Free Republic

It's hard to think of the last time America didn't have a wartime president. From Franklin Roosevelt on, the U.S. military has been ordered to engage in hostilities at least at one point during each administration. Donald Trump, the nationalist businessman from Queens who spoke with isolationist tones on the campaign trail, had the potential to break this cycle. Trump violated Republican orthodoxy by denouncing the Iraq War as foolish, disparaging the legacy of NATO, and decrying how much blood and treasure we've lost to Middle East nation-building. It's one year into his presidency, and things have changed. Trump, working...

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Sunday that the United States would not pull its troops out of Syria until its goals were accomplished. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Haley listed three aims for the United States: ensuring that chemical weapons are not used in any way that pose a risk to U.S. interests, that Islamic State is defeated and that there is a good vantage point to watch what Iran is doing.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Saturday that the United States is “locked and loaded” if the Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime uses chemical gas again in the country. Haley made the remarks at a fiery meeting of the U.N. Security Council, in which Russia and the U.S. traded barbs over the decision of the U.S., France and the United Kingdom to launch strikes in Syria on Friday in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons last week in Douma. While the Trump administration has said the strikes are now over, with Trump declaring: “Mission Accomplished!”...

Oil prices soared on Wednesday morning after U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted earlier in the day that Russia would better “get ready” for U.S. missiles in Syria. At 08:33 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, WTI Crude was above $66 and Brent—above the $71 mark. WTI Crude was up 0.92 percent to $66.12, while Brent Crude had jumped 0.87 percent at $71.66. “Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys...

US President Donald Trump has promised a "forceful" response to the alleged chemical attack in Syria, as Western leaders consider what action to take. "We have a lot of options militarily," he told reporters. He added that a response would be decided "shortly". Mr Trump said the US was getting some "good clarity" on who was responsible for the incident in Douma on Saturday. Medical sources say dozens were killed in the alleged attack but exact numbers are impossible to verify. Mr Trump also discussed the incident with French President Emmanuel Macron late on Monday, and both leaders expressed a...

With all eyes on Israel’s southern front where Hamas is desperately trying to conceal the fact it has run out of military options in its never ending war against the Jewish State, Hezbollah and the pro-Assad axis seem to be gearing up for the long anticipated confrontation with the IDF. Iranian and Israeli media reported last week that the pro-Assad coalition is preparing for an offensive against Islamist rebel groups in the Kuneitra and Daraa provinces in southern Syria. The pro-Assad axis, which includes Hezbollah and other Shiite militias, has reportedly deployed tanks and heavy artillery on the Syrian Golan...

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley slammed Russia over a deadly chemical attack on Syrian civilians, saying the country's hands are "covered in blood." "The Russian regime, whose hands are all covered in the blood of Syrian children, cannot be ashamed by pictures of its victims," Haley said during a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday. "We must not overlook Russia and Iran's roles in enabling the Assad regime's murderous destruction," she continued.

The US and Russia have traded barbs at a UN Security Council meeting on the alleged chemical attack in Syria. Russian representative Vassily Nebenzia said the incident in Douma was staged that US military action in response could have "grave repercussions". US envoy Nikki Haley said Russia-a Syrian military backer-had the "blood of Syrian children" on its hands......

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Thursday she shares incoming national security adviser John Bolton’s disdain for the world body and believes the two will work well together. Bolton, who was U.S. envoy to the United Nations for President George W. Bush, will become President Donald Trump’s national security adviser on Monday. He once said it would make no difference if 10 floors were knocked off the U.N. headquarters in New York. “I know John Bolton well. I have gotten advice from him, I have talked to him. I know his disdain for the U.N. I...

On Friday, the notoriously anti-Israel United Nations “Human Rights” Council (UNHRC) once again met to discuss, or rather condemn, Israel. In its latest round of resolutions targeted at the Jewish State, the UNHRC passed a series of resolutions which effectively singled out Israel in what they referred to as “violations of international law” and “human rights violations”. You can see the list of the anti-Israel agenda items, taken from the UNHRC website below. 1. Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan 2. Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination 3. Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East...

The Left's romance with the Islamic Republic ensues. The Senate debated on Tuesday a resolution introduced by Vermont Socialist Bernie Sanders that would require the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Yemen. The surprising support the resolution won from 44 U.S. Senators handed a big win to Iran, which is engaged in a hot war with Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Peninsula. And it was a huge slap in the face to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who was meeting with President Trump in the White House as the Senate debated the motion on the floor. It also showed the...

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley is making good on her threat to cut US aid to countries that vote against the US in the United Nations. In December, 128 countries voted in the United Nations General Assembly against the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. At the time, President Trump and Haley threatened that there would be grave repercussions for recipients of US aid who failed to stand by their benefactor on such issues. On Thursday, Foreign Policy reported on a 53-page memo issued by Haley. Titled “America First Foreign Assistance Policy”, the new...

U.S. foreign policy toward adversaries such as Russia, North Korea and Syria may turn more aggressive if CIA Director Mike Pompeo becomes secretary of state. Pompeo has lambasted Moscow's aggression toward the West and other countries: January 2018: "I continue to be concerned not only about the Russians but about others' efforts as well. We have many foes who want to undermine Western democracy. So there's this Washington-based focus on Russian interference. I want to make sure we broaden the conversation." North Korea October 2017: Pompeo said Pyongyang was would soon be able to threaten a U.S. city with nuclear...

U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley tells a Security Council meeting that "the U.S. believes Russia is responsible for the attack on two people in the United Kingdom using a military grade nerve agent." She also urges Russia to account for its actions. Video at link above

With Ambassador Haley continuing to represent the United States at the United Nations and Mike Pompeo serving as the new Secretary of State, America’s national security interests should be very well protected The ouster of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was long overdue. He was not a team player in the Trump administration. To the contrary, during his tenure, Mr. Tillerson moved further and further apart from President Trump’s thinking on critical foreign policy issues. He would have done well to follow the example of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, rather than try unsuccessfully at times to...

New York City could be the next site of a chemical assassination attempt if world leaders fails to punish Russia for its alleged role in poising of a former spy in the United Kingdom, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned Wednesday. “If we don't take immediate concrete measures to address this now, Salisbury will not be the last place we see chemical weapons used,” Haley told the United Nations Security Council. “They could be used here in New York, or in cities of any country that sits on this Council. This is a defining moment.” Haley raised...

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will open in May to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel declaring its independence, Trump administration officials said Friday. A senior State Department official said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson approved a security plan late Thursday for an embassy location to open in Jerusalem. “We are excited about taking this historic step, and look forward with anticipation to the May opening,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement on Friday. Officials told Fox News the embassy would initially be located in the neighborhood of Arnona on a compound that currently houses the...

The US threatened unilateral action against Iran after Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Tehran’s failure to stop its weapons from reaching Houthi rebels in Yemen. "If Russia is going to continue to cover for Iran then the US and our partners need to take action on our own,” said US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Monday. “If we’re not going to get action on the council then we have to take our actions.” Ms Haley did not specify what kind of action could be taken. Russia on Monday vetoed the resolution that would have...

"....what Russia and Iran and what Syria have done recently is a humanitarian disgrace. I will tell you that. We're there for one reason, we're there to get ISIS and get rid of ISIS and go home. We're not there for any other reason and we've largely accomplished our goal. But what those three counties have done to people over the last short period of time is a disgrace..." President Donald J. Trump joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull 2/23/2018 Speaking late Friday in Washington, President Trump took aim at Syria's government and nations allied with it...

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire in Syria to allow aid deliveries and medical evacuations. However, some of the biggest jihadist rebel groups, and their associates, are not covered by the truce, raising questions about its real impact. The East Gouta rebel enclave near Damascus has been bombarded by government forces for the past week. After the vote in New York, activists said air strikes were continuing...... The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, called for the ceasefire to be implemented but said she was skeptical that Syria would comply. She accused...