Free Republic

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told the House Financial Services Committee that "we have no evidence that the billions of dollars we have released to Iran in the past year have been used to fund terrorism. In fact, the government of Iran has assured us, in no uncertain terms, that not one dollar has been used to directly finance any terrorist group." Lew admitted that "we have no real way of knowing. We didn't record the serial numbers of any of the bills we handed over" as "this would not have shown good faith. Friendship is built upon a certain measure...

This week, ISIS launched a mustard gas rocket against U.S. forces in an unpopulated area near the Qayyara West base in Iraq. The U.S. military is in the region preparing an airfield ahead of Iraq's offensive to retake the city of Mosul from Islamic State. The rocked carrying the chemical agent landed within hundreds of meters. The poor condition of the warhead posed no threat to personnel in the area. The U.S. military is testing fragments and a small sample of a suspicious "tar-like, black, oily" substance from the scene. The first examination initially tested positive for mustard gas but...

Jackson Diehl, deputy editorial page editor of the Washington Post, issued a stern warning to voters that "the election of Donald Trump would risk undermining our opportunity to blunt Russian imperialism in Syria. The United States is far stronger than Putin's Russia. We must not let them succeed." "In contrast," the Diehl pointed out, "Secretary Clinton understands the importance of maintaining a balance of power between the Assad regime and the Islamic State in the region and can be counted on to reject Putin's plea that the United States and Russia forge a common front against Islamic terrorism." Trump campaign...

The Islamic State is digging a moat around its biggest stronghold in Iraq, Mosul, in preparation for an expected attack from the Iraqi army and its U.S. partners, and is using oil tankers to construct a wall around the city, which it would set on fire if the Iraqi army gets too close, according to Mosul residents. The organization is also digging tunnels underneath the city as a means of stopping the army’s advance, shutting down some neighborhoods, and setting bombs. The attack on the city, which ISIS captured two years ago, is planned for next month. It would mark...

Mr. Trump texted the following message: I need YOUR input today. Only 5 days until I debate Hillary on the stage. What do you want me to fight? Tap and to let me know. Not sure what will happen when I tap to provide input~it may simply be a fundraiser. However, I thought I might cull some interesting bullet points from Freeper Trump supporters :)

Wake up Russia and America Islamic State combatants were no doubt jumping with joy following botched airstrikes against them by American, Australian and British warplanes in Syria that accidentally killed at least 60 Syrian soldiers and wounded more than 100. The 15-member United Nations (UN) Security Council met on 17 September after Russia demanded an emergency session to discuss the American-led airstrike fiasco. The U.S. ambassador to the UN - Samantha Power - chastised Russia for the move:

A story out of Kansas is lighting up the Internets.  Video of the scene shortly after the shooting was captured by Wendy Russel Macrorie.  She posted it on Facebook, and it has also been posted on YouTube.  World Net Daily gives a synopsis of what happened.  From wnd.com: Two Good Samaritans are being credited with saving a woman’s life after she was attacked by two suspected carjackers who hit her over the head while she was putting her child into a car seat after leaving Walmart in Shawnee, Kansas, on Sunday.A bystander, who rushed to the aid of the woman after...

My only son is off to basic training for the Air Force. Adam is his name. He joined the 401st Reserve Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Charleston in SC late in his senior year in High School when he was only 17yo. He managed to get a loadmaster position on the C-17. He graduated high school with a life scholarship to any in state SC school. But he wanted to serve his country and pay his own way through school. He is a scratch golfer. He recently soloed a multi engine airplane. Loves to hunt and fish. He's a fine...

Sweden's military has urged staff to stay alert as more and more incidents that could be linked to suspected espionage are emerging across the country, report Swedish media.

In an article titled North Korean Nukes, South Korea, Japan, China and Obama, posted the day after North Korea's most recent nuke test, September 9th, I contended that China would not honor Obama's request to make North Korea stop developing and testing nukes. China has remained a faithful ally of North Korea since the end stage of the Korean Conflict and "sees Obama, not as the representative of the world’s greatest power, but as a joke. He has no clout internationally and is a national embarrassment."  NB: I had hoped to publish this article more than a week ago, but my...

It’s been another stellar couple of weeks for what used to be the world’s greatest navy, but now is nothing more than a continual Carnival Cruise with weapons, all courtesy of Barack Obama, Ash Carter, Ray Mabus and the pusillanimous doormen who call themselves the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Over a week ago, it was reported that a female sailor, serving aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, delivered a 7-pound baby girl. According to the Navy, the woman had no idea she was pregnant. Uh huh… If the concept of delivering babies aboard US ships of war isn’t...

The Obama Administration is micromanaging the air campaign against ISIS. Obama’s designated Rules of Engagement require that our military avoid any civilian casualties whenever possible. In the two-year war, the pentagon has used the most sophisticated and lethal warplanes and drones to kill members of the terrorist group, but the rules of engagement put far too many targets off limits. Less than half of the combat missions over Iraq and Syria drop ordinance while the majority of the aircraft return to base with a full load. Aircrews are only permitted to deploy weapons with the approval of a General in...

As the military phases out the iconic Humvee, it is left with a surplus of these go-anywhere four-wheel drive vehicles that have been the backbone of the U.S. infantry for more than 30 years. Before this year they've been tough to come by for civilians. But now's your chance to own your own personal Humvee straight from Uncle Sam.

Recent news cycles seem to have been a bit positive for Colin Powell. They at least brought him to the forefront of public consciousness. He could be a Hillary replacement and probably the best replacement. Joe Biden -- no Elizabeth Waren -- probably not Kaine promoted -- possibility Bernie Sanders -- Remote possibility Either way, if Hillary has to drop it means civil war within the Democratic party. It's going to take a light touch to consolidate that and Colin Powell might have it and can neutralize much Trumps platform.

I am starting to plan a trip to Normandy and to the battlefields of The Somme. I was wondering if anyone on here has had any experience with any of the many tour companies that in and around Ypres/Paris etc.etc. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Scott.

 Image from fox29.com On August 30 of 2015, Darrel Burt shot a police officer.  On September 2nd, 2016, he was found not guilty, by reason of self defense.  He was wounded in the elbow during the incident. He had been held in jail for over a year.   From delcotimes.com: A Norwood man who claimed self-defense in shooting Ridley Park Police Cpl. Marc Hanly last year was found not guilty Friday of nearly all charges. Darrel Burt, 37, was found guilty of recklessly endangering a civilian, Corey Clark, but was acquitted on a dozen other counts that included attempted murder...

A man bicycled down Charles Street Monday morning, shouting support for Donald Trump, and pulled up to the crowd of protesters. Shoving broke out and he landed on the street before police walked him back. "See that?" he shouted, referring to the protesters. "See the kind of pigs they are?" It was a moment's confrontation during the tense, but peaceful, rallies and protests outside Trump's appearance Monday at the Baltimore Convention Center. The Peoples Power Assembly had planned to protest outside the venue, where the Republican presidential nominee was scheduled to address the National Guard Association of the United States...

It turns out that Gulmurod Khalimov, the new ISIS military commander, was one of the “moderate” terrorists who received training from the US State Department. From 2003-2014 Khalimov participated in five counter-terrorism training courses in the United States and in Tajikistan, through the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security/Anti-Terrorism Assistance program. Department spokeswoman Pooja Jhunjhunwala insisted that Khalimov had “been properly vetted.” The thoroughness of this so-called vetting was called into question by the revelation that he had appeared in a video in which he called Americans pigs and boasted “we will find your towns, we will come to your homes,...

Once again U.S. special operations forces attempted to rescue two American University professors kidnapped in Kabul last month. The Mission was unsuccessful because the White House withheld its approval despite Intelligence reports pinpointing the location at which the hostages were being held. The Two professors – one American, the other Australian were kidnapped during the Taliban attack on the American University. Disguised as police, the attackers killed twelve people and likely kidnaped the educators for ransom. After the release of Bergdahl and the ransom payment to Iran, the Taliban or the Haqqani network seized on the opportunity to grab a...

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is the most expensive procurement program in Pentagon history. It’s been plagued by schedule delays, gross cost overruns, and a slew of underwhelming performance reviews. Last month the Air Force declared its variant “ready for combat,” and most press reports lauded this as a signal that the program had turned a corner. But a memo issued from the Pentagon’s top testing official, based largely upon the Air Force’s own test data, showed that the Air Force’s declaration was wildly premature. Dr. Michael Gilmore’s latest memorandum is damning. The F-35 program has derailed to the...