Free Republic

The UN's high commissioner for human rights has called for an international investigation into the condition of detainees in Iraq. Louise Arbour, a former judge on the Supreme Court, issued the call on Friday. She cited a report on Tuesday indicating that more than 170 prisoners had been found in a prison in Baghdad, where they had been starved and tortured. The discovery of the detainees "pointed to widespread problems with the system of detention in the country," her spokesperson José Luis Díaz said in a statement. Arbour did not suggest who should head the probe or how it should...

Our area takes great pride in the role many organizations and residents here played in the Underground Railroad during the years leading up to the Civil War. Thousands of slaves were freed because of the courage of individuals who either housed fugitive slaves or went south to escort them to freedom here in the north. It is a heritage we can be proud of. Today, there is a similar effort underway. It is happening in a land divided along lines of north and south. Race is a component. Other nations are involved. And the bravery of conductors and engineers on...