michael Oren draws some lessons from the 1960s, when "one Arab state did not want peace":

Syria, then as now under the rule of the belligerent Baath Party, wanted war. . . . The Syrians began supporting a little-known Palestinian guerrilla group called Al Fatah under the leadership of Yasir Arafat. Using Lebanon as its principal base, Al Fatah commenced operations against Israel in 1965 and rapidly escalated its attacks. Finally, at the end of 1966, Israeli officials felt compelled to retaliate. But, fearing the repercussions of attacking Soviet-backed Syria, they decided to strike at an Al Fatah stronghold in the Jordanian-controlled West Bank. . . .

Suddenly and unexpectedly, a regional war erupted that the principal combatants--Israel, Egypt, and Jordan--neither desired nor anticipated. The lesson: Local conflicts in the Middle East can quickly spin out of control and spiral into a regional conflagration.

The lesson is especially pertinent to the current crisis. Then, as now, the Syrians have goaded a terrorist organization, Hezbollah, to launch raids against Israel from Lebanon. . . . And once again Israel must decide when to strike back and against whom.

The answer lies in delivering an unequivocal blow to Syrian ground forces deployed near the Lebanese border. By eliminating 500 Syrian tanks--tanks that Syrian President Bashar Al Assad needs to preserve his regime--Israel could signal its refusal to return to the status quo in Lebanon. Supporting Hezbollah carries a prohibitive price, the action would say. Of course, Syria could respond with missile attacks against Israeli cities, but given the dilapidated state of Syria's army, the chances are greater that Assad will simply internalize the message. Presented with a choice between saving Hezbollah and staying alive, Syria's dictator will probably choose the latter. And the message of Israel's determination will also be received in Tehran.

Some have criticized Israel for not responding proportionately to the attacks, but we'd counsel patience. After all, the Israelis aren't done yet.

Great Moments in Conference Planning
"International Conference on partnerships to enhance tourism safety and security in the Middle East and North Africa"--title of U.N. World Tourism Association meeting scheduled for Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 30-31

What Would Lebanon Do Without Experts?
"Experts: Violence May Hurt Lebanon Economy"--headline, Associated Press, July 15

Great Minds Think Alike

"They had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the country side of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war, and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country."--John Kerry* on U.S. servicemen, April 22, 1971

"The Zionists think that they are victims of Hitler, but they act like Hitler and behave worse than Genghis Khan."--Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, July 16, 2006

* But he supports the troops!

You're in the Army Now
For those who claim that President Bush's aggressive foreign policy has hurt American prestige around the world, here's a reality check from Agence France-Presse, reporting from Rafah, Gaza:

Wearing a green Hamas headband, waving a Hamas flag, swinging a Kalashnikov and chanting for Israel's demise, Bassem Shorah looks to be a prototypical Palestinian militant.

His olive green shirt, however, tells a different story. It's a spot-on replica of those worn by soldiers in the United States Army, replete with combat patches and unit designations.

Though he's a committed Islamist activist in a movement that denounces the United States for supporting Israel and occupying Iraq, Shorah proudly sports what has become the latest trend in Palestinian street wear: US military apparel.

"This is the new fashion in the market," says Shorah. "It's a show of force, because the US army is powerful. It's a symbol of strength and of our refusal to put down arms."

The Associated Press, meanwhile, seems to think Hamas kidnapped an American soldier, not an Israeli one. Its headline reads: "Gaza Campaign to Continue Until GI Freed."

'Paula Jones' Sues
"The CIA officer whose identity was leaked to reporters sued Vice President Dick Cheney, his former top aide and presidential adviser Karl Rove on Thursday, accusing them and other White House officials of conspiring to destroy her career," the Associated Press reports.

The CIA analyst, whom we'll call "Paula Jones" because her real name, Valerie Plame, is secret (known only, as Bob Novak notes, to readers of Who's Who in America), is the wife of Joe Wilson, whom the Kerry campaign jettisoned after his claims about the liberation of Iraq and Jones's involvement in his junket to Niger were discredited.

The "leaking" of Jones's identity prompted the New York Times to demand a special prosecutor to investigate whether the "leaker" violated the Intelligence Identities Protection Act--the Times, of course, being very much opposed to the disclosure of information that might compromise national security.

The Justice Department complied, and Patrick Fitzgerald conducted a thorough investigation, which led to no Intelligence Identities Protection Act charges, Jones apparently not being a covert operative as her husband had implied. But Fitzgerald did indict Cheney's erstwhile chief of staff, Scooter Libby, for perjury.

Tom Maguire ponders the political implications:

For the Democrats, this civil suit represents an opportunity to depose Bush Administration officials and maybe strike gold with some embarrassing or even illegal tidbit. . . . On the Republican side, there is a sense that Joe Wilson may be humiliated in discovery, along with the media and the anti-Administration CIA cabal alluded to recently by Rep. Peter Hoekstra.

Advantage--Democrats! . . . The Dems have a puncher's chance of scoring a big win; the Reps are more likely to "win" this suit, but what is victory--humiliating Joe Wilson?

We guess that's probably wise, though the Republicans (except Libby) have done pretty well politically during the three years that the Dems have been preoccupied with this big fat nothing of a kerfuffle.

Burn a Cross for Peace
"The National Park Service granted a request by the Ku Klux Klan to rally and protest near the spot where a failed offensive by the Confederacy turned the tide of the Battle of Gettysburg," the Associated Press reports:

Gordon Young of the World Knights of the Ku Klux Klan obtained the permit Wednesday for about 100 people to participate in a Sept. 2 event on the lawn of the Cyclorama Center at Gettysburg National Military Park, near the site of Pickett's Charge. The purpose, according to the permit, will be to oppose the Iraq war and speak on "white unity between the North and South."

A year ago we started hearing that Cindy Sheehan was going to spur a mass movement against Iraq. We were skeptical, but if there really turn out to be 100 more like her, we'll have to reconsider.

Party Loyalty Has Its Limits
"Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a longtime supporter of Sen. Joseph Lieberman, said [July 4] she will not back the Connecticut Democrat's bid for re-election if he loses their party's primary," the Associated Press reported two weeks ago:

"I've known Joe Lieberman for more than thirty years. I have been pleased to support him in his campaign for re-election, and hope that he is our party's nominee," the former first lady said in a statement issued by aides.

"But I want to be clear that I will support the nominee chosen by Connecticut Democrats in their primary," the New York Democrat added. "I believe in the Democratic Party, and I believe we must honor the decisions made by Democratic primary voters."

Well, that makes sense. Party loyalty dictates that a Democrat back a Democrat, not an independent. Well, not necessarily, as the Boston Globe reports:

Vermont's Democratic Party is maneuvering to keep the Democratic candidates for the state's open US Senate seat off the November ballot, as party leaders seek to clear the way for independent Representative Bernard Sanders in his bid for the Senate.

State Democratic leaders are spearheading efforts to gather signatures to put Sanders on the ballot as a Democrat, even though Sanders has repeatedly said he would turn down the party's nomination if he wins the primary.

It says something about the state of the Democratic Party that it finds a self-styled socialist more palatable than a liberal who is moderate on some issues.

Homelessness Rediscovery Watch

"If George W. Bush becomes president, the armies of the homeless, hundreds of thousands strong, will once again be used to illustrate the opposition's arguments about welfare, the economy, and taxation."--Mark Helprin, Oct. 31, 2000

"Homelessness a Threat for Iraq Vets"--headline, Associated Press, July 4, 2006

We Blame the Bush Administration's Obsession With Secrecy
"The 30-county area they serve in central Nebraska and north-central Kansas hasn't had a confirmed tornado for the first six months of this year. That hasn't happened since 1950."--Associated Press, July 5

So the Zen Master Says, 'Make Me One With Everything'
"U.S. Pins Weiner-Eating Hopes on Chestnut"--headline, Associated Press, July 2

At Least They Have Chicken Pox to Look Forward To
"Study Shows Doctors Miss Flu in Children"--headline, Associated Press, July 5

The Family That Preys Together
"Conn. Mom Helped Son Run Hedge Fund Scam"--headline, Associated Press, July 14

Surely There Were Mitigating Circumstances
"Virgin Woman Sentenced for Unlawful Sex"--headline, Associated Press, July 13

Reuters Journalist Jerks Toward Insulting Headline
"Mexico Conservative Creeps Toward Slim Victory"--headline, Reuters, July 3

Someone Get a Restraining Order
"Stalker to Lead Ankeny Schools as Interim Chief"--headline, Des Moines Register, July 12

The Good News Is That Thought Is Increasingly Rare
"Autism More Common Than Thought"--headline, Reuters, July 14

Step 1: Ask for at Least Two Paper Clips

"Four Steps to Selling your Home for Top Dollar"--headline, Yahoo Finance, June 20

"Blogger Trades Paper Clip for a House"--headline, Associated Press, July 11

World Ends, Etc., Etc.

• "Insurance Increase Hits Poor Hardest"--headline, Hernando (Fla.) Today, July 5
  
  
• "Death Less Painful for the Rich"--headline, LiveScience.com, July 8
  
  
• "Working Longer Hours Worse for Women Than Men"--headline, Reuters, July 12
  
  
• "Well-Paid Benefit Most as Economy Flourishes"--headline, Washington Post, July 10

What Would We Do Without Experts?
"Experts: Get Used to the Heat"--headline, Dallas Morning News, July 17

What Would We Do Without Glug Glug Glug . . .
"Life Jackets, Close Supervision Can Prevent Most Drowning, Experts Say"--headline, Wausau (Wis.) Daily Herald, July 17

Thanks for the Tip!--LXXXVII
"Health Tip: Genital Herpes Can Be Spread Without Symptoms"--headline, HealthDay.com, July 11

Bottom Stories of the Past Two Weeks

• "PM Says Man Urinating on National War Memorial on Canada Day 'Terrible' "--headline, Canadian Press, July 3
  
  
• "Nobody Arrested at DUI Checkpoint"--headline, Times-Standard (Eureka, Calif.), July 4
  
  
• "Parades, Fireworks Mark July 4 Festivities"--headline, Associated Press, July 5
  
  
• "Bird Droppings Survive Space Launch"--headline, Associated Press, July 5
  
  
• "Mammoths May Have Had Various Hair Colors"--headline, Associated Press, July 6
  
  
• "Journey Singer Battles Throat Infection"--headline, Associated Press, July 6
  
  
• "Author Pokes Fun at Georgia"--headline, Associated Press, July 7
  
  
• "Cruise-Holmes Baby Not Seen in Public"--headline, Associated Press, July 11
  
  
• "Knotts' Hometown Won't Get Fife Statue"--headline, Associated Press, July 16
  
  
• "Owen Wilson Is Not a Doofus"--headline, CNN.com, July 17

250 Kilo-Hertz
Vacationing in Jerusalem last week, we went to rent a car. Well, it turns out that Israel is one of the countries that still use the metric system, as we discovered when the young lady at the Hertz office told us that our rental rate included 250 kilometers a day.

"How many miles is that?" we asked.

"I really don't know," she said.

Here is someone who has lived all her life in a country that uses the metric system, and she still doesn't know how far 250 kilometers is! This proves beyond all doubt how confusing the metric system is.

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Today on OpinionJournal:

• Fred Barnes: Ronald Reagan's record is being distorted to make President Bush look bad.
• John Fund: Michael Bloomberg ponders the Perots and cons of a third-party presidential run.
• The Journal Editorial Report: A transcript of the weekend's program on the FOX News Channel.