Free Republic

Recent statements from various leaders within the Syrian rebel movement show that the rift between secularists and Islamists remains a key issue. A video released by a leading Islamist faction shows Islamist military leader Abu Bilal al-Homsi exhorting his followers to reject the largely secular Free Syrian Army, led by Salim Idris. According to Al-Homsi, Idris has said that the Free Syrian Army under his command is fighting for "democracy, secularism, communism, and the rights of minority groups", including Syrian Druze. Rebels must fight not for democracy or rights, but for Islam, Al-Homsi declared. From the beginning, the purpose of...

The Hashemite kingdom will vote against the Palestinian Authority's bid for a unilateral declaration of statehood by the United Nations in September, UAE-based al-Bayan reported Wednesday. "Jordan's top national interests will be in danger if the Palestinian Authority declares statehood unilaterally – especially in everything related to the issue of refugees, water, Jerusalem, and the borders," a senior jordanian official told the paper on condition of anonymity. The high-ranking official added a unilateral PA declaration of statehood at this time would be in Israel's best interest, as it wants the state to be established "within the borders of the separation...

As tourists lined up to snap photos of the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign Monday morning, many noticed something amiss. Red graffiti was scrawled on the famous landmark, defacing the main face and one of its structural legs. Cameron Randall and friend Kevin Daniels, visiting from North Carolina, noticed it right away and were disappointed someone would damage the popular tourist attraction. "It's kind of sad someone would vandalize something like that," Daniels said. "It's the entrance to the city and everything." The Young Electric Sign Company owns the sign and leases it to Clark County, county spokeswoman Jennifer...