Free Republic

HER best-known electoral assets are certainly not her policies. But the Czech porn star Dolly Buster hopes that her profile, at least among male voters, will gain her a seat in Sunday’s European elections. Her eye-catching campaign videos are certainly the talk of the country. In one she dances around a farm, holding a rake handle between her cleavage, while criticising European agricultural policies. In another she is dressed as a barmaid, slamming pints of beer on to the table as she sets out her party’s policies, which emphasise social welfare. Despite her lack of political experience, Ms Buster, 34,...

In ever increasing numbers, gun owners in this country have, by their actions, said to government: You are my master, all rights flow from you, I bow down before you and will beg, no, even pay for your permission to have my firearms. I have watched this occur here in my home state of New Mexico since January of this year, although it has been happening in many other states over the past decade or so.Let me draw an analogy for you, if I may. Let’s say robbers beset your town. They are becoming more and more brazen in...

Arab commentators and officials have warned the United States its war on Iraq was widening its circle of enemies in the Middle East and urged Washington to refrain from picking new fights. The comments came in the wake of recent threats by senior members of President George W Bush's administration against Syria and Iran, and later Israeli warnings to Damascus, that they would be held to account if they gave support to Iraq.

Iraq is winning battles in the propaganda war with a modest media strategy, despite a multi-million dollar U.S. campaign featuring painstakingly choreographed briefings and Hollywood-style sets. Undeterred by America's elaborate media plan, Iraq is making its mark on the airwaves with its decidedly basic approach, media pundits say. From a crude Baghdad set, Iraqi ministers each day knock down Western media reports and list their latest claims of conquest, sometimes wielding chrome-plated Kalashnikovs.

Ottawa – America is becoming unhinged and it is impossible to imagine that Canada will be not affected. This was not the case after 9/11. The attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., were sad and tragic but they built a unity that took the form of a new patriotism inside the United States — and a new international solidarity with America outside the country. It isn't true that this new-found patriotism and solidarity had no depth. Sure, some of it was as disposable as the feelings that emerge from a night at the Oscars. But at its heart...

An evaluation of lending programmes has concluded that many countries have become stubbornly reliant on aid from international lending bodies. No kidding? Did they only just notice that they've been dumping cash on the likes of Ethiopia for years? - Ivan The report, produced by the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), also found that prolonged use of IMF initiatives has expanded considerably over the past two decades. It beats working, apparently - Ivan "Prolonged use is a large, growing and persisting issue," said David Goldsbrough, IEO deputy director. Oh be honest. There are a lot...

Iraq has warned that it will not abide by any new resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council. What a surprise. Anyone surprised? Bueller? Bueller? - Ivan State radio said the decision to reject any new conditions had been made during a meeting involving President Saddam Hussein and senior officials. "American officials are trying to issue or pass a new, bad resolution by the Security Council. Iraq declares it will not deal with any new resolutions," the brief announcement said. Under growing international pressure, Iraq announced on Monday it would accept the unconditional return of international weapons inspectors nearly...

Archaeologists, while clearing away weeds from Peru's Machu Picchu, uncovered more of the ancient site, including a rubbish dump. Machu Picchu Rubbish Dump Found June 10 — Archeologists doing maintenance at the famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu have found new stone terraces, water channels, a rubbish dump and a wall dividing the site's urban sector from its temples, an official said on Friday. "We were clearing away weeds when we were surprised to discover new stone structures, including a wall 6.8 meters (22 feet) high with fine masonry which separates the urban from the sacred zone," Fernando Astete, administrator...