Free Republic

"The creation of the United States of America is the central event of the past four hundred years." Thus does Walter A. McDougall of the University of Pennsylvania begin the first volume of his acclaimed new American history, Freedom Just Around the Corner (HarperCollins).Not surprisingly, this central event has evoked a wide range of opinions. Tens of millions of immigrants have voted with their feet to slough off prior allegiances and join the boisterous experiment that makes "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" its official goal.The result has been an astounding success. "We dominate every field of human endeavor...

NEW YORK -- Andrew Wasilewski is a chubby-cheeked toddler from Mississippi. Katie and Kathie Johnson are identical twins from South Dakota. Alyse Dansby is a playful 23-month-old from Alaska. These children come from far-flung places, but they are united by a common twist of fate: They were born on Sept. 11, 2001. Andrew, the Johnson twins and Alyse were among 28 toddlers from 27 states who came to New York for a two-day birthday celebration that began Sunday with a buffet dinner and birthday cake decorated with an American flag. Sept. 11 ``was such a tragedy, but in the light...

Dark days await armies gathering for the mother of all showdowns around Baghdad By Donald Macintyre in Qatar 25 March 2003 The United States and Britain began a ferocious air and missile attack on the Republican Guard divisions protecting Baghdad yesterday in their first concerted effort to force a way through the treacherous "red zone" surrounding the Iraqi capital. The US confirmed that one Apache helicopter gunship was downed in the first wave of air assaults, launched as a precursor to what military planners see as the decisive phase of the campaign. And the US 3rd Infantry Division was slowed...

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) - Music pounded, drinks flowed and a dazzling white light rippled over yachts bobbing in the blue bay of this resort city, where life blooms under an ever-present sun. But something changed Monday. With the sun still high in the sky, a dark moon shadow crept slowly upward, taking a small bite out of the glowing yellow orb about an hour and a half before sunset. Tourists rose from their beach chairs, restaurant employees abandoned their posts and beach vendors set down their wares as small crowds gathered on the shore to watch a partial...

June 07, 2002 This time round there is no hope of another clean conflict By Kuldip Nayar Forty years ago disputes could be settled by professional soldiers; now the threat of nuclear attack leaves citizens in fear INDIA and Pakistan have fought two wars: in 1965 and 1971. They were “clean” wars, unlike those experienced in Europe. There were no attacks on cities, no civilians were killed. Envoys of the two countries did not leave their posts and the Governments involved never told foreign citizens to leave. People on both sides knew that there was a battle between the soldiers...