http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/wot/ en-us Sun, 5 Jul 2009 09:59:48 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285818/posts Former congresswoman and current crazywoman Cynthia McKinney is spending a little time in an Israeli hoosegow this week. Only a matter of time, you say? Well, she isn't there because of the time her father blamed her electoral defeat on the "J-E-W-S." Nor, as far as we can tell, is it due to her habit of roughing up cops—although there's no official word about her demeanor when her Greek-flagged Gaza-blockade runner was boarded by the aforementioned J-E-W-S in uniform. McKinney found herself in dangerous waters as part of her new affiliation with the Green Party (she was their presidential nominee... Reason http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285818/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 09:59:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285519/posts Link only due to copyright. Our Foreign Policy Expert Veep dictates policy to the Iraqis. Bloomberg http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285519/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 17:34:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285004/posts The Obama administration is planning to use the National Security Agency to screen Internet traffic between government agencies and the private sector, the Washington Post reported Friday. The project was first initiated by the previous administration of president George W. Bush and was due to be set in motion in February. The aim is to protect the government computer network from attacks from outside, the Post said quoting Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. breitbart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285004/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 19:09:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284858/posts WANA, Pakistan (Reuters) – A U.S. drone aircraft fired missiles on Friday into Pakistan's South Waziristan region, killing 10 militants, officials said, ahead of an expected Pakistani military offensive in the area. The United States, facing a growing Afghan insurgency, began stepping up drone attacks on militant strongholds in lawless enclaves on the Pakistani side of the border a year ago despite Pakistani complaints. Three missiles were fired at militant hideouts in an area near the Afghan border controlled by Pakistani Taliban leader and al Qaeda ally Baitullah Mehsud, killing 10 militants and wounding seven, two intelligence agency officials said.... Reuters on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284858/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:00:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284770/posts The United States is opposed to enacting a new set of financial sanctions against Iran that are due to be discussed in the G8 summit next week, diplomatic officials in New York reported Friday. According to officials, sanctions against Iran are expected to top the G8's agenda. Sources are also predicting a pointed debate between the heads of the industrialized nations over an appropriate response to Iranian authorities' suppression of reformist demonstrations in Iran led by Mir Hossein Mousavi and other Iranian opposition leaders. Haaretz http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284770/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 12:50:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284690/posts SNIPPET: "A federal grand jury has indicted a group of Somali-Americans on terror-related charges after more than 20 young men from the Minneapolis area were recruited to join an Al Qaeda-linked group in Somalia, according to two law enforcement sources. The indictments have yet to be unsealed, but an announcement is expected in the next few weeks. One law enforcement source told FOX News the grand jury already has handed up indictments against at least three people. Among those charged is a man from Minneapolis who went to war-torn Somalia and then, about four months ago, relocated to Seattle, according... FOX NEWS.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284690/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 08:16:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284178/posts It has been confirmed across the board that 18-wheelers were seen going into Syria before the war, crossing the border soon after Iraqi intelligence replaced the border guards and cleared nearby areas for their passage. There are also eyewitness reports of the trucks going into Syria, and eyewitness reports of their burial in Lebanon. The trucks with the weapons were tracked to three locations in Syria and Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, currently controlled by the Syrians, Iranians, and Hezbollah. Sources I've spoken with that have seen satellite photos of the movements confirm that the WMD in Syria are at military bases,... FrontPageMagazine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284178/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:10:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284452/posts Will the New York City school system be compelled to commemorate Islam on Sept. 11? It has been widely reported the New York City Council passed a resolution Tuesday recommending the school system shut down to commemorate two of the most important Muslim holidays, however the reports did not note the holidays fall on Sept. 11 in some years.... Islamic holidays are set based on the lunar calendar, meaning the dates corresponding to the Gregorian calendar change each year. As first noticed by Andrew Walden, publisher and editor of the Hawaii Free Press Eid al-Adha falls on Sept. 11 in... WND http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284452/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:33:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284406/posts Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 23 terrorist plots against the United States have been foiled. This report updates a November 2007 report from the Heritage Foundation that described 19 plots that had been foiled to date since 9/11. Less than two years later, the U.S. has foiled four more plots aimed at Americans. While some trials have ended in mistrial and charges against some suspects were dropped, significantly more individuals have been convicted and sentenced for their crimes. These victories make the case for continued U.S. vigilance against terrorism around the globe. While these particular attacks have been disrupted, the... The Heritage Foundation http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284406/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:56:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284269/posts Beginning Thursday, American soldiers in Afghanistan will be under orders to back down when they're chasing Taliban fighters whenever they think that civilians might be at risk. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, will issue the directive as part of an effort to cut down on civilian casualties, which have enraged the Afghan government and residents. Instead of calling in air support or firing into civilian homes where Taliban fighters have sought refuge, commanders will be instructed to reach out to tribal elders or undertake other efforts to dislodge the fighters. The order is consistent with what... Miami Herald/AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284269/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 18:07:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284242/posts At a dinner last week in California, I was reminded of the debt we owe to those who have, for 233 years, sustained our freedom and independence. One remarkable family in particular exemplifies the best in the American spirit of courage and sacrifice. Sitting at my table was a friend, Christine Krissoff, wife of Dr. Bill Krissoff and mother of Nathan and Austin Krissoff. One of her sons, Marine First Lt. Nathan Krissoff, was killed in Al Anbar Province in December 2006. A Williams College grad, athlete and musician, he'd left for Iraq on the fifth anniversary of the 9/11... Wall Street Journal Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284242/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:32:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284209/posts CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (CN) - A 23-year-old illegal alien faces charges and deportation after he allegedly threatened to blow up a police station and a federal courthouse. Pedro Quino-Teodoro is charged with two counts of making a terrorist threat and one count of attempted obstruction of a governmental function. Police say Quino-Teodoro threatened to kill an officer and his family if immigration authorities were contacted during an assault investigation. Immigration officials confirmed his illegal status. Upon arrest, Quino-Teodoro allegedly said he would destroy the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau and police headquarters. He is being held on a $100,000 cash-only... Court House News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284209/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:58:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284156/posts WASHINGTON -- Insurgents captured an American soldier in eastern Afghanistan, according to a U.S. military spokeswoman. Capt. Elizabeth Mathias said the soldier has been missing since Tuesday and that the military was using "all our resources to find him and provide for his safe return." The soldier wasn't taking part in the major military operation launched in the southern Taliban stronghold of the Helmand River Valley. The new operation is an early test of the Obama administration's new strategy for beating back the resurgent Taliban and stabilizing the country in advance of this summer's presidential elections. Operation Khanjar, or "strike... The Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284156/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:48:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283766/posts A small Jewish toddler was orphaned in Mumbai last November amid a reign of terror carried out for the "prestige of Islam," according to a transcript of phone calls between the terrorists and their handlers published this week in an Indian newspaper. The terrorists murdered six Jews during the multi-pronged attack which began November 26, 2008 and ended in a river of blood at the Nariman Chabad House and additional locales. The three-day slaughter, which took the lives of dozens of others elsewhere in Mumbai, India as well, also carried the additional goal of damaging relations between Israel and India,... Israel National News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283766/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 01:27:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283876/posts There is no story that can possibly give you a better comprehension of the animals that we are fighting against in the war against Islamist terror than this one. Let me correct that, they are not animals because even animals protect their young, these followers of the "religion of peace" are much lower than animals. The Taliban in Pakistan are purchasing and/or kidnapping CHILDREN some as young as 7-Years-Old, then they force these kids to act as homicide bombers. Any homicide bombing is disgusting, but having little kids, elementary school kids, strap on a bomb and blow themselves up is... washingon times/the lid http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283876/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 05:22:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283907/posts HELD AL-QUDS: The Israeli navy on Tuesday boarded and seized a ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists that was heading to the Gaza Strip in defiance of Israel's blockade, a military spokesman said. "In the last hour an Israeli navy force intercepted, boarded and took control of the cargo boat 'Arion' ... as it was illegally attempting to enter the Gaza Strip," the spokesman said late in the afternoon. The military said the ship, which was sailing under a Greek flag, was the same vessel known as the "Spirit of Humanity", which was sailing to Gaza to protest the Israeli blockade on... The International News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283907/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 07:23:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283818/posts The NY Times fails to mention that Eid al-Adha falls on Sunday, September 11 in the year 2016 and Eid al-Fitr will begin at sunset on September 9 and continue to sunset on Friday September 10 in the year 2010. These “civil dates” for the two feast days are projected by the Islamic Umm al-Qura calendar maintained by the Saudi Government. They are the earliest possible dates for sighting of the crescent moon at Mecca. The feasts may fall one or two days later depending on a Saudi “hilal committee” responsible to spot the first visible crescent moon at Mecca—so... Hawaii Free Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283818/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 03:10:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283804/posts ISLAMIC INDEX: New index from Dow Jones will give investors exposure to 100 non-US Shariah compliant companies. (Getty Images)Dow Jones Indexes announced on Wednesday it has licensed the Dow Jones Islamic Market International Titans 100 Index to Javelin Investment Management, an investment adviser registered with the SEC. The blue-chip index will underlie the first Shari'ah compliant exchange-traded fund listed in the US - the JETS Dow Jones Islamic Market International Index Fund (JVS). The index measures the stock performance of 100 leading non-US companies that have passed rules-based screens for Shari'ah compliance. To determine their eligibility firms are screened based... arabianbusiness.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283804/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 02:46:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282537/posts Al Jazeera Coming Attractions by: Brittany Fortier and Anthony Kang, June 30, 2009 Al Jazeera English is preparing for its July 2010 major-market American debut. The channel has previously experienced static in trying to penetrate the North American market, but plans are currently under way to prime this new audience. Recently, Washington D.C. correspondent Shahnaz Pakravan stated that October 7th, 2001 was the beginning of an “unfortunate era” of Al Jazeera when they were the first network to broadcast Osama bin Laden's initial message after the 9/11 attacks. Most Americans are not familiar with Al Jazeera’s brand of news coverage,... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282537/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:58:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281732/posts Why Iran's Changed Forever Reuel Marc Gerecht: Whatever Happens In Tehran, There's No Going Back To Khomeini's Islamic Republic. Who's Who Iran's Election: Key Players A look at the most important figures in Iran's contested presidential election. Stories Candidate Withdraws Iran Fraud Complaint Intensified Crackdown Mutes Iran Protests (Weekly Standard) Reuel Marc Gerecht, a Weekly Standard contributing editor, is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The modern Middle East has had numerous "game-changing" moments, when history turned. Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Egypt in 1798, Muhammad Ali's conquest of the Nile Valley in 1805, and the... cbs http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281732/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:18:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281605/posts Polish engineer's refusal to convert costs him his life Posted : Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:29:39 GMT Author : DPA Islamabad - Piotr Stanczak did not exhibit the slightest hint of hesitation when the Pakistani Taliban asked him to choose between execution and conversion to Islam. Whether the Polish geologist acted out of pride or religious conviction, he decided to pay through his blood to save his faith, a choice that bewildered his killers and keep them talking about him with respect after his murder. Stanczak, 42, was kidnapped September 28 on his way to survey for oil exploration in... Earthtimes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281605/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:07:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281310/posts The Obama administration will leave open the door for discussions with Iran over its nuclear ambitions even as demonstrators question the legitimacy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election, administration officials said Sunday. Ahmadinejad has accused the West of stoking unrest, singling out Britain and the United States for alleged meddling. Last week, Iran expelled two British diplomats, and Britain responded in kind. Iran, which detained nine British Embassy employees Saturday before releasing four, has said it's considering downgrading diplomatic ties with Britain. The U.S. has not had diplomatic relations with Tehran since the aftermath of the Iranian revolution in 1979. On... The Washington Post / The Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281310/posts#comment Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:59:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281043/posts Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has rejected a government proposal to conduct a partial recount of presidential election votes - again insisting that the results be annulled. In a statement on his Web site, Mr. Mousavi questioned the impartiality and fairness of the proposed panel that would conduct the recount. Iran's Guardian Council had offered to randomly recount 10 percent of the ballots from the June 12 vote that members of the opposition allege was rigged. VOA News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281043/posts#comment Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:55:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281032/posts The South Korean military plans to speed up efforts to deploy ground, air and naval weapons systems for use in strikes against key facilities in North Korea in the event of war, the Ministry of National Defense said Friday. The plan is part of a revised version of a military modernization package. The ministry unveiled the revision of the Defense Reform 2020 initiative drawn up in 2005. The updated plan is focused on securing independent capabilities to remove North Korea's asymmetrical military threat of nuclear and missile programs by deploying sophisticated surveillance, reconnaissance and striking assets. In the case of... The Korea Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281032/posts#comment Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:33:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280866/posts President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Saturday to make the U.S. regret its criticism of Iran's postelection crackdown and said the "mask has been removed" from the Obama administration's efforts to improve relations. Ahmadinejad — with his internal opponents virtually silenced — all but dared Obama to keep calling for an end to repression of demonstrators who claim the hardline leader stole re-election through massive fraud. "You should know that if you continue the response of the Iranian nation will be strong," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to members of Iran's judiciary, which is directly controlled by the ruling clerics. "The response... The Athens Banner-Herald / The Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280866/posts#comment Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:39:08 GMT