Free Republic

Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system has been highly visible protecting its airspace during Operation Protective Edge. But exactly how the military is locating Hamas’ labyrinth of underground tunnels between Israel and Gaza – and whether it is using new technologies to uncover them – remains a closely held secret. “Due to security concerns, we cannot specify the tools or methods used to uncover these tunnels. Exposing our capabilities would hamper our ability to address this lethal threat,” an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokeswoman said in an email to FoxNews.com. “However, using precise intelligence combined with specialized units which use...

Democrats held a press conference on Friday to announce the introduction of a House resolution calling for the Secretary of Defense to allow illegal aliens brought to the country as children who have been granted temporary legal status by President Barack Obama’s 2012 executive order to serve in the U.S. military – a move that would also grant them a path to citizenship.

........But our story picks up with what happened on Thursday. That was the day when the church was supposed to honor the National Guard. They had invited troops from the nearby armory to drop by with one of their Humvees. “We were going to thank them for protecting our religious liberty,” said Pastor Hogan. “It was more of a promotion for the military – to show the kids what the military does.” But the National Guard did not visit Bible Baptist Church on Thursday night, and the reason why has caused great anger and frustration among church members ...........

If a military working dog is retired in a non-combat zone overseas, then the military does not provide transportation home since they are no longer considered military dogs, and therefore, not legally allowed to be transported on military aircraft. The solution is simple: Military working dogs should be brought home to U.S. soil before being retired. And, their former handlers, who have the strongest bond with these animals, should be given the first chance to adopt. SNIP That’s certainly true for U.S. Army Staff Sergeant James Harrington, who served for four years with Military Working Dog Ryky, a seven-year-old Belgian...

A war veteran who builds furniture in his garage and gives it to military families in need could be forced to shut down the saws. A homeowners association is telling Dennis Kocher he needs to close up shop after years of doing business, or he could be fined between $100 and $1,000.

They say life is full of surprises. Thursday afternoon, amidst the hustle and bustle of a downtown Minneapolis lunch hour, Jill Stephenson's surprise waited behind an SUV. When Erick Innis popped out, Stephenson was speechless. Innis isn't Jill's son, but he might as well be. In Afghanistan, Innis fought alongside Stephenson's actual son, Rosemount native and Army Ranger Ben Kopp. Innis and Kopp were best friends. When Kopp was shot by a sniper in July 2009, Innis carried him to the medivac. Weeks later, when Kopp was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Innis was there too.

The air force of neutral Sweden may not be one of the big-hitters in terms of global power projection. Indeed, it has barely even undertaken combat operations. When Swedish jets went into action over Libya in 2011, during Operation Unified Protector, the government only allowed them to fly reconnaissance missions. The previous time Swedish fighters deployed in combat was almost 50 years earlier, during the Congo crisis. However, Sweden always has taken its air defense very seriously—and has a proven track record of developing innovative, often indigenous solutions to meet its air-power needs. Now, the Swedish air force is about...

It's dog days on Capitol Hill — or, more precisely, dogs have had their day there. Five in particular — all war dog veterans. The canines joined their human advocates at a Capitol Hill briefing Wednesday, "Military Dogs Take the Hill," to spotlight an effort to require that all military working dogs be retired to the U.S. Congress passed a law last year saying the military may bring back its working dogs to the U.S. to be reunited with their handlers, but it does not say they must be brought back. Carlos, one of five war dog veterans at a...

Nearly 70 years ago, on Aug. 1, 1944, Lieutenant General George S. Patton took command of the American Third Army in France. For the next 30 days they rolled straight toward the German border. Patton almost did not get a chance at his summer of glory. After brilliant service in North Africa and Sicily, fellow officers — and his German enemies — considered him the most gifted American field general of his generation. But near the conclusion of his illustrious Sicilian campaign, the volatile Patton slapped two sick GIs in field hospitals, raving that they were shirkers. In truth, both...

They served in the Civil War. They were there for American soldiers during both world wars. One was even on SEAL Team Six, the military team that killed Osama Bin Laden. But military dogs do not always get to go home with their military handlers after serving together in war. During a Capitol Hill event on Wednesday, legislators argued it should be easier for these veterans to reunite with their dogs.

SIERRA VISTA — Artificial flowers and flags are being pulled at the Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery. It’s not that they are prohibited, it’s that they are being pilfered and Cemetery Administrator Joe Larson cannot fathom why people are stealing them from in-ground burial sites. Apparently the thefts happened Saturday night and it wasn’t until a woman let Larson know on Monday that the artificial flowers from her loved one’s grave were taken, noting they were not there on Sunday. “We’ve had a number of other complaints this week about the stealing of artificial flowers and flags, but no real...

Because the Kenyan squatter is in town, Tim Conway show was discussing fundraisers. Callers, who have attended fundraisers, were phoning in and telling what happens at the events. Here is the best anecdote. A young cadet from Cal State Fullerton was there with other cadets as part of the Honor Guard. When Reagan greeted them, he asked the cadet his name and was open to a question from him. The cadet said, "Can I ask anything?" The President said he could. So the cadet said (paraphrasing) - Cadet - Mr. President, do you remember when you were doing a sound...

Today, the gun world is buzzing with news of a "revolution in silencers." SilencerCo has announced today they will be producing the Salvo 12, the first ever commercially produced shotgun sound suppressor. The official press release reads: “Confirming its place as a trailblazer in the firearms industry, suppressor manufacturer SilencerCo has unveiled the first commercially-viable shotgun silencer ever produced. The company made the announcement today at an exclusive event near its Utah headquarters.” Active content removed Active content removed “The Salvo 12 represents a revolution in silencers, not just an evolution,” said Joshua Waldron, Chief Executive Officer for SilencerCo. “There...

The Burlington, Iowa city council wants to ban open carry of toy guns. The ordinance will make it illegal to openly carry a toy gun or conceal one with clothes. ia Iowa Gun Owners Facebook page: The Burlington Iowa City Council is moving to pass an ordinance that would require you to get their WRITTEN permission before your kids can play with toy guns, replica guns, BB guns, etc! If your kids play with these toys in most outdoor situations, or if they play with toy guns in the car while you drive them around, you are looking at a...

24-year-old gymnast Kacy Catanzaro makes history by becoming the first female ever to qualify for the "American Ninja Warrior" national finals. After becoming a celebrity overnight, she hopes to use her newfound fame to encourage young people to get fit.

A promising medical breakthrough could raise the chance of survival for our military men and women in combat. In combat, 90 percent of deaths occur due to blood loss because service members don’t reach a medical facility in time. Twenty percent of deaths are due to a junctional wound. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University invented injectable foam for their group project. The foam would be inserted into the wound, where it would expand and harden to stop bleeding. …

This week marks the 70th anniversary of a plot whose success might well have spared millions of lives, while claiming that of history’s most infamous mass-murderer, Adolf Hitler. The elaborate conspiracy centered on Claus von Stauffenberg was the most well-prepared and organized attempt to put an end to Hitler, but it was scarcely the first. The number of serious attempts on Hitler’s life would fill a book and indeed have; Roger Moorhouse’s Killing Hitler (2006), for example, covers the ground of several such attempts from the moment Hitler came to power in 1933, at which time his security detail...

(Reuters) - First came the loud explosion that made buildings rattle: then it started raining bodies. One of the corpses fell through the rickety roof of Irina Tipunova's house in this sleepy village, just after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 exploded high over eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists are fighting government forces. "There was a howling noise and everything started to rattle. Then objects started falling out of the sky," the 65-year-old pensioner said in front of her grey-brick home. "And then I heard a roar and she landed in the kitchen, the roof was broken," she said, showing the gaping...

Veterans? A question to ask supporters...

Welcome to the "World According To Liberals".Over the last 5 1/2 years we have seen never-ending unrest in the middle east along with monthly scandals and crises in the United States.And still to this day,our Liberal Leaders never show any concern.Birth Control,more like free-birth control to uneducated Democrats is still their Primary Concern!,and look at what happened today,horror in the skies of the Ukraine,and not one peep from Reid&Pelosi.Barry didn't have much to say either,just that it looks like a possible accident.Can you imagine what Harry,Nancy&Barry would of said if a plane got shot down right here in the states?