Free Republic

There's no nation-building without civilization-building and there wasn't a lot of that in U.S.-occupied Afghanistan. For the record, I’ve not only opposed our Mideast military adventures but also, in 2007, wrote an article warning about the folly of “nation-building.” Yet I also know that if you are going to overthrow a tyrannical regime and remake the government, a prerequisite is winning the hearts and minds of the people. You must also recognize that you “never change things by fighting the existing reality,” as famed architect Buckminster Fuller observed. “To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model...

As the 13th anniversary of the deadliest attack on American soil approaches, many experts warn of the potential threat posed by terrorist networks including Islamic State, or ISIS. ... Unarmed & helpless Americans and Europeans will be viciously ambushed when they least expect it,” he wrote, “and the death toll will be more brutal and widespread than all the peace & love dreamers could ever imagine.” He declared that the somber date of Sept. 11 will be “the day of infamy again.” According to Nugent’s projection, those who already own firearms should “ammo up no matter where you go,” always...

A former CIA officer said Thursday he has no doubt Islamic State (ISIS) sleeper cells are already planted on U.S. soil. ... former CIA officer Bob Baer told the network ISIS is already on this side of the Atlantic. "I have been told with no uncertainty there are ISIS sleeper cells in this country," he said. ... Islamic State fighters suggest their leader, Iraqi Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is planning something for the West – and that attacks could take place through sleeper cells in both Europe and the United States. “The West are idiots and fools," one fighter taunted, according...

In another heated exchange between State Department spokesman Marie Harf and AP reporter Matt Lee, the issue of whether any governments are funding ISIS / ISIL is proving to be a hot button issue. In this particular exchange, Qatar is the focus but other countries – specifically Turkey – should start getting spotlighted soon. Harf contends that there is “no evidence” of governments funding ISIL but Lee calls her on that assertion based on a quote from President Obama. To say there is “no evidence” that any government is “supporting this group (ISIS)” is a major lie ... Let’s go...

The beheading of any American should send every American into orbit from outrage. That includes the beheading of James Foley. What must be made known, however, is that evidence suggests Foley was sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood’s cause and may have been a liberal. If that’s true, why would ISIS behead him? The answer is strangely simple. ISIS beheads liberals too, in much the same way that the Tsarnaev brothers set off pressure cooker bombs in a predominantly liberal city – Boston. Foley Betrayed by those he supported. A look at Foley’s twitter feed from 2012 indicates he was a...

Pope Francis will celebrate a Mass next August to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, an Argentine cardinal has revealed. Speaking at the Armenian Catholic cathedral in Buenos Aires, Cardinal Mario Poli said that the Pontiff will celebrate the commemorative Mass in St. Peter’s basilica. The date for the Mass has not yet been announced.

Boko Haram militants seized a police academy in Gwoza, Nigeria, storming the school in armored tanks taken from Nigerian soldiers. A local police spokesman confirmed the attack on the Liman Kara police college. ... An armored tank, parked at the entrance to the academy, was blown up by Boko Haram members to gain entrance.