Free Republic

"I fear that the government is refraining from sending IDF troops into Gaza to stop the Kassam rockets because it doesn't want to admit its mistake in withdrawing from Gaza in the first place." So said Prof. Moshe Arens today, speaking with Arutz-7's Uzi Baruch. Prof. Arens served as Defense Minister in four different Israeli governments and Foreign Minister in one. Arens said that a military ground operation is necessary because the "IDF's artillery barrage on northern Gaza is totally futile, as the terrorists fire the rockets from densely populated areas while Israel shells empty areas." "The security establishment must...

U.S. Army Capt. Mark Flitton Former Pro Golfer Fulfills Life Dream, Becomes Soldier By Spc. Michael Pfaff 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment TIKRIT, Iraq, April 18, 2006 — When his sixth-grade teacher asked the class to think about what they wanted to do when they grew up, Capt. Mark Flitton took this question very seriously. There are three things he wanted to do in life: join the military, fly planes, and play golf. “I took it to heart and really studied what I wanted to do,” Flitton, the headquarters and headquarters company commander for the 445th Civil Affairs Battalion...

CHICAGO - Former Gov. George Ryan, who drew international praise when he commuted the sentences of everyone on Illinois' death row, was convicted of racketeering and fraud Monday in a corruption scandal that ended his political career in 2003. Ryan, 72, sat stone-faced as the verdict was read and afterward vowed to appeal. "I believe this decision today is not in accordance with the kind of public service that I provided to the people of Illinois over 40 years, and needless to say I am disappointed in the outcome," the former governor said. Ryan faces up to 20 years in...

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld did not intimidate members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during planning of the Iraq war as some retired generals have charged, a former chairman said Sunday. With Rumsfeld described by his critics as a micromanager who did not listen to military leaders, the Pentagon circulated a one-page memo late last week detailing the defense secretary's frequent contacts with numerous military and civilian advisers. Richard B. Myers, the Air Force general who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 2001 until last fall, dismissed criticism that military leaders failed to stand up to...

WASHINGTON – Crusty and unapologetic, Donald H. Rumsfeld is the public face of an unpopular war and a target of unrelenting criticism. A growing number of commanders who served under him say he has botched the Iraq operation, ignored the advice of his generals and should be replaced. The White House insists the defense secretary retains President Bush's confidence. Few close to the administration expect him to be shown the door. “The president believes Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a very fine job during a challenging period in our nation's history,” Bush spokesman Scott McClellan said Thursday as the administration circled...

U.S. Marine Cpl. Tavonne Douglas, left, poses with his former senior drill instructor, Gunnery Sgt. Alvin Bassfield at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan. Douglas, from Harlem, N.Y., is a food service specialist with Headquarters and Service Company of the1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. Bassfield, from Crewe, Va., is the company gunnery sergeant for B Company.  U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Joe Lindsay U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Tavonne Douglas Gunnery Sgt. Alvin Bassfield Former Drill Instructor, Recruit Reunite in Afghanistan By Marine Sgt. Joe Lindsay Task Force Lava Public Affairs JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, April 13, 2006 — The expression “It’s a...

WASHINGTON - Corruption plagues the agency that determines the legal status of immigrants, and its employees often don't conduct proper background checks of immigration applicants, a former agency official told lawmakers Thursday. As a result, "the integrity of the United States immigration system has also been corrupted and the system is incapable of ensuring the security of our homeland," Michael Maxwell said. "Ours is a system that rewards criminals, facilitates the movement of terrorists, (and) supports foreign agents," said Maxwell, who had been in charge of the Office of Security and Investigations at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services until resigning...

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 4, 2006) -- Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Andras T.S. Eder carried protest signs denouncing the Operation Desert Shield in 1991. Fifteen years later, he was promoted for his performance in combat. The 36-year-old Hungarian immigrant was promoted at the beginning of the month for his performance under fire while serving alongside his Marines from C Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5. It’s just one phase of a multi-faceted man who constantly reinvents himself, taking on the next great adventure in his life. “I try to be even-keeled,” Eder said. “It seems like...

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 1, 2006) -- Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric S. Duckworth might just be a glutton for punishment. Duckworth, a 28-year-old corpsman assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment’s 3rd Civil Affairs Group detachment just can’t seem to get enough of the Marine Corps. He’s served an enlistment as a Marine engineer, returned to become a Fleet Marine Force corpsman with the Navy and is now back on duty in Iraq. He just shrugs it all off with a smile. “It’s a big tradition in my family to join the military,” said Duckworth, from Peoria, Ill....

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's re-election campaign has hired two media consultants who helped President Bush win a second term in 2004. Alex Castellanos, a prominent Republican ad-maker in Arlington, Va., heads National Media. Fred Davis III, of Los Angeles, heads Strategic Perception. Both were part of the team that created the Bush campaign commercials portraying Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic nominee, as a waffling, Washington insider. The two are the latest in a string of former Bush aides hired by Schwarzenegger. His lead strategist is Matthew Dowd, who ran most aspects of Bush's re-election campaign. Schwarzenegger's campaign manager...

VIDEO of an Irish dancing protestor. What he is protesting, I have NO idea. Michael Flately has no need to worry about this step dancing JERK (see comment #1).

WASHINGTON (AP) - With an eye toward the 2008 presidential campaign, GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona has hired one of President Bush's top re-election advisers to help run his political action committee. Terry Nelson, political director of the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004, will be senior adviser to Straight Talk America, according to several official familiar with the hiring. They spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt an announcement by McCain's committee. McCain is using the PAC to raise money and organize his travel on behalf of Republicans running in November's midterm elections. The PAC is also...

3/13/2006 - SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) -- “They came to the door dressed as plumbers, claiming they needed to fix a leak,” said retired Army Maj. Gen. James Dozier. But, that was only the beginning of the general’s six-week ordeal as a hostage. He described his ordeal to group of conference attendees here March 10. “I didn’t know at the time that I or any member of NATO was being targeted,” the general said. “Later I learned they had been observing me and other NATO officials for some time.” Italian police officials became aware of some of those surveillance efforts by...

Former top judge says US risks edging near to dictatorship · Sandra Day O'Connor warns of rightwing attacks · Lawyers 'must speak up' to protect judiciary Julian Borger in Washington Monday March 13, 2006 The Guardian (UK) Sandra Day O'Connor, a Republican-appointed judge who retired last month after 24 years on the supreme court, has said the US is in danger of edging towards dictatorship if the party's rightwingers continue to attack the judiciary. In a strongly worded speech at Georgetown University, reported by National Public Radio and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Ms O'Connor took aim at Republican leaders...

Former District of Columbia Mayor Marion Barry was sentenced to three years probation Thursday in connection with charges that he failed to file federal or local tax returns for 2000. Barry pleaded guilty last October under an agreement reached with federal prosecutors which required him to acknowledge his failure to file returns for the years 1999 through 2004. Barry, 70, completed his fourth term as mayor in early 1999. While Barry has said he's unsure how much money he earned during the time period in question, he did not challenge claims by federal prosecutors that his income topped $534,000 during...

FORT HUACHUCA — More than 60 years ago, a young Benson man went off to war. Art Shilling returned six decades ago from island hopping campaigns in the Pacific and a stint as a member of the Japanese occupation force. The 81-year-old Shilling, who still lives in Benson, was a member of the 27th Engineer Construction Battalion. Shilling took part in four invasions of different New Guinea islands and two in the Philippine island chain. For many today, memories of World War II are just a part of America’s fading history. But to former GIs, those days of their youth...

ATLANTA, Feb. 28, 2006 – Today, Jason Gibson's days are filled with clowns, tigers and elephants, and it suits him just fine. Jason Gibson, production manager for Ringling's Red Unit and a former soldier, (left) goes over last-minute details with Andre McClain before the show begins Feb. 10 in Atlanta. McClain hosts the All-Access Preshow, where ticket holders are invited to get a ringside seat to a miniversion of some acts. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. "Every day, I sit in the seats (and) I watch the show ... and just the reaction...

SIERRA VISTA — It was in December 1941 when Benjamin Franklin Williams was a private first class, serving with a New Mexico National Guard unit in the Philippines. Japan struck what was then a U.S. territory. A few months later, Williams found himself a prisoner of war. Like many captured in the Philippines, he would spend World War II in Japanese POW camps, where he was forced to work on starvation rations and abused. Some of his teeth were knocked out by a Japanese guard who used the butt of his rifle on Williams after knocking him to the ground...

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 1:15 p.m. EST CORE Blasts King Funeral 'Outrage' The head of one of the nation's oldest civil rights organizations is blasting former President Jimmy Carter and Rev. Joseph Lowery for politicizing the funeral of Coretta Scott King. In a press release Thursday, Roy Innis, chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality, called comments by Carter and Lowery attacking President Bush "crass" and "disrespectful." "It was an outrage for such behavior to be exhibited in the presence of the President of the United States, and it was particularly outrageous for it to occur at a funeral for...

Former NFL players Keith Byars (left) and Bryan Cox sign posters for waiting soldiers at Forward Operating Base Speicher, Iraq. Photo by Pfc. Cassandra Groce, USA  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Soldiers viewing Super Bowl XL live at 2 a.m. local time yesterday were joined by an entourage of traveling football players at Forward Operating Base Speicher here. New England Patriots running back Keith Byars, who played in Super Bowl XXXI; linebacker Bryan Cox, who helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl in 2001 for the first time in franchise history; kicker Nick Lowery, who broke virtually every...