Sometimes, Americans Are Stupid

W. Thomas Smith of the National Review struck a blow for freedom the other day:

"I snatched a Hezbollah flag -- the yellow banner with the green fist and rifle -- from one of the enemy's strongholds in Lebanon recently. And when I say stronghold, I literally mean a strong, heavily defended battle position where the Lebanese Army and police dare not enter, and I had to enter covertly."

It's hard to decide what is most grating about this post. Maybe it's his description of the dahiyeh as a "heavily defended battle position" that he entered "covertly." What were his James Bond-worthy techniques? Hopping into a taxi and saying "Haret Hreik?"

Mr. Smith's guide into the dahiyeh is a "former Christian militaman," who he seems to be on good terms with. Apparently, his problem isn't with unrepentant militiamen per se -- just militias that aren't fighting on our side. This is the type of person who shouldn't be allowed within a hundred miles of any decision affecting Lebanon.