Free Republic

...HAYDEN: I wasn't asked. We weren't asked. We were informed as a courtesy by the agency that this was a pending decision, and all of us self-initiated, voluntarily, to call the White House and express our views. I should add, too, that the current director, Director Panetta, shared our views. I mean, if you look — if you look at what this really comprises, if you look at the documents that have been made public, it says top secret at the top. The definition of top secret is information which, if revealed, would cause grave harm to U.S. security. And...

Speak for yourself, Mr. President . . . Addressing the troops at Camp Lejeune today to announce his plans to withdraw all but about 50,000 troops from Iraq, Pres. Obama praised the success that has been achieved there. Among other things, he said: “The men and women of the United States military have served with honor, and succeeded beyond any expectation.” Any expectation? You, Mr. President, opposed this war from the beginning, claiming it could not succeed. Back in 2006 you called for surrender and withdrawal. You opposed the surge, and even after it succeeded said you still were right...

Senator John F. Kerry, who rooted his unsuccessful presidential campaign in an alternate vision of the Iraqi occupation, will visit that nation next month during a swing through the Middle East. The Massachusetts Democrat is to meet with National Guard troops from Massachusetts, other active-duty armed forces personnel, and others during the tour. The dates of his travel, the length of his stay, and his exact itinerary were being withheld for security purposes. ''He's going because he wants to thank the troops from Massachusetts," said Kerry spokeswoman April Boyd. ''While he's there, he'll also be meeting with military commanders, embassy...