Free Republic

EL PASO, Texas -- Suspected drug runners dressed in Mexican military-style uniforms who were involved in an armed confrontation with Texas lawmen were using a Mexican military-issue Humvee and weapons, the Hudspeth County sheriff said Friday. "It was military," said Arvin West, whose officers were involved in the standoff. "Due to the pending congressional hearings I can't comment further." West said the determination that the equipment was military-issue came from the federal government, but he wouldn't elaborate. A U.S. Army spokesman said he could not confirm West's statement, and the Mexican Foreign Relations Department said it would have no comment....

Bush Signs Syria Sanctions Bill By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - President Bush signed legislation Friday calling for economic penalties against Syria for not doing enough in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East and in Iraq. Bush signed the bill into law with no fanfare before leaving the White House for the Camp David retreat in Maryland. The White House announced the move Friday evening. Bush is generally not enthusiastic about such restraints on his diplomatic options and, in a statement, signaled that was the case with this bill as well. "My approval of the act...