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United States-led coalition troops have launched a massive operation in central Afghanistan to hunt down Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and his senior commanders, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported on Sunday. It said hundreds of coalition troops had been combing mountains and caves linking the provinces of Ghor, Helmand and Uruzgan for the past three days. The search was intensified after the coalition forces received reports that Mullah Omar was hiding in the mountains, the Pakistan-based private news service said. Helicopters were being used to drop troops in several places, it said. There were reports that the deposed Taliban...

Why reason and justice are on Israel's side As yet another appalling suicide bombing takes place in Israel, killing 19 people and wounding dozens more on a bus packed with schoolchildren in Jerusalem - as Hamas claims credit for the massacre - America's policymakers still insist on seeking an "even-handed," diplomatic solution. In the past 18 months, Israel's six million citizens have suffered 12,480 terrorist attacks. They have buried more than 400 victims - a per-capita death toll six times that of America on September 11. Yet, in an abhorrent act of injustice, Israel continues to be pressured by the...

New Mexico -- The candidate is Hispanic. His name is John Sanchez, and when he won a three-way GOP primary for governor earlier this month, he became only the second Hispanic in modern times to head a Republican ticket (the first was Florida's Bob Martinez in 1986). "People accuse me of being a token, the great brown hope of the Republican Party," laughed Sanchez, 39, a roofing contractor and freshman legislator who became an overnight GOP star in 2000 when he ousted the state's longtime Democratic House speaker in his home district. "But I didn't run as a Hispanic....

By LEE KEATH : Associated Press Writer Jun 23, 2002 : 6:17 am ET BAGRAM, Afghanistan (AP) -- British marines stormed a compound in an Afghan village, captured more than 10 armed men and found rooms piled high with mortars, rockets and heavy weapons they said may have belonged to al-Qaida or the Taliban.Marines said Sunday the weapons cache was one of the biggest found by troops who have been scouring southeastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border for al-Qaida or Taliban fighters."In the last room, there was a curtain. When I pulled it back, it was like, 'Oh my God,'"...

The IDF issued a limited number of emergency call-up notices to reservists to beef up troops currently patrolling Palestinian cities in the West Bank. The security cabinet decided Friday that troops would operate there "as long as it is required." The cabinet also decided, in principle, to expel terrorist activists and the families of suicide bombers from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip, pending legal review...(more) Click here for more

Peaceful modern societies which respect the individual evolved from age-old family ties. The transition from band-type societies, through clan and tribal organizations, into nation-states was peaceful only when accomplished without disruption of the basic ties which link the individual to the larger society by a sense of a common history, culture and kinship. The sense of "belonging" to a nation by virtue of such shared ties promotes cooperation, altruism and respect for other members. In modern times, traditional ties have been weakened by the rise of mass societies and rapid global communication, factors which bring with them rapid social change...

<p>What's easier than to point a finger at the intelligence community, now blamed for failing to warn us before Sept. 11?</p> <p>Two impending lawsuits — one filed in Hillsborough County Court in Florida, the other in Chicago — will introduce enough facts to establish that not America's intelligence community but policies set by the State and Justice departments, the Clinton White House and Clintonista holdovers in the Bush administration were at fault. Yet, to flesh out the details we must delve into history — British history at that — to get the rest of the story.</p>

Indian intelligence and financial investigators have investigated alleged links of some jewellers and diamond merchants in the country with an international diamond network which has been laundering funds for Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda, official sources said on Sunday. Refusing to disclose the nature of operations or against whom investigations had been carried out, the sources said the international transactions of these jewellers and diamond merchants, including those based in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Surat, had been closely monitored. The officials said the probe had been initiated following reports that Indian diamond-polishing companies had received "above-normal orders" late last year and...

Pit bull owner gets 2-5 BY LARA BRICKERlbricker@seacoastonline.com STRATHAM - The Newton man who trained 43 pit bulls to fight each other will serve between two and five years in state prison, as part of a plea deal he struck with prosecutors Tuesday morning. The case of Christopher DeVito marks the first time in the state that someone has been convicted of training animals to fight, according to Rockingham County Attorney James Reams. "This is an unprecedented sentence," Reams said. "I think we sent a strong indication to people that this is unacceptable conduct in New Hampshire." DeVito, 34, of...

Click image to enlarge: Thousands of anti-globalization activists hold banners and flags during a march through Seville against the European Union summit,in Seville, Spain, Saturday, June 22, 2002. The march was organized to protest some of the policies, including immigration policies, of the European Union leaders who are currently meeting in Seville for a summit. White banner in front reads: No Person is Illegal. The Social Forum of Seville. (AP Photo/Cristina Quicler) - Jun 22 4:01 PM ET Anti-globalization activists hold a poster with the picture of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar which says "The midget dictator" during a...

To: Government of Australia Calling on the humanitarian ideals of the People of Australia as represented by the government. That the government of Australia act immediately to bring on a debate at the United Nations to declare clearly and unequivocally that the practice of suicide bombing is a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. This crime and its promoters, organisers and supporters are guilty of a crime which has been committed against the perpetrator (who has been indoctrinated) as well as the victims of the crime. Further, that there is no moral, religious, or political justification for this crime and that the results...

SPRINGPORT - The message of those who didn't attend Saturday's SHARE Fest was as potent as the celebration that took place on Truesdale Road. "They haven't made themselves known to anybody down here," said Jeanne Herst, who owns a home on Route 90, near the SHARE farm and chose not to attend the celebration. "I wouldn't know them if I saw them, and they don't live that far from me." Herst echoed the sentiment of many of her neighbors. They're unsure what the SHARE farm is about, why it's here, and what its goal is. But enough people attended the...

Two high-profile foes have tangled before By Jody Callahan callahan@gomemphis.com June 23, 2002 In 1999, lawyer Richard Fields filed a lawsuit against John Ford, claiming the longtime state senator and others schemed to divert millions of dollars in federal child care money for their own use. A year later, Ford was dismissed from the lawsuit. Now, the two are embroiled in another battle. Fields, 54, is running against Ford, 60, in the Democratic primary for the state Senate seat in District 29. Ford, who won that seat in 1974, has not faced a strong opponent since that election. Their head-to-head...

I had not posted here in a while and now I find that F.R. has dumbed down their posting format. I guess it was bound to happen. I enjoyed the HTML because it forced me to think and learn while posting news,events, and replies here on F.R.. Now just anyone can come along and post anything with no thought at all. (HMMMM?)

ROME (Reuters) - Italian investigators have broken up a Milan-based ``terror cell'' with links to al Qaeda which planned an attack on a 14th century church in Bologna earlier this year, a newspaper reported Sunday. Corriere della Sera newspaper said the group was identified after intercepted telephone conversations between several Tunisians and Moroccans with links to a Libyan known as Amsa, considered one of Osama bin Laden's chief operatives in Europe. Amsa was arrested last month in Britain, the paper said. The Milan-based cell, which included members of Algeria's radical Salafist Group of Preaching and Combat, allegedly planned an attack...

An economy singed: The markets' mood reflects a poor outlook for America's economyGet article background“AMERICA'S economy is the healthiest in a generation and the strongest in the world.” So Bill Clinton bragged to his fellow summit leaders when they last met in North America five years ago. The Denver G8 summit marked a high point of American triumphalism, with European and Japanese leaders left to squirm uncomfortably in their cowboy hats as their exuberant host extolled the wonders of America's new economy. For the first time in a quarter-century, they were told, the world had an undisputed model for economic...

<p>A 12-gauge shotgun sits Thursday behind the counter of Magic Pawn Shop as employee Nancy Blankenship waits for customers.</p> <p>Fed up and frustrated by the alarming number of armed robberies in the city, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright is urging law-abiding people to fight firepower with firepower.</p>

Child murders shine harsh light on gang problem in Memphis By Kevin McKenzie mckenzie@gomemphis.com June 23, 2002 Gangs don't worry LaShun Woody. Woody, 29, mother of four, lives in the South Memphis apartment complex where gang-related gunfire killed a 10-year-old boy, Damien Woodard, on April 14. "Gangs don't kill people, people kill people," Woody said last week, sitting outside an Oak Park apartment at twilight with friends. "People in gangs are nothing but individuals that are in selective groups," she said. With at least three Memphis children murdered this spring by stray gunfire linked to gangs or illegal drug deals...

I need a bit of help from the members of the board. I was discussing the number of democrats who have been caught in scandals and did not resign vs republicans who did resign.

Choose You This Day Whom You Will Serve" ByJohn Gronley I. Introduction An examination of the Calvinistic system of theology and the five main pillars that it rests on commonly referred to as TULIP. Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. An examination of these tenants and not the faith of the believers, who subscribe to them, will be made. Holding them up to the light of Scripture and determine whether this system of theology has its origins in philosophical arguments or in the full counsel of God as expressed in the Bible. It...