Free Republic

A group of gay and lesbian veterans will launch a national campaign tomorrow at Harvard to repeal the military’s policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” The seven-week, nationwide speaking tour, which will begin at 7 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Starr Auditorium, will feature seven former service members who argue that the law keeps able-bodied Americans from serving in the military at a time when it is desperate to recruit and retain troops because of the war in Iraq. “A lot of people have never known a gay or lesbian person and, as a result, have...

Fort Worth, Texas -- A Vietnam-era Marine Corps deserter who was arrested after more than 36 years on the lam will not face a military trial and has been discharged from the military, officials said. Ernest Johnson Jr., 55, was arrested Jan. 12 on a federal warrant for desertion. He was given an other-than honorable discharge and allowed to return home this week rather than face a court-martial partly because of his failing health

Pakistani Killed Daughters to Save 'Honor' By KHALID TANVEER (Associated Press Writer) From Associated Press December 28, 2005 5:37 PM EST MULTAN, Pakistan - Nazir Ahmed appears calm and unrepentant as he recounts how he slit the throats of his three young daughters and their 25-year old stepsister to salvage his family's "honor" - a crime that shocked Pakistan. The 40-year old laborer, speaking to The Associated Press in police detention as he was being shifted to prison, confessed to just one regret - that he didn't murder the stepsister's alleged lover too. Hundreds of girls and women are murdered...

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — It was no secret that Air Force Staff Sgt. Sergio Richo and another airman’s wife had become extremely close when her husband was deployed two years ago. But when she told Richo she would never divorce her husband unless “he hurt my children,” Air Force prosecutors charge that Richo followed through with a devious plan to get the airman in trouble and break up the marriage. Richo, of the 435th Communications Squadron at Ramstein, is accused of setting up his former friend by planting photos and documents on his computer to make it look like...

He's at it AGAIN!!! ...or try this Alternate Link to the image!!! Reference:   (Tip: Thanks to FReeper KCRW): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1534247/posts

FORT RILEY, Kan. -- A soldier convicted of murdering unarmed Iraqis testified Thursday that he falsely implicated his platoon leader in one of the slayings so that he could get a lighter prison sentence. The startling testimony came at a military hearing to determine whether 2nd Lt. Erick J. Anderson should be court-martialed on murder charges. Pvt. Michael Williams said, contrary to his earlier statements, that the Iraqi victim was already dead when Anderson arrived, and that Anderson never gave any order to kill him. "I just felt that pressure of getting a life sentence instead of 25 years," Williams...

Dems Leak Bush's Court Short List Top Senate Democrats floated the names of potential candidates for the Supreme Court on Tuesday in a meeting with President Bush, describing them as...

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Two sailors accused of killing a fellow dental technician on Camp Hansen last February have waived their rights to preliminary hearings.Seaman Robert L. Person Jr. of Turrell, Ark., and Seaman Tiffany Marie Brooks of Carthage, Miss., now face separate courts-martial in Keystone Judicial Circuit Court on Camp Foster, according to court officials. Both are charged with murder in the Feb. 2 stabbing death of Seaman Adam J. Palecco, 21.They are also charged with larceny as members of what Marine investigators say was a shoplifting ring.Person and Brooks are assigned to the U.S. Naval Dental Center on...

Potsdam, N.Y. - The Army honorably discharged an officer who had gone to court to challenge his assignment to Iraq, saying he had properly resigned more than a year earlier. Carl A. Petitto, 32, dropped his lawsuit against the Army after securing his honorable discharge, which took effect Thursday.

New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) has long been rumored as desperately seeking the democratic nomination for president in 2008. And while many political observers fully expect the power hungry former First Lady to hit the campaign trail within only a few months of being re-elected as a US Senator in 2006, US News & World report claims to have a confirmation of sorts. From USNews.Com's Washington Whispers: Hillary's in… You don't have to take it from us about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 's desire to run for president. Her brothers, Hugh and Tony Rodham, say it's true. Friends...

French President Jacques Chirac says he regards the European arms embargo on China as outdated and wants it lifted as soon as possible. Chirac (right) sees rich opportunities in China's boom His remarks came ahead of his visit to China on Friday, and again France finds itself at odds with the US. Washington is urging the EU not to lift an embargo that was imposed after the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square. Mr Chirac's trip to China is aimed at boosting flourishing trade relations. When Chinese President Hu Jintao visited France earlier this year, Paris not only...

Let's see if I can kick this off. During the promo at the beginning of the show, where he was standing by live in West Virginia, and throughout the interview itself, Kerry tried hard to keep this huge "what me worry?" smile plastered on his face. He coupled it with numerous condescending head shakes that seemed to imply "these poor benighted fools who so miserably misunderstand the greatness that is John Kerry."

Radio talk show host launches boycott against local newspaper KSEV radio talk show host Dan Patrick went on a crusade against the Houston Chronicle for what he calls a liberal slant. By Tom Abrahams ABC13 Eyewitness News (4/09/04 - HOUSTON) — A local family who lost their son in Iraq recently is upset with the Houston Chronicle newspaper. Marine Leroy Sandoval's family thinks a recent Chronicle article unfairly portrayed the family's feelings about the president. The family's displeasure has now launched a boycott of the paper by a local radio talk show host. Private First Class Leroy Sandoval, Jr., was...

<p>On February 3, by a vote of 394 to 0, the House overwhelmingly approved a resolution (H.J. Res. 84) congratulating Ronald Reagan on his 93rd birthday.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, a group of five angry liberal congressmen refused to pay Reagan even this small courtesy and instead voted "present." A handful of Democrat congressmen did the same last year.</p>

XXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED NOV 26, 2003 10:49:38 ET XXXXX SOLDIERS ANGER OVER DEAN BROTHER 'MILITARY HONORS' **Exclusive** Active duty soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines are upset over being forced take part in a military repatriation ceremony today for remains believed to be those of the non-military brother of presidential candidate Howard Dean, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. "His brother will receive full military honors...flag over the coffin and all!" fumes one soldier, who asked not to be named. Governor Dean is set to visit to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the repatriation of his brother to...

Police suspect family members killed 22-year-old pregnant woman found shot in Ramle, for `dishonoring them` (Army Radio)

Pete Rose and Major League Baseball have reached an agreement that would allow him to return to baseball in 2004, and includes no admission of wrongdoing by Rose, Baseball Prospectus has learned. According to several sources, Rose signed the agreement after a series of pre-season meetings between Rose, Hall of Fame member Mike Schmidt, and at different times, high-level representatives of Major League Baseball, including Bob DuPuy, Major League Baseball's Chief Operating Officer, and Allan H. "Bud" Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball. The agreement includes removal of Rose from baseball's permanently ineligible list. This would allow Rose to appear...

A bill by New Jersey representative Andrews who has Re-Defined "Environmental" to include: "RACE, ETHNICITY, RELIGIOUS MINORITY" email: rob.andrews@mail.house.gov United States House of Representatives H. R. 654 A BILL To require the head of each Federal agency in the Department of the Interior to consider whether actions of the agency have any disparate impact on any member of a racial, ethnic, or religious minority. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACT' Rep. Robert Andrews...

<p>FOUR GIs arrested and charged with stealing nearly $1 million in cash from money found hidden in Baghdad had intended to filch another $12 million, The Post has learned.</p> <p>Army investigators yesterday discovered three aluminum boxes - each holding $4 million in $100 bills - that they believe the sticky-fingered soldiers stashed away to be recovered by them at a later time when the coast was clear, sources said.</p>

And now - it's the Mr. Bill Show Maureen Dowd Bill should not be the next Oprah. That's silly. He should be the next Ozzy. After all, as one network executive says of the prolix ex-president: "How could he be an interviewer? He only wants to hear himself talk." There is a delicious symmetry in Bill Clinton's exploring the idea of a daytime syndicated talk show: the man who brought Oprah-style psychobabble and misty confessions to politics taking the next step and actually transmogrifying into Oprah. Last Wednesday, Clinton and his pal, the TV producer Harry Thomason, met in Thomason's...