The latest Big Lie universally promoted by the mainstream wire services is that Palestinian Authority chairman/president/etc. Mahmoud Abbas is in some sense a “moderate.” (The word “secular” is also used often.)

A search of Yahoo’s wire stories for “moderate Abbas” turns up about 373 stories in the past 30 days. In fact, it’s difficult to find a story that refers to Abbas that doesn’t also label him as a “moderate.” It’s obviously become a matter of policy.

And the word has now ceased to have any meaning, as this photograph illustrates. Here we see the secular, moderate military wing of Abbas’ Fatah party, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, posing for the Associated Press with pictures of Abbas, Yasser Arafat, and Saddam Hussein.

Palestinian militants from the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a militia linked to the Fatah Movement, carry their weapons as they stand in front of posters showing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, top center, the late Yasser Arafat, top second right, and late former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, top right and left, during a rally in the West Bank city of Nablus, Monday, Jan. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)

And based on this ridiculous mythical “moderation,” we’re going to reward Abbas and his thuggish terrorist government with 86 million dollars in military aid.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The administration of President George W. Bush has asked Congress to authorize 86 million dollars in military aid to boost security forces loyal to moderate Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, a senior US official said.

“Eighty-six million is the figure we’re looking at with Congress, that’s our starting point,” said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. He said the aid would be “non-lethal assistance” including communications gear, vehicles and uniforms as well as training.

“It’s needed, and we think it’s an important part of helping to build up responsible security forces that report directly to president Abbas,” he told reporters.