Cursor's Media Patrol - 07/26/06

Former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinksi is quoted as saying that "what the Israelis are doing today ... in Lebanon is in effect ... the killing of hostages." Plus: Human shields in Gaza.

War in Context's Paul Woodward, analyzing the rhetorical Trojan horse used to justify Israel's war on Lebanon, finds that it conceals "the lie ... that by killing hundreds of Lebanese civilians and destroying the country's infrastructure, Israel is engaged in nothing more than an act of self-defense."

After an "apparently deliberate" Israeli hit killed four U.N. observers, Secretary-General Kofi Annan was quoted as saying that the Israelis had directed 14 incidents of gunfire at the U.N. post, and that "the firing continued even during the rescue operation."

According to Maureen Dowd, 'The Immutable President' -- who yesterday announced the formation of "a joint committee to achieve Iraqi self-reliance" -- sees Lebanon as "a test of macho mettle," and Paul Waldman has learned to dread each new 'Bush Gut Check.'

By Carpetbagger's count, an article detailing a neocon revolt against Secretary of State Rice is "the ninth Insight article since November that casts the Bush gang in an unflattering light."

'9/11 cash for what?' New York City is said to be spending "a big slice of the $1 billion it got from the feds post-9/11 to fight first responders who claim they got sick on the site," while the U.S. Conference of Mayors reports that "8 in 10 cities say their emergency responders still can't communicate with each other."

A GOP candidate emerges from 'Republicans Anonymous' to accept his "scarlet letter," but Molly Ivins implores Bill Moyers to show Democrats what courage looks like.