Free Republic

SACRAMENTO — Worried about losing clout in Congress, influential Republicans in Washington are telling Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that he should drop his effort to redraw congressional voting districts in time for next year's elections and limit his focus to reshaping the state Legislature. National Republican Party leaders — even Schwarzenegger's closest ally in the congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas) — are pressing the governor to exempt Congress from his map-making. The fear is that tinkering with the California congressional boundaries could jeopardize Republican control of the U.S. House. By some estimates, the state's 20-person GOP congressional delegation...

Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn has raised at least $11,000 for a legal-defense fund in response to investigations of "pay-to-play" contracting in his administration -- a sign, his opponents said, that the mayor is deeply worried about the joint local and federal probes. Hahn established the fund on Nov. 18 without fanfare and raised $1,000 each from 11 donors through Dec. 31, according to City Ethics Commission records. In creating the fund, Hahn is tapping many of the same donors who have contributed to a separate legal-defense account to pay a $53,523 fine over violations in his 2001 mayoral campaign....

Terrorist fears over laser attacks on seven planes By Tom Leonard in New York (Filed: 01/01/2005) The FBI is investigating reports that laser beams have been directed into the cockpits of seven aircraft flying over America since Christmas, amid fears that terrorists could use them to blind or disorientate pilots. Crews have reported two incidents in Colorado Springs and one each in Cleveland, Washington, Houston, Teterboro, New Jersey, and Medford, Oregon. All the planes landed safely. Pilots are not convinced by reports that federal investigators have found no evidence of terrorist involvement. "It's not some kid, it's too organised," said...

Fears of violence grow as face-off intensifies By Julius Strauss in Kiev and David Rennie in Washington (Filed: 25/11/2004) Ukrainian authorities defied growing pressure from the West and the demands of tens of thousands of anti-government protesters yesterday by declaring Viktor Yanukovich, the pro-Russia candidate, the winner of bitterly-disputed weekend elections. The announcement deepened the country's political crisis and raised fresh fears of violent clashes. Viktor Yushchenko, the opposition leader, had earlier accused the authorities of carrying out a coup d'etat. Mr Yushchenko said a coup had been accomplished by "rigging the elections'' and that thousands of violations of election...

Stage Setting For The Mark Of The Beast Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Beware of the New World...

Stage Setting For The Mark Of The Beast Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Beware of the New World...

In 1967 and 1968, Japan, Europe and America were aflame with violence. From the London School of Economics, to the Sorbonne, from Japan to Rome and in dozens of cities across the United States, tens of thousands of students staged protests and sit-ins throughout the countries of the First World. While dozens of books with varying theories concerning the causes of this conflagration have been written, most agree implicitly or explicitly on one thing: post-war fecundity, the unusually high world-wide population of young people following World War II, was the fuel for the fire. The irony is rather interesting.

PARIS, Sept 23 (AFP) - French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin reiterated France's support for Turkey's eventual membership of the European Union but warned Ankara might not yet be ready to accept Western values, in an interview published Thursday in the Wall Street Journal Europe. "We don't think we should tell Turkey that the doors of Europe are forever closed to it," Raffarin told the newspaper, but then said: "Do we want the river of Islam to enter the riverbed of secularism?" The French prime minister's comments came as his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with EU officials in...

Robert "Bob" Tuke, attorney and member of the Kerry campaign leadership, plans to present a video-lecture advocating homosexuality and homosexual marriage, to children in grades 6-12, on October 12. Junior and Senior high schools across America are invited to participate. Don't let the clever name of this lecture fool you! Program Guide: Key Issues in the 2004 Presidential Election Program Provider: Vanderbilt University Virtual School [Robert Tuke] Program Title: Key Issues in the 2004 Presidential Election Target Audience: Education: Grade(s): 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Primary Disciplines: Community Interests, Social Studies/History Program Description: In this videoconference, students consider...

Welcome to my lies There’s no turning back Even while you watch You will find us Acting on our best behaviour Turn our backs on other saviors John Forbes Kerry wants to rule the world It’s my own big joke It’s my own regret Help me to decide How to beat George Bush With libel and some slander I will try to win November John Forbes Kerry wants to rule the world There’s a world where the right won’t find you Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down When they do I’ll have left already So glad you’ve almost...

Bush tries to calm fears over future of free Iraq By Alec Russell in Washington, Anton La Guardia and George Jones (Filed: 25/05/2004) President George W Bush sought last night to reassure the world that he had a clear strategy for Iraq as the United States and Britain revealed plans to hand over power. With his approval ratings at a new low and senior Republicans stepping up their criticism of his policy, Mr Bush launched his fightback with a prime-time television address. President Bush: 'There are difficult days ahead' Speaking at the Army War College in Pennsylvania, he vowed America...

Spain fears 'bad blood' with Morocco By Isambard Wilkinson in Madrid (Filed: 18/03/2004) Spanish security sources said yesterday they believed that bad blood with Morocco caused a critical breakdown in communication over terrorists' movements. Analysts fear that the centuries-old rivalry could further hamper the investigation into the Moroccan terrorist cell that appears to be behind last week's bombings in Spain that killed 201 people. Spanish police have arrested three Moroccans believed to be closely linked to several Islamist terrorist groups and have identified five more who are presumed perpetrators of the March 11 attacks. Yesterday they broadened the manhunt for...

Mugabe shrugs off 'murder' bid and health fears Andrew Meldrum in Pretoria Monday February 23, 2004 The Guardian (UK) The president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, recently found ground glass in his food: possibly an attempt to kill him. He told state television during a special birthday interview that a presidential cook had been questioned about the incident. In the past, Mr Mugabe has accused western leaders of seeking to topple him, but he did not blame this latest incident on the west. "I do not think it was anything to do with western imperialism. Western imperialism is much more thorough...

US fears Afghan blast booby-trap A blast that killed seven US soldiers in Afghanistan may have been caused by a booby-trap, the US military says. The soldiers died while investigating a weapons cache in a village near Ghazni, east Afghanistan, on Thursday. There were signs the weapons dump was booby-trapped but an investigation was continuing, said US spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Brian Hilferty. The US has lost a number of troops while hunting militants in southern and eastern Afghanistan. This has been a costly week for both the coalition and for Isaf Colonel Hilferty said it was unclear how the men...

The Worst of All Fears What is the greatest fear of all? What fear is most likely to cause us to deny Christ, be untrue to ourselves, and dishonest with others? People hold many fears in their minds. Dozens of phobias are listed in the diagnostic books on psychopathology. People can be anxious about any number of situations. These fears and anxieties are often self-inhibiting and self-destructive. When they get into the areas of delusional paranoia they can be destructive to others as well. But of all the fears which one would you say is the greatest fear of all?...

Experts calm fears over Asian bird flu By Tini Tran in Hanoi 16 January 2004 A bird flu that has killed at least three people and infected millions of chickens across Asia will not begin to spread between humans, a team of experts reported yesterday. The World Health Organisation (WHO) sent a team of health officials to Hanoi to study the mysterious avian flu that has killed two children and one adult. Four further suspected human cases of the disease were reported yesterday in Vietnam, bringing the total number to 18. Pascale Brudon, the WHO representative in Hanoi, said: "We...

Troops sent into Tbilisi as civil war fears rise By Julius Strauss in Tbilisi (Filed: 12/11/2003) Georgia inched closer to civil war last night as interior ministry troops were ordered into the heart of the capital, Tbilisi, and President Eduard Shevardnadze denounced opposition leaders. Outside parliament thousands of angry protesters gathered for a fourth day, swearing defiance. Many were waving images of St George, their patron saint. A source close to the president said: "Considering the hot mood around the country, it's possible there will be a second civil war." The country slipped into civil war in the early 1990s....

Dollar's drop and oil fears cause gold rush Bullion price hits seven year high Larry Elliott Friday September 26, 2003 The Guardian (UK) Fears of a prolonged slump in the value of the dollar sent gold prices to their highest level in seven years yesterday as investors sought a haven from the turbulence of the foreign exchanges. The price of gold rose by $5 to just over $390 an ounce in London trading amid speculation that the $400 barrier could be breached in the coming weeks. With the financial markets unsettled by the sharp drop in the dollar and by...

Fears of fresh 'sniper' spree A full-scale investigation aims to quell residents' fears Fears are mounting in West Virginia that a gunman may be copying the sniper attacks which sparked panic in the Washington area last year. State police have joined forces with federal agents and other government teams to mount a full and immediate investigation to quell residents' fears that a serial killer is on the loose. Preliminary findings after three people were killed in Kanawha County last week show they were all shot in the head or neck at more than 30 metres away with a rifle bearing...

LONDON, June 19 — Advances in cellphone technology have spurred an insidious new threat — the use of the increasingly popular camera phones by pedophiles to photograph children. Across Britain, swimming pools and sports facilities have cracked down on their use while the YMCA in the Australian state of Victoria has also imposed a ban. Officials have yet to raise a clamor in the United States, where the devices have only recently become widely available. U.K. PARENTS AND child protection agencies say they worry that pedophiles will use the state-of-the-art camera phones to surreptitiously photograph children in changing rooms, instantly...

Anthrax case raises bioterrorism fears By David Usborne in New York 30 April 2003 A crew member of an Egyptian freighter has died in Brazil apparently after opening a suitcase filled with anthrax that he was planning to take to Canada. His death has renewed anxiety in North America over the risk of bioterrorist attacks. Brazilian officials believe the man, identified as Ibrahim Saved Soliman Ibrahim, was given the case before he left Egypt to join the ship, which was loading bauxite bound for Canada. They said the incident appeared to be part of a bioterrorism plot that went wrong....

Blair fears new Cold War over EU rift with US By Toby Helm, Chief Political Correspondent (Filed: 29/04/2003) Tony Blair issued a warning yesterday that the world would be plunged back into an era of insecurity and tension reminiscent of the Cold War unless Europe and America quickly repaired the transatlantic relationship. On the eve of talks in Moscow with President Vladimir Putin, who strongly opposed the war in Iraq, Mr Blair said there was a real danger that the advanced world would split into rival power blocs. "My fear is that if we do not deal with the world...

White House fears covert influence on Iraqi Shias Julian Borger in Washington Thursday April 24, 2003 The Guardian Washington warned Iran not to interfere in Iraqi affairs yesterday after it was reported that Iranian agents had crossed the border to promote pro-Tehran Shia clerics in the southern cities of Kerbala, Najaf and Basra. The White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer, said: "We have made clear to Iran we would oppose any outside organisation and interference in Iraq, interfering in their road to democracy. "Any infiltration of agents to destabilise the Shia population would clearly fall into that category, and that's the...

New SARS outbreak sparks 'Typhoid Mary' fears April 08 2003 at 11:33AM By David Fogarty and John O'Callaghan Singapore - Doctors still haven't pinned down exactly how a deadly flu-like virus is spreading and more cases are pointing to possible new ways it is using to pass from one victim to another. A top Hong Kong health official said on Tuesday cockroaches might have spread the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in an apartment complex in the city, leading to nearly 300 infections in a matter of days. If proved true, it would represent an alarming development...

Rocket ambush fears for UK airport 18:22 12 February 03 NewScientist.com news service British armed forces are patrolling the perimeter of Heathrow Airport near London, following what officials described as "increased intelligence chatter" between terrorist suspects linked to Al-Qaeda. The presence of more than 450 soldiers in armoured vehicles and 1300 police at one of the world's busiest airports has led to widespread speculation that terrorists might attempt to shoot down a passenger jet using a shoulder-launched rocket. In November 2002, a rocket attack of this type on an Israeli airliner only narrowly missed its target as the plane took...

Iraq fears US may plant weapons evidence By Anne Penketh 01 February 2003 Iraq warned yesterday that America could try to plant proof that it still holds banned weapons to justify an invasion, as Turkey was reported to have mobilised additional troops near the Iraqi border in preparation for war. Naji Sabri, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, said in a letter to Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, that Washington might try to use its "technological superiority in the techniques of espionage, fabrication, deception and misleading to plant false evidence" against Iraq. Washington would present such evidence to the Security Council...

(CNSNews.com) - The likely ascendancy of San Francisco liberal Rep. Nancy Pelosi to the post of House minority leader has sparked questions about whether she will lead the Democratic Party too far left, jeopardizing its chances of taking back the House in 2004. In the wake of a disappointing 2002 mid-term for Democrats, Pelosi herself has stressed the importance of 2004, the year of both the next presidential and House elections. "Tomorrow is the first day of the election of 2004," Pelosi declared on Election Day. "We can't take any chance that the message is muddied. There will be just...

Pakistan fears backlash for US execution of killer By Phil Reeves in Lahore 15 November 2002 Pakistan was bracing itself for a backlash over the execution in America of Aimal Khan Kansi, a Pakistani who admits murdering two CIA agents, and who said yesterday that he would do it again. As the hour of his death by lethal injection drew closer – it was scheduled for 2am today, British time, the 38-year-old's only hope was a last-minute intervention from the Supreme Court or the Governor of the state of Virginia. Yesterday, calm and composed, he gave an interview in his...

Thursday, 11 July, 2002, 14:00 GMT 15:00 UKIceland glacier flood fears The disturbance indicates activity under the ice By Alex Kirby BBC News Online environment correspondent UK scientists have detected signs of unusual geothermal activity beneath two ice caps in Iceland. They say this has caused the appearance of two deep depressions, known as cauldrons, in one of the caps. Beneath the other they have recorded seismic movements which could be the precursor of a big eruption. The scientists say there is little threat at present, but cannot predict how the activity may develop. The two ice cauldrons, about 12...

Al-Qa'ida tape raises America's fears of attack on 4 July By Rupert Cornwell in Washington 24 June 2002 America's terror jitters have jumped a notch with an apparently authentic warning that Osama bin Laden and most of his main al-Qa'ida lieutenants are alive and planning attacks on US targets. The White House gave no public reaction yesterday to the audiotape message from Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Mr bin Laden's spokesman, which was obtained by the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television network – al-Qa'ida's main media conduit. But senior American politicians warned that whatever the fate of Mr bin Laden himself, the threat from...

June 07, 2002 France fears another Le Pen lurch to right From Charles Bremner in Paris THE spectre of new upheaval at the hands of the far Right hovered over France’s mainstream parties yesterday as Jean-Marie Le Pen, the National Front leader, forecast a breakthrough for his team in the first round of parliamentary elections on Sunday. Taunting the centre Right of President Chirac and the Socialist-dominated Left, M Le Pen said the political establishment had reverted to its arrogant ways despite the scare he had given it when he came second in the first round of the presidential elections...

  http://slate.msn.com/?id=2066272 The Sum of All PC Hollywood's reverse racial profiling. By Reihan Salam Posted Tuesday, May 28, 2002, at 2:41 PM PT   The threat of al-Qaida terrorist attacks is currently scaring America stiff. But you'd be hard-pressed to find Muslim terrorists in any of today's blockbuster action movies, which instead offer such uncontroversial bad guys as killer aliens and abusive husbands. Why is Hollywood shying away from al-Qaida-like villains? Movies have always relied on politically relevant villains, from Russian spies to South African apartheidniks to Serbian ethnic cleansers. Tom Clancy's much-loved Jack Ryan series is the gold standard....

LA tinderbox fears violent new spark (Filed: 29/04/2002) TEN years after the murderous Rodney King riots, Oliver Poole reports on the lost opportunities in deprived South Central. Sitting with her cooling latte in the new Starbucks in South Central, 37-year-old Maxine Keys recalls the days when looters ruled the streets and smoke from burning buildings obscured the sky. "Sitting here now all seems so normal: the sofas, people reading newspapers, drinking coffee," she said. "But I was driving past here when I saw people picking through stores as if it was Christmas, neighbours I knew running down the street with...