Free Republic

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (July 13, 2006) -- Marine Aerial Refueler and Transport Squadron 252, the squadron that performed the first in-flight helicopter refueling more than 30 years ago, continues to play integral roles in air combat innovation and military operations throughout the world. As Lt. Col. David A. Krebs took the reigns of VMGR-252, June 30, he spoke enthusiastically about the opportunity to assume command of a squadron that is flexible enough to be deployed and stretched thin. Saturday, VMGR-252 participated in the first transatlantic MV-22 Osprey flight. Meanwhile, approximately 25 percent of the squadron is...

Democrats split over position on Iraq war Leaders want to stay the course, voters call for exit strategy By Peter Baker and Shailagh Murray Updated: 10:48 p.m. ET Aug. 21, 2005 WASHINGTON - Democrats say a long-standing rift in the party over the Iraq war has grown increasingly raw in recent days, as stay-the-course elected leaders who voted for the war three years ago confront rising impatience from activists and strategists who want to challenge President Bush aggressively to withdraw troops. Amid rising casualties and falling public support for the war, Democrats of all stripes have grown more vocal this...

Christians in Vermont aren't surprised Howard Dean wields the word "Christian" as a curse not a compliment. They have long chuckled over the mainstream media's lazy acceptance of Dean's self-description as a moderate willing to make overtures to the religious. That's not the Howard Dean they recall. On a Vermont radio talk show, Dean once referred to pro-lifers in the state as common criminals whom he didn't care to meet, and would demonize conservative Christians as "haters" while choking on his own hate. Dean, who oversaw abortions as an executive board member for Planned Parenthood New England, had no use...

Over the past couple of years, evangelicals have taken an increased interest in the environment. You may have read about some of the meetings that have been held recently in Washington. This is a good thing, because evangelicals have often forgotten that we have a stewardship responsibility for all of God’s creation. That means the air we breathe, the water we drink, the wilderness areas we all enjoy. I applaud some of the evangelical leaders who have been pricking our consciences—and some who have been setting good examples by driving fuel-efficient vehicles. But evangelicals need to remember that we are...

9 French troops and a U.S. citizen were killed when Ivory Coast fighter planes bombed a rebel position in the north of that country. The French have hit back, destroying 5 Ivorian helicopters and 2 bombers near the capital city of Yamoussoukro. Ivorians aren’t happy with France’s reprisals. Angry mobs are rioting, looting French properties, and yelling “Everybody get your Frenchman!” and “French go home!” Well, well, well, isn’t France’s criticism of the U.S. Coalition presence in Iraq a bit like the pot calling the kettle black? Listen to the French government’s words, as reported by the BBC: President Jacques...

"I can wage a better war on terror than George Bush has." So speaks Senator Kerry in the U.S. presidential campaign's final days, again reminding voters that the key issue in this race remains as it was a year earlier - deciding which candidate will better protect Americans from terrorism.As with so many topics, the basic difference between Kerry and President Bush is one of character, with the challenger repeatedly changing his mind and the president sticking with one position.On occasion, Mr. Kerry adopts Bush-like terminology. For example, in September 2004 he talked about the war on terror being "as...

John-Jaquestrap Effin Shove It Kerry S.O.B Teresa Mamma T Winthrop Simoes-Ferreira Al Qerry-Heinz III........ continues to tell America that he has been consistent on Iraq, that he has had ONLY ONE position on Iraq the entire time. He just may be correctAnd in that vein, does anyone have that picture of the contortionist with his head up his *ss? That would be the one position Effin has held quite consistently.

Donna West studied the area of her Indiana map between her daughter's home in Bristol and some of her grandkids' town of Merrillville. "And Mishawaka sort of jumped out at me," says the 63-year-old former government worker now on disability. "I am part Cherokee, and so the name really appealed to me," Donna admits. "Have you ever said Mishawaka real quick three times? "Mishawaka, Mishawaka, Mishawaka. I love it." So for not much more reason than that, she moved to the Princess City from Pontiac, Ill., in 1997. She is glad she did. "I tried a few senior living places,...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 July 9 Analemma Credit & Copyright: Vasilij Rumyantsev (Crimean Astrophysical Obsevatory) Explanation: If you took a picture of the Sun at the same time each day, would it remain in the same position? The answer is no, and the shape traced out by the Sun over the course of a year is called an analemma. The Sun's apparent shift is caused by the Earth's motion around the Sun...