Another 600 goons from Sadr's army arrested

Moqtada Sadr's Mehdi Army is a new Hezbollah -- an illegitimate Shia army taking advantage of a weak, democratic government. Same faction of Islam, same murderous tendencies, same agenda. Unlike the situation in Lebanon, the Iraqi government has the benefit of 165,000 U.S. soldiers to help destroy the menace.

From the BBC:

About 600 fighters and 16 leaders of the radical Shia militia, the Mehdi Army, have been captured by security forces in Iraq, the US military says.

The statement said 52 operations had been conducted in 45 days targeting the militia, which is loyal to Najaf-based cleric Moqtada Sadr.

Sunni extremists were also the focus of the crackdown, the US military said.

US and Iraqi forces are currently preparing for a broad offensive in the strife-torn Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Speaking of Hezbollah, the BBC is reporting the terror group began the overthrow of the Lebanese government today:

Thousands of Lebanese demonstrators have paralysed parts of the country, barricading roads as part of a strike aimed at toppling the government.

Smoke billowed over Beirut as protesters burned tyres and flights in and out of the city were cancelled as roads to the airport were blocked.

The Hezbollah-led opposition called the strike as part of its drive to dislodge the government and hold new elections.