Free Republic

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is moving forward with votes on President Obama’s trade agenda next week, even though pro-trade Democrats have yet to promise their support. McConnell on Thursday filed motions to advance fast-track authority and a separate package of trade preferences for African nations combined with an extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), a program that helps workers displaced by foreign competition. The Senate will vote to end debate on fast-track Tuesday and then will vote on final passage of the measure later that day or Wednesday. Immediately afterward, the Senate will vote to end debate on...

WASHINGTON - The U.S. will forge ahead with plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe even if efforts to calm Russian opposition fail, a senior Pentagon official said Tuesday. Eric Edelman, undersecretary of defense for policy, said the U.S. and Russia have been discussing ways to cooperate in the plans, which would put a radar system in the Czech Republic and about 10 missile interceptors in Poland. The system would be used to guard against potential attacks against the U.S. and Europe from countries such as Iran. Edelman said if the talks fail, the U.S. would not allow...

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., Jan. 26, 2006 – The international military relationships forged by the 63 nations banded together at U.S. Central Command extend beyond the terror-war battlefield, a coalition official said here today. The countries, or the "alliance" as it is known, are clustered in a small village-like community at the command's headquarters here in Tampa. While fighting terrorism brought the nations together, the alliance's purpose has grown beyond that, officials said. "This coalition proved itself - we are not only together to fight, but we're also here to serve humanity," Pakistani Army Brig. Gen. Ikram Ul Haq...