Free Republic

A few months after American forces finally crossed into the border of the oppressed nation, President Bush told the ‘National Endowment for Democracy’ that, “Iraqi democracy will succeed, and that success will send forth the news from Damascus to Tehran that freedom can be the future of every nation. The establishment of a free Iraq at the heart of the Middle East will be a watershed event in the global democratic revolution." He was right.

The recent “tiff,” as George Jonas over at the National Post described the brouhaha between the United States and Israel, pushed aside the emphatically more significant story about the Iraq election from the top of the mainstream media’s news cycle. The election by all accounts was fair, yet there is obviously some distance to go before it might be said a culture of democracy flourishes in Iraq — the land once ruled by the great king Hammurabi in the second millennium before Christ. Nevertheless, this can be said of the Iraq election, despite the violence of those who fear democracy:...

In August 2007 and June 2008, monster articles were written projecting the Iraqi Security Forces planned development by 2012 and, in some cases, beyond. In 2009 those projections were updated with a series of articles ending with projected Iraqi Total Force Mobilization published in August 2009. There have been enough changes to warrant an update to that article and a summary of current and projected ISF structure. Since the Iraqi Army does not have a reserve, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) paramilitary police forces augment them in a wartime mobilization. The Iraqi Security Forces include elements that remain employed in...

As you've probably noticed by now, the twenty-first century has gotten off to a rocky start.  In 2001, on September 11, we were attacked.  And now our country's financial system is collapsing.  This makes for two "unimaginable" events within a decade. How could 19 hijackers succeed against the world's greatest military power?  And how could history's strongest and most productive economy seize up virtually overnight?  Of course, there are complicated and highly technical explanations for each of these disasters.  Some books have already been written about the causes of 9-11, and others are sure to come along in the years...

'INSPIRING' VISIT & MEET WITH BRAVEST Sarah Palin yesterday made an unscheduled tour of a visitors center at Ground Zero dedicated to those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terror attacks. The Republican vice-presidential nominee nodded her head several times and said, "Oh, my goodness," while a retired firefighter showed her pictures of the burning World Trade Center and exhibits that highlighted the moments the hijacked planes struck each tower. PHOTOS: Palin In NYC - Day 3 Her tour guide was Lee Ielpi, whose son Jonathan, a firefighter, died at the World Trade Center. Palin told Ielpi, "My parents...

Nearly five decades after the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Russians are once again trying to increase their influence in Latin America. On September 11 (which is fascinating timing), two Russian Tu-160 long-range nuclear-capable bombers arrived in Venezuela, along with a contingent of Russian warships. The jets and 1,000 Russian troops were there to begin training exercises with Venezuelan forces. Much of Venezuela’s weaponry is Russian-made, a result of a $3 billion arms deal between the two in 2006 that allowed Hugo Chávez to purchase 53 Mi-28N helicopters, 24 Su-30MK2 jet fighters, TOR-M1 anti-aircraft systems, and 100,000 AK-47s. A more recent...

Seven years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the remains of 13 of the 19 men responsible have been identified and are in the custody of the F.B.I. and the New York City medical examiner’s office. But no one has formally requested the remains in order to bury them. “Politically, one can understand that this is a hot potato,” said Muneer Fareed, secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America and a former professor of Islamic studies. “People don’t want to identify with the political equivalent of Jeffrey Dahmer.” What would happen if someone asked for the hijackers’...

This year Sept. 11 came right in the middle of Ramadan, the month of daylight fasting for Muslims. Booked to fly out of New York's JFK airport on the seventh anniversary of the tragedy, I could expect a business-as-usual tone, and why not: War in Iraq and economy troubles at home have drastically affected some of us, but many Americans have had seven fat years since the shock of 9/11. With memories of horror fading, the Empire State Building—thanks to Islamic terrorists it moved up from third to first place in the list of Gotham's tallest buildings—is scheduled at the...

Why do Americans think there has not been a terrorist strike in the U.S. since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001? The answer largely reflects the political party of the person asked, according to a poll released Wednesday. Eighty-nine percent of Republicans said actions by the U.S. government are a major reason there has been no follow-up attack, according to an Associated Press-GfK Poll. Democrats were more skeptical, with 53 percent crediting federal activity.

This truck (BELOW) came through the intersection proudly displaying the American Flag and a 9/11 Remembrance Flag. The list of 8 Patriots getting wet to support our troops were: Legionnaire Glenn (USMC - WWII), Dave (Army - WWII), Frank (Army - Korea), FReepers and Lurkers - Lurker Bill, Cindy_True_Supporter, Eager, Sensei Ern, [Mrs] Trooprally, aka [Mrs] T, and myself, [Mr] T. Pics are by [Mrs] T BELOW LEFT: Cindy_True_Supporter and Eager. BELOW RIGHT: Sensei Ern, Dave and Frank BELOW LEFT: Glenn, Frank and Dave. BELOW RIGHT: Lurker Bill BELOW LEFT: Cindy_True_Supporter BELOW RIGHT: Me BELOW: And the Clueless Moonbats got...

Here is a 7 minute video of Palin addressing the troops (her son Track one of them) and families on September 11th at Fort Wainwright

Hackers prevented Al Qaeda from releasing a videotape to mark the seventh anniversary of 9/11. Al Qaeda has traditionally issued a video or audiotape by either Osama bin Laden or Ayman al Zawahiri, the terror network’s two leaders, to mark their massive terrorist attack on the US. As-Sahab, Al Qaeda’s media unit, had indicated earlier this week that it would post such a videotape on September 11. As-Sahab had banner images on the internet showing a silhouetted head with a question mark and the words, “Wait 11 September”. The US-based intelligence group IntelCenter had speculated the video would be a...

102 Minutes that Changed America trails only Life After People for The History Channel audience. By Marisa Guthrie -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/15/2008 2:15:00 PM The History Channel scored its second-largest audience ever with Sept. 11 anniversary special 102 Minutes that Changed America. 102 Minutes that Changed America The documentary -- which aired commercial-free on the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. -- was watched by 5.2 million people, according to Nielsen, including 2.9 million viewers in the network's sales demographic of 25- to 54-year-olds. "We are proud and overwhelmed with the reaction to...

It is difficult to screw up an appearance at Ground Zero on September 11th. You have to be either completely oblivious or completely indifferent. It is a signal feat of idiocy. And yet Barack Obama accomplished it. John McCain and Obama visited Ground Zero together. Obama and McCain entered the site. But while McCain took the time to shake hands with uniformed firefighters and a construction worker with an American flag helmet, Obama ignored them and stood around. But he wasn’t done yet. Both McCain and Obama brought roses to place on the makeshift 9/11 memorial. Obama casually tossed his...

By Michael Ventre MSNBC contributor updated 2:25 p.m. CT, Tues., Sept. 9, 2008 At a Friars Club roast of Hugh Hefner three weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, comedian Gilbert Gottfried not only pushed the envelope, he set it on fire. He was at the podium, about to launch into the abundantly filthy “Aristocrats” joke that inspired an entire documentary film, when he mentioned that he had tried to get a direct flight “but they said they have to stop at the Empire State Building first.”

Watching

"Due to overwhelming viewer demand, an encore presentation of '102 Minutes that changed America' will have an encore presentation Sunday evening Sept. 14, at 8 pm/7 Central" This was a message displayed Saturday night while watching another program. A prize-winning classinc, not to be missed by any American who lived through those historic 48 hours. The first presentation on 9/11 snuck up on me, and I recorded it. Many others missed it entirely. I am calling family and friends. Highly recommended. History Channel Link

So after a non-partisan down day for the 7th anniversary of 9/11, Barack Obama has come out swinging. His campaign was already struggling on the message front before it was blind-sided by the double-whammy impact of Palinmania on the Republican ticket and a slew of aggressive McCain attack ads. In his latest mem to "Interested Parties", campaign manager David Plouffe pledges: "We will respond with speed and ferocity to John McCain's attacks and we will take the fight to him, but we will do it on the big issues that matter to the American people. We will not allow John...

The President in addition to his normal radio address participated in a video teleconference briefing on Hurricane Ike and then made a statement to the press concerning Hurricane Ike. He has also declared a major disaster exists in the State of Louisiana and Texas allowing them to get additional Federal funding. Click here for the text of the radio message. Pray for President Bush - Day - 2922 & McCain/Palin - Day - 16 Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island