Free Republic

A Dutch company and an American ethanol producer hope to put a new kind of fuel in your gas tank — whether it makes economic sense or not. Thanks, Washington. Amid the cornfields of Emmetsburg, Iowa sits an ethanol plant that takes in 20 million bushels of corn and churns out about 55 million gallons of corn ethanol a year. Rising next to it is a revolutionary new facility. It will make ethanol as well, but instead of using juicy kernels of corn, its feedstock will be 285,000 tons a year of corncobs, leaves and husks. Although its 25 million...

The US Air Force needed more Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability and so launched the Project Liberty program. The result was the low-cost MC-12W aircraft, which flew its first combat mission in June 2009, just eight months after receiving funds. It has since flown thousands of successful missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Air Force is seeking permission from Congress to shift $215 million out of lower-priority procurement accounts to stock up on spare engines for the F-22A Raptor fleet in the wake of concerns about future availability, according to a Pentagon budget document. This move is one of many fiscal year 2010 budget adjustments to Air Force, Army and Navy modernization accounts detailed in a 25-page reprogramming action that Robert Hale, Pentagon comptroller, sent to Congress on June 11, seeking to shift funds totaling $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2010 funds from lower- to higher-priority needs. “Funds are required to procure...

Secretary of Defense to stop in Greenville By BRAD KELLAR Herald-Banner Staff GREENVILLE — Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is scheduled to stop in Greenville today, to tour work being performed at the city’s largest employer. Gates will visit the L-3 Communications Integrated Systems plant as part of a two-part stop at defense contractors in North Texas. Reuters announced Gates is also scheduled to visit a Lockheed plant in Fort Worth before coming to Greenville. While in Greenville, Gates intends to inspect the ongoing Project Liberty reconnaissance program at the facility. The L-3 Mission Integration is modifying a total of...

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kenneth Gladney to Tour U.S. Soon to Discuss Individual Rights in New Educational Program, "Project Liberty" St. Louis, Missouri August 11, 2009 -- Kenneth Gladney thanks everyone for their outpouring of support and well wishes. After he recovers from his injuries, Kenneth plans to travel across the country to promote Project Liberty, a new educational program designed to teach America's youth about their fundamental rights under the Constitution. Kenneth inform young people about his experiences on the fateful night of August 6, 2009 at Rep. Russ Carnahan's town hall meeting in South St. Louis and...

L-3 Communications said Wednesday it has delivered seven intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for use in Afghanistan ahead of schedule. The militarized versions of the Hawker Beechcraft Super King 350 planes were due by Sept. 30, the company said. -snip-