Free Republic

Ukrainian officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is suffering from "grave" illnesses and expect he will die within two years, according to Ukraine's intelligence chief, Major General Kyrylo O. Budanov. Budanov's claim that Putin "doesn't have a long life ahead of him" came during an interview published by USA Today on Saturday. The publication noted that Budanov did not provide evidence for his claims. While the Kremlin has insisted that Putin is in good health, questions have remained about his condition. Earlier this month, Newsweek reported that a classified U.S. report states the Russian president appears to have had treatment...

Strikes on key facilities could stop Teheran's nuclear drive, Israeli officials say. A nuclear weapon has not been used since 1945, when the US Armed Forces dropped two such bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. Now, according to London's Sunday Times, Israel is preparing for its own Hiroshima and has drawn up plans to not only introduce the weapon of mass destruction into the Middle East but even use it against Iran. The newspaper report, improbable as it might sound, should not be immediately dismissed. While Israel is publicly rooting for diplomatic efforts...