Freedom's on the March

In Lebanon:

BINT JBEIL, Lebanon (AP) - Hezbollah and its Shiite allies claimed a clean sweep in the second stage of national election held Sunday in southern Lebanon, a vote the militant group hopes will prove its strength and send a message of defiance to the United States.

Four hours after polling stations closed, Hezbollah's deputy leader, Sheik Naim Kassem, and election ally Nabih Berri of the Shiite Muslim Amal movement, said they had won all 23 seats in this region bordering Israel.

In Palestine:

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - The Bush administration is showing signs of easing its hard-line approach toward Hamas, in response to the militant group's rising political clout in the Palestinian territories and appeals for flexibility from European allies, officials and diplomats said.

The White House acceded to Hamas running candidates in Palestinian elections, even though the group has refused to disarm and Washington lists it as a major terrorist organization.

The more we imperialize, the more we radicalize. But it's in the name of freedom, so don't worry.

Incidentally, when you look past the fact that terrorist organizations are winning elections in the Muslim world, you understand that Hezbollah and Hamas have achieved whatever popularity they have in their respective countries by providing social services to Lebanese and Palestinian citizens. The way to stagnate terrorism is to end poverty now. It can be done and it will remove the greatest terrorist recruiting tool there is: despair. We have a chance at the G-8 to get this right, and increase targeted foreign aid and debt cancellation in the name of global security.

UPDATE: Step in the right direction. Not all the way there, but a step.