Some of the comments on this blog have been...well...less than impressive. And some of the classics have come from the "United We Stand" post above.

Take this one, for instance:

You all are losers.

Constructive criticism? I think not.

This one is a peach, too:

Wow, there's a mistake here. I think it should read "United We Stand... in hoping that your killers are returned safely and not charged, and in support of your efforts in the War OF Terror."Cowards, you are one and all. All you want is the destruction of the Middle East and more Arab blood on your hands. I hope the I.D.F and the Coalition lose, because, if anything, that will help Arabs unite and seek a better solution to this whole mess than what the terrorists of America and Israel are giving the Middle East.

Blah, blah, blah. Pretty much run of the mill on a blog that proudly supports our troops and their efforts, supports imprisoning terrorists (or killing them whenever possible), and generally doesn't buy into the hug-a-terrorist-cause-it's-all-America's-fault-anyway philosophy.

But here's one that really ticks me off:

Hezbollah isn't a U.S. enemy. They are purely defensive. They have attacked American forces only when the U.S. has deployed its military in service of Israel's military goals.If the U.S. remained neutral in the Middle East as it traditionally has done, we'd have no problems with Arab groups. Israel is not the 51st State. They are a foreign country with a modern army of its own, and nulcear weapons. They can take care of themselves.As an American, I am not willing to risk my safety in a land dispute between Israel and its neighbors. It's not our problem.

Of course, this commenter is "Anonymous." Not a surprise. Nameless, and clueless.

Here was my response:
Hezbollah isn't a US enemy????? That is one of the most assanine comments ever to hit this blog, and there've been a lot of them. Had you had enough courage of your conviction to leave your email, I'd have responded to you that way. However, since you didn't...

The whole reason this "United We Stand" post is up in the first place is precisely because Israel was fighting one of OUR enemies - Hezbollah.

Let me clue you in as to exactly who they are:

1982–1991
Lebanon: Thirty US and other Western hostages kidnapped in Lebanon by Hezbollah. Some were killed, some died in captivity, and some were eventually released. Terry Anderson was held for 2,454 days.

1983
Oct. 23, Beirut, Lebanon: Shiite suicide bombers exploded truck near U.S. military barracks at Beirut airport, killing 241 marines. Minutes later a second bomb killed 58 French paratroopers in their barracks in West Beirut.

1984
Sept. 20, east Beirut, Lebanon: truck bomb exploded outside the U.S. embassy annex, killing 24, including 2 U.S. military.

1985
June 14, Beirut, Lebanon: TWA Flight 847 en route from Athens to Rome hijacked to Beirut by Hezbollah terrorists and held for 17 days. A U.S. Navy diver - Robert Dean Stethem - beaten and executed, his body tossed out on the tarmac.

1996
June 25, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia: truck bomb exploded outside Khobar Towers military complex, killing 19 American servicemen and injuring hundreds of others. 13 Saudis and a Lebanese, all alleged members of Islamic militant group Hezbollah, were indicted on charges relating to the attack in June 2001.

Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, Hezbollah was responsible for more American deaths than any other terrorist group. Not the enemy? Give me a break.

Remain neutral? We've never remained neutral in the middle east. Besides, isn't it your crowd that's usually saying the problem has been that we've NEVER remained neutral????

Here we go again - the same appeasment and isolationism that is always tossed out as a solution, and never represents one. Hezbollah is most decidedly an enemy. Especially with Iran bankrolling them. The problem is that Israel is the only country that actually does anything about them.

How quickly we forget, and how sad it is. Hezbollah murders hundreds of Americans, and suddenly the very same terrorists are not our enemy.

Robert Dean Stethem wasn't "supporting Israel's military goals." He was going home. On a commercial, not military, aircraft. He was 23, and his murderers are still within the ranks of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah is a murdering bunch of slimeballs. The "United We Stand" post stays until Israel's soldiers are freed.

Map Check
From left: Polish Army Maj. Piotr Lewandowski, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Burt Eissler, and unidentified Polish and Iraqi soldiers check a map during a presence patrol in Diwaniyah, Iraq, Sept. 19, 2006. Eissler is assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 67th Infantry Division. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dawn M. Price

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Bush: Iraq Not on Brink of Civil War
Five Servicemembers Killed in Iraq
Retired Military Slams Rumsfeld
Violence Marks Official Start of Ramadan in Iraq
Hussein Ejected From Genocide Trial
U.S. Army weighs more combat units for Iraq: report
White House: Account of Iraq report incomplete
Iraq agrees committee to amend constitution - Video
Iraqi Troops Hinder U.S. Efforts
Saddam's Lawyers Fail to Show

Operation Enduring Freedom
Giambastiani focuses on IEDs in Afghanistan

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Bill Clinton Defends Handling of Bin Laden
EXCLUSIVE FOX NEWS VIDEO: Bill Clinton on 'FOX News Sunday' - Part 2 Transcript: Former President Clinton on 'FOX News Sunday'
Experts: Al Qaeda Threat Down, Others Still Strong
Somali Islamists take port, boy killed in protests
FBI widens probe of 2001 anthrax attack: paper
US Adopts Tougher Stance at Guantanamo
Senate leader sees Guantanamo trial bill passing
Specter decries detainee bill provision
Witness to Oklahoma, N.Y. attacks speaks

Mid-East Ceasefire / Israel at War
Massive Anti-Hezbollah Rally Held North of Beirut
Hamas: Palestinian unity talks not at "dead end" - Video

Religion of Peace??
Pope Meets With Muslim Diplomats
Christians, Muslims must reject violence: Pope
Cat Stevens criticizes pope on Islam

Immigration / Border Control
Border bills come up short in Congress

Politics / Government
Jerry Falwell Says Hillary Clinton Could Fire Up Voters More Than the Devil Himself
Del. congressman suffers 2 small strokes
Democrats cite report to undermine GOP

In the Courts
Trial Begins for Hurricane Rita Bus Explosion

Media in the Media
Grace is focused despite woman's suicide

Mother Nature
Violence Marks Official Start of Ramadan in Iraq
Helicopters Slow Growth of California Wildfire
Witness to Oklahoma, N.Y. attacks speaks
Some still homeless after deadly storms
Calmer winds help fire crews in Calif.

Oddities
Court says $32,000 is too much to fondle bosom
Burglars get severed heads shock

Fox News
At Least 47 Killed When Bus Overturns in Ecuador
Stocks to Watch: Hewlett-Packard and Walgreen
D.C. Archbishop Installs 4 Married Priests
Lundberg Survey: Gas Prices Drop Nearly 24 Cents
Three Children of Slain Pregnant Mother Found Dead Were Drowned
Washington, D.C., Archbishop Installs 4 Married Priests, but Archdiocese Refuses to Recognize Them

Reuters: Top News
More E.coli spinach found in outbreak
Sri Lanka says sinks 11 rebel boats in naval clash
Pakistan is no "banana republic", says Musharraf - Video
All 24 aboard WWF helicopter killed in Nepal - Video
Barcelona blast apparently caused by gas: radio
AU to increase Darfur troop strength to 11,000
Brown stakes claim to be UK's next prime minister
Rocket launch in U.S. ushers in cheap space flight
Lenovo investigates Sony battery-run laptop fire
Criminals flock to the Internet, survey finds
Alcoholics Anonymous may prevent murders: study
Mel campaigns for new movie, against war in Iraq
"Jackass," "Fearless" lead U.S. box office

AP World News
Oil prices plunge below $60 a barrel
Simms has spleen removed after Bucs loss
Defense sparks Broncos over Pats 17-7
Ad agencies look to recruit minorities
Bus crashes on Ecuador mountain; 47 die
Toy guide focuses on special needs kids
Katrina victims hail return of Saints
Palmer gets his revenge in Pittsburgh
Tigers grab 1st playoff berth since 1987
Retiree health care may overwhelm gov'ts
Honda shows new diesel, fuel-cell cars
Savvy marketers using text messaging

Military.com
Security Concerns Guards at Ammo Plant

CENTCOM: News Releases
AFGHAN SECURITY, COALITION FORCES FOIL IED ATTACKS

EXTREMISTS CONTINUE TO ATTACK INNOCENT AFGHAN CIVILIANS

USJFCOM
USJFCOM, Polish armed forces strengthen ties - podcast
Urban Resolve 2015 leaders meet with the media - photos - podcast

Department of Defense
NEWS UPDATES
Coalition Forces Detain Suspects
Iraq President’s Letter to America
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
British, Italian Forces Hand Over Dhi Qar to Iraqis - Story
Helicopter Recovery Mission Successful in Al Anbar - Story
Field Surgical Team Excels at Saving Lives - Story

IN IRAQ
Iraqi Government Assumes Control in Dhi Qar
Medical Training Facility Dedicated to Fallen Medic
British Forces Distribute Rice, Flour, Oil
Medical Personnel Treat Nearly 500 Residents
U.S. Soldiers, Iraqis Hold Recruitment Drive

IN AFGHANISTAN
10th Mountain Division Soldiers Thwart Extremists
Legacy of Fallen Citadel Graduate Lives On

BACKGROUND
IRAQ
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (PDF)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Weekly Reconstruction Report (PDF)
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

Weather
Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul

Gitmo

National Hurricane Center

Today in History
1493 - Columbus sails on his second voyage to America.
1513 - Vasco Nuñez de Balboa becomes the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.
1639 - The first printing press in America becomes operational.
1690 - In Boston, Publick Occurrences, the first U.S. newspaper, publishes its first - and last - edition.
1775 - American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen is captured.
1789 - Congress proposes the Bill of Rights (10 of 12 will ratify).
1804 - The 12th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, regulates judicial power.
1861 - The U.S. Secretary of the Navy authorizes the enlistment of slaves.
1890 - Congress establishes Yosemite National Park in CA.
1911 - Groundbreaking begins in Boston for Fenway Park.
1919 - President Wilson becomes seriously ill and collapses after a speech.
1926 - Henry Ford introduces the 8 hour, 5-day work week.
1926 - The International slavery convention is signed by 20 states.
1939 - Since the Versailles Peace Treaty forgot to include Andorra, Andorra and Germany finally sign an official treaty ending WWI.
1956 - The first transatlantic telephone cable goes into operation.
1957 - 300 U.S. Army troops guard nine African-American children returning to Central High School in AR; the Soviet 7-year plan (1959-1965) is announced.
1973 - The 3-man crew of Skylab II makes a safe splashdown in Pacific after 59 days.
1981 - Sandra Day O'Connor is sworn in as the first female Supreme Court Justice.
1986 - Antonin Scalia is appointed to the Supreme Court.
1990 - Saddam Hussein warns that the U.S. will repeat its experience in Vietnam; the U.N. Security Council votes 14-1 to impose an air embargo against Iraq.

Birthdays
1644 - Olaus Rímer, first to accurately measure the speed of light
1725 - Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, designer/builder of the first automobile
1766 - Armand-Emmanuel duc de Richelieu, French PM (1815-18, 1820-21)
1866 - Thomas Hunt Morgan, biologist, Nobel Prize winner (1933)
1877 - Plutarco El¡as, Mexican revolutionary, president (1924-28)
1897 - William Faulkner, author (The Sound and the Fury), Nobel Prize winner (1949)
1931 - Barbara Walters, newscaster (Today, 20/20, ABC-TV)
1934 - John S. Bull, astronaut
1951 - Mark Hamill, actor (Star Wars)
1952 - Christopher Reeve, actor (Superman)
1967 - Lezlie Lund, Miss ND-America (1991)
1968 - Prince Johan Friso of the Netherlands
1970 - Kerri Kendall, Playboy playmate (Sep, 1990)

Passings
1959 - S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Ceylon's PM, assassinated by a Buddhist monk
1960 - Emily Post, etiquette expert
1975 - Bob Considine, newscaster (Tonight! America After Dark)
1988 - Billy Carter, President Carter's brother

Reported Missing in Action
1963
Cheney, Joseph C., Civilian; reportedly killed in Air America C46 shoot-down, not on official DIA list

1966
Burgess, Richard G., USMC (WA); released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Bossman, Peter R., USN (NY); UH34D shot down (Navy Corpsman), KIA, body not recovered

Cushman, Peter R., USAF (ND); F105D shot down (pilot)

Ducat, Phillip A., USMC (IN); UH34D shot down (pilot), KIA, body not recovered

Reiter, Dean W., USMC (MO); UH34D shot down (co-pilot), KIA, body not recovered

1972
Chan, Peter, USN (CA); fell overboard and drowned, KIA, body not recovered