Free Republic

WASHINGTON — One of the Army's most Iraq-savvy generals is taking charge, at least temporarily, of arguably the most important command in the U.S. military, with responsibility for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a ceremony Friday at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey is to assume command of U.S. Central Command from Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, who announced unexpectedly on March 11 that he was quitting. Fallon cited press reports that he was at odds with President Bush over Iran policy. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has denied that Fallon was out of step...

AUBURN - What has been a strained relationship between Mayor Timothy Lattimore and Councilman David Dempsey apparently came to blows Thursday night. City police are investigating an incident during an executive session portion of the city council meeting in which Dempsey reportedly struck Lattimore. "It was a physical altercation," said Cayuga County District Attorney James Vargason, who conferred with city Police Chief Gary Gianotta on the matter twice Friday. "I have not seen the medical records, but it's my understanding (Lattimore) received some injuries." Reached by phone Friday, Lattimore declined to comment on what happened, except to say that police...

A campaign worker for Republican Sen. Wayne Allard has been arrested in Boulder for allegedly trying to disrupt a rally in support of Democratic challenger Tom Strickland. Matt Dempsey was arrested Saturday moments before the beginning of a Strickland rally featuring actor Robert Redford, Boulder police said. He was released Saturday night after posting a $500 bond. Dempsey denied the charges in a statement released Sunday by the Allard campaign. Boulder police Sgt. Robert Thomas, quoting a police report, said Dempsey and a group of Allard supporters told police they planned to walk through the rally area. Officers told them...