Free Republic

Since my first deployment to South East Asia, I have seen this great country gradually slip away. America has gone from being the world's greatest creditor nation, standing as a beacon of hope for the world, to the world's biggest debtor nation, where 42 million Americans rely on food stamps to survive...it is happening right now in front of us. Like it or not, America is a Totalitarian Dictatorship, and this article will help you understand why. After the Oklahoma City Bombing, my job required that I attend a two-day briefing on counter terrorism. At that meeting, several people from...

THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) -- Dutch, British and Danish fighter jets on Tuesday morning intercepted two Russian bombers which had crossed into Dutch airspace, the Dutch Ministry of Defense said. It is the third such incident this year. A statement from the Dutch Defense ministry said two F-16 aircraft took off from Volkel Air Base on Tuesday to intercept two Russian Tupolev Tu-95 aircraft, which are large, four-engine strategic bombers and missile platforms. They are also known as Bears, its NATO reporting name. "The Russians flew into the Dutch area of responsibility without making their identity known," the Dutch ministry...

AH-1Z helicopters found operationally effective and suitable NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The U.S. Marine Corps’ newest attack helicopter, the AH-1Z Cobra has successfully completed its Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL). On Sept. 24, NAVAIR’s H-1 Upgrades program office received official notification from the Navy’s Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force that its AH-1Z helicopters were found to be “operationally effective and suitable” and were been recommended for fleet introduction. “This marks a significant milestone for the program,” said Col. Harry Hewson, program manager for U.S. Marine light and attack helicopters. “The AH-1Z has come a long way through...

This is the guy who is telling you what kind of lightbulbs you need in your home and what kind of car you should drive..(Photos)

Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the only openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, has been asked to give the invocation at the first official inaugural activity, a welcome event with the president-elect on Sunday afternoon on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Robinson had been critical of president-elect Barack Obama for asking Rick Warren, the evangelical pastor who encouraged voters to overturn same-sex marriage in California, to deliver the invocation at the inauguration. Episcopal Cafe has an e-mail from Robinson: "I am writing to tell you that President-Elect Obama and the Inaugural Committee have invited me to...

A mouse bit a venomous viper to death after it was thrown into the snake's cage as a lunchtime snack. The tiny rodent killed the snake after a fierce 30-minute battle, emerging with "barely a scratch on him", ... Firefighters ... thought that the live mouse would make a perfect lunchtime treat. But the furry creature had other ideas. Instead of cowering from the 12in snake's gaping jaws and long fangs, it went on the offensive. Vipers are one of the most widespread species of snake in the world, and their adder sub-species is the only poisonous reptile found in...

Israel unveils portable hunter-killer robot Thu Mar 8, 10:26 AM ET An Israeli defense firm on Thursday unveiled a portable robot billed as being capable of entering most combat zones alone and engaging enemies with an onboard armory that includes a machine-pistol and grenades. The VIPeR, roughly the size of a small television, was invented as part of Israel's efforts to develop weaponry that could reduce the risks to its forces from hand-to-hand fighting against Palestinian or Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas. The manufacturer, Elbit Systems Ltd., said that the VIPeR's small size and dual treads enable it to move "undeterred by...

8/17/2006 - MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania (AFPN) -- Among the sounds of jets starting their engines and Romanian air force maintainers prepping their aircraft for departure, an American fighter pilot climbing into the back seat of a MiG-21 Lancer was a rare sight on the flightline here Aug. 11. Pilots from the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here for Exercise Viper Lance 2006 have the opportunity to ride shotgun in Romanian fighters during the exercise. "My flight in the backseat of a Lancer is a good opportunity to look at different aircraft and it's a real privilege and an honor,"...

For the third time in less than two weeks an F16 Fighting Falcon was forced to make an emergency landing at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. It happened Sunday morning when the pilot reported an afterburner problem shortly after takeoff. The jet was participating in an exercise. Around 08.45h the Viper pilot began circling the airfield for about half an hour to spend fuel before landing. F-16s are not designed to land on a full tank. Too much fuel makes them too heavy to land safely. Another F-16 landed on October 29th because of a brake malfunction, and on November 1st...

A Michigan ANG F-16 pilot on a training mission Saturday helped a passenger plane that had lost its instruments and radio find clear airspace for landing. Two F-16s belonging to the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard were in the air when air traffic control from Bishop Airport notified them about the troubled plane. One Viper went ahead and got eye contact with the Cessna and directed the plane where to go. A passenger on the plane using a cellphone contacted Genesee County 911 and told the dispatcher that the plane had lost its electrical and needed help...

<p>That's the message from political operative James Carville, who asks those who have "had enough" of President Bush to donate to the Democratic National Committee in a new DNC television commercial airing Monday.</p> <p>"Bush will raise $250 million to fund relentless attacks on our Democratic nominee -- he'll stop at nothing," Carville says. "With your help, I know we can win. So stand up, be counted and contribute today."</p>

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Two U.S. special forces soldiers were killed and another was wounded Saturday when armed motorcyclists swept down on a reconnaissance patrol in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. At least three Afghan soldiers also were wounded, a military spokesman said. Afghan officials said Taliban fighters who still are active in the area were behind the incident. The U.S. soldiers, escorted by Afghan troops, had been at the opening of a new school and hospital, built with American aid, about 200 miles west of Kandahar. The attackers escaped. It was the latest reminder that the war in...

11/22/02 - HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFPN) -- A piece of history was carved out Nov. 22 when four F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 419th Fighter Wing here took off on a combat training mission. While four F-16s on a routine training mission is not necessarily historic, one of the pilots, Lt. Col. Michael Brill, earned his place in the record books during the sortie. Brill became the first pilot in the world to log 5,000 flying hours in the F-16 aircraft. "I've been fortunate," said Brill. "The fact that I've been able to stay in the cockpit this...

04/08/02 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- Always a busy hub and platform for global reach, after Sept. 11, the base here has become even busier. Operations tempo, deployments and constant alert status are an even more ingrained part of life. While much attention has been focused on the base’s support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Travis has also become an important base for the homeland defense mission, Operation Noble Eagle. With Operation Noble Eagle came fighters on loan here, sitting on constant alert status and performing random combat air patrol missions in support of homeland defense in Northern...