Free Republic

For Editorial and Discussion use only: Key Lawmaker: China Must Send Envoy To Get Embassy Bombing Compensation WASHINGTON, Jun 17, 1999 -- (Agence France Presse) If Beijing wants compensation for NATO's bombing of its embassy in Belgrade, a senior Chinese official should come to the United States to seek it, a key US lawmaker said Wednesday. "If Communist China wants compensation for its Belgrade embassy, it should send an envoy of (US Undersecretary of State Thomas) Pickering's rank to the United States to request it," Republican Representative Ben Gilman said in a statement. The salvo from Gilman, a frequent China ...

For Editorial and Discussion use only: China Says Kosovo Peacekeepers Must Not Threaten Yugoslav Sovereignty BEIJING, Jun 17, 1999 -- (Agence France Presse) China said Thursday the presence of foreign troops in Kosovo must not threaten Yugoslavia's sovereignty. But a foreign ministry spokeswoman would not take a firm position on differences between Russia and NATO countries on Russia's role in the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo. "The presence of external forces in Kosovo should be conducive to safeguarding Yugoslavia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told a media briefing. It "should also be beneficial to the peace and stability ...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. Daniel McGrory reports from Pristina as KLA fighters seek their revenge SNIPERS are the latest curse to grip Pristina as British troops struggle to prevent gun law taking hold in the capital. Three people have been shot dead in the past three days by snipers who are once more emptying streets that had only just come back to life. Another man was hit yesterday as he drove through the busiest thoroughfare in Pristina, prompting military commanders to fear the start of a sniper war that would paralyse what progress to peace ...

"YOU'RE good", proclaims the US sentry with the night-vision attachments as he waves you into the muddy field that is now Camp Bondsteel, the new American Nato base in southern Kosovo. What happens if you're "bad", he is not at liberty to divulge. Once inside the rapidly expanding camp, however, his comrades are only too happy to tell you what they are ready, willing and able to do should the Serbs or KLA misbehave in the countryside around Ferizaj and Gnjilane. Here, to the bemusement of the T-shirted British liaison team, everyone wears flak jackets and most of the ...

Just a reminder for tomorrow: meet at Seattle Center at 3:30pm so we can give Mr. Gore a good-ol' Seattle welcome (ala Hillary Rodham and Clintoncare). Let's not miss the opportunity to let Mr. Gore know what we really think of what has happened the 6-1/2 years in this country. And that we don't want it to go on for another four after the next Presidential election! Details: Common Sense Northwest

Ethiopia, Eritrea take border war to Somalia By Rosalind Russell JOWHAR, Somalia, June 17 (Reuters) - A new front has opened up in the year-long border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea -- this time not along their disputed frontier, but in neighbouring Somalia, the ungoverned wild west of Africa's horn. Both sides have poured soldiers, weapons and ammunition into Somalia in support of rival militia factions which they see as helping their own strategic aims in the intractable conflict. Their military support has given renewed vigour -- and firepower -- to several simmering inter-clan disputes in Somalia's most unstable hotspots. ...

For Editorial and Discussion use only: Thursday, June 17, 1999 Published at 17:51 GMT 18:51 UK China rejects US apology China rejects US apologyThe United States appears to have had little success in its attempt to put right the damage done to its relationship with China after the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. China has rejected an explanation by visiting US envoy Thomas Pickering that Nato's bombing of the embassy last month was a mistake. The official Xinhua news agency quoted Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan as telling Mr Pickering that the US explanation was "unconvincing and unacceptable." ...

AS more Serb atrocities in Kosovo come to light, an unprecedented effort is underway to gather the evidence that will one day be used to bring those responsible to trial. Troops of the Nato-led Kosovo Force have made it a priority to secure the sites of alleged massacres, and the Serbs are being forced to withdraw so rapidly that their efforts to conceal their deeds are botched. British forensic science teams were yesterday moving into Kosovo, where they will shortly be joined by an initial team of at least 40 investigators from the International Criminal Tribunal. The investigators know ...

For educational and discussion purposes. Not for commercial use. South China Morning Post EUROPE TODAY Two million women sold as sex slaves HUMAN RIGHTS in Vienna At least two million women from eastern Europe have been sold as "white slaves" in the West in recent years, according to unofficial estimates by Interpol. The practice, figures on which were released at a conference on slavery in the Bulgarian city of Varna, shows no sign of abating, with organised crime increasingly dealing in the sale of eastern European women - often lured with promises of lucrative jobs and modelling contracts - to ...

Half of Marines' Harriers Grounded The Associated Press NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - The Marine Corps has grounded about half of its AV-8B Harrier jump jets while it investigates two crashes in the past two weeks. In all, 84 planes were grounded. The planes have the same Rolls-Royce engine model as the aircraft involved in the crashes, A Marine spokeswoman told The Virginian-Pilot. However, the engine has not been identified as being at fault in either crash, she said. There was no estimate on how long the planes might be out of service. The crashes involved Harriers based at Kadena Air ...

National Gun Rights Dean: Time to Close Clinton Loophole U.S. Newswire 16 Jun 19:10 National Gun Rights Dean: Time to Close the Clinton Loophole To: National Desk Contact: John Snyder of Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, 202-326-5259 or 703-418-0849 WASHINGTON, June 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- "The United States House of Representatives now has a magnificent opportunity to close the Clinton-Gore Administration loophole of lies on the issue of gun control and the individual civil right to keep and bear arms," John Michael Snyder, named "Dean" of gun lobbyists in the national media, said here ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pat Robertson warned Senate GOP leaders Thursday that Vice President Al Gore is "co-opting a number of Republican issues,'' and urged them to energize religious conservatives by holding votes on an agenda stressing faith and family. In an interview, the Christian Coalition president said he also brought up the Internal Revenue Service's recent denial of tax-exempt status for his organization in a series of meetings he requested with GOP senators. Robertson said he suggested they conduct a "Senate inquiry'' of the IRS for "selective enforcement'' because it has granted tax-exempt status to liberal organizations. Among those ...

For Editorial and Discussion use only: India Puts Navy On Alert By HEMA SHUKLA Associated Press Writer DRAS, India (AP) -- While Indian artillery pounded rebel positions in disputed Kashmir, its navy went on alert in the Arabian Sea Thursday to counter what it said were ``tactical deployments'' by rival Pakistan's fleet. The maneuvering at sea and continued fighting raised concerns the conflict over the remote and sparsely populated Himalayan territory could expand to other fronts. Near Dras, thick clouds of black smoke from Indian artillery spiraled from the peaks held by the rebels, and the rattle of machine guns ...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - The Marine Corps has grounded about half of its AV-8B Harrier jump jets while it investigates two crashes in the past two weeks. In all, 84 planes were grounded. The planes have the same Rolls-Royce engine model as the aircraft involved in the crashes, A Marine spokeswoman told The Virginian-Pilot. However, the engine has not been identified as being at fault in either crash, she said. There was no estimate on how long the planes might be out of service. The crashes involved Harriers based at ...

John I do not write this to attack the great work you have done on FR. I really love the way you can do self searches and other searchs now going far back in time. The idea of user preferences is great too. Those are some of the things I like. It is neat how you stroll in here about every night and go to work. It reminds me of an old tune by Deo that I used to listen to called "I speed at night". LOL Now of course many things about the old format were also at ...

House Gun Bill Weakens Current Law U.S. Newswire 16 Jun 15:07 House Gun Bill Weakens Current Law, Says VPC To: National Desk, Political Reporter Contact: Bill McGeveran of the Violence Policy Center, 202-822-8200, ext. 105; Web site: www.vpc.org (*1) WASHINGTON, June 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Violence Policy Center today warned that -- unless amendments pass to remove loopholes -- the overall impact of the House leadership's gun bill would be to weaken current gun laws. The rollback would be even more serious if the bill includes an amendment sponsored by Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and supported by the ...

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — Stopping at a typical Cologne beer hall, President Clinton shook hands with stunned residents Thursday and sampled local specialties: Sauerbraten with dumplings and the city's famous light brew. When Clinton walked in, regular patron Dirk Rosenkranz stood up at his usual table, near the door, and was the first to receive a handshake from the personable president. "I can't wash my hand now, for what, two, maybe three months?'' he said to the amusement of his pals. Clinton greeted customers, exchanged a few words and autographed beer coasters as he walked to a long, wooden ...

For Editorial and Discussion use only: UN Sec-Gen envoy favors more consistent disarmament of KLA.PRAGUE, June 18 (Itar-Tass) - The Kosovo settlement will hardly be quick without the disarmament of the conflicting sides, envoy of the U.N. Secretary-General in the Balkans, Slovakian Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan said in an interview with the national radio on Thursday. Now that international troops have entered the Yugoslav province, the need for disarmament is especially true for the Kosovo Liberation Army, he said. The disarmament of the KLA must be more consistent, Kukan noted. In his words, the United Nations favors more decisive actions ...

U.S. House debates checking on gun buyers at shows By Joanne Kenen WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With an impassioned debate about God, guns and schoolhouse murderers, the House on Thursday enacted a tough youth crime bill and then turned to measures aimed at keeping firearms away from criminals and children. Propelled by public outrage after the 15 deaths at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, the Senate last month approved a half-dozen modest new gun measures. But many lawmakers acknowledge that the House is unlikely to go as far as the Senate in the face of intense opposition from an invigorated ...