Anti-regime activists were quick to spoof Syria’s parliamentary elections Monday with a flurry of amateur, online videos lampooning a vote they say aims to put a shiny gloss on the authoritarian rule of President Bashar Assad and cover up its fierce crackdown on protesters.

The likely release by Baghdad of a veteran Hezbollah commander accused of plotting to kill U.S. soldiers while operating with Iranian forces in Iraq won’t do U.S.-Iraqi relations any good.