Free Republic

Rome paid tribute to the barbarians clamoring at her gates. It didn't do any good. Paying ransom only postponed the inevitable sacking, burning, and looting of the empire's capital. The UK's Neville Chamberlain sought to pacify Hitler, only to see Brits hiding in basements from the blitzkrieg a few years later. Instead of remembering history's lessons, the Washington Post today indulges in feel-good, intellectual rationalization of Muslim intolerance and hatred. In a 5-page manifesto entitled, "Anatomy of the Cartoon Protest Movement," authors Anthony Shadid and Kevin Sullivan exercise unlimited poetic license, calling Islamist hooliganism "a rare moment of empowerment among...

Large Group Leaves Besieged Bethlehem Church Tue Apr 30,10:43 AM ET By Michael Georgy BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - Twenty-six people filed out of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem Tuesday, the largest group to leave in a four-week-long Israeli siege of Palestinian fighters taking refuge in the shrine. Witnesses saw the people walk out of the church, one of Christianity's holiest sites, in single file and present their identity papers to Israeli soldiers. The Israeli army initially said 27 people were in the group, but witnesses and the military later put the number at 26, including a senior...

Dozens of Palestinians set to leave besieged church Twenty-eight Palestinians are due to leave the Church of the Nativity. It will be the largest single group to exit the besieged compound since a stand-off began nearly a month ago. Palestinian negotiator Imad Natche says the agreement has been reached during talks with Israeli military officers at the Bethlehem Peace Centre. Those leaving the church later in the day will include 27 civilians and one Palestinian policemen,said Mr Natche. Israel's army will verify their identities and then release them, he added. About 50 people have left the church since the standoff...