Free Republic

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. commander running the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, held talks on Monday with Pakistani defence officials who told him Pakistan was fighting a war for its survival against militancy. His visit to Pakistan, apparently his first stop on a foreign tour since taking charge of U.S. Central Command on Friday, highlights U.S. concern about a country seen as crucial to stability in Afghanistan and to defeating al Qaeda. U.S. analysts say Pakistan is facing a major threat from Islamist militants at a time when the nuclear-armed nation and its new...

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The United States will not permit Israel to attack Iran's nuclear program as long as American troops are stationed in Iraq, an Israeli television report quoting unnamed diplomatic sources said on Monday. An Israeli official accompanying Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on a visit to Moscow declined to comment on the report. Olmert flew to Moscow to press Russia not to sell advanced missiles and weapons technology to Iran and Syria

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama has ruled out hosting a U.S. military base to replace one in Ecuador which is being reclaimed by the Quito government, a senior Panamanian official said on Friday. Panama -- along with Peru and Colombia -- had been tipped as a possible site to replace the Manta air base in western Ecuador, a key strategic asset in Washington's campaign to stop Latin American cocaine from reaching the United States.