Free Republic

Elections have consequences. One of them is continuing US support for the European Project and the process of ‘ever closer union’, following Barack Obama’s re-election last November. Had Mitt Romney won, there would have been a very different approach towards the EU, with a far greater emphasis upon advancing ties with nation states in Europe as opposed to currying favour with Brussels. Romney’s approach was distinctly Eurosceptic, with frequent warnings against America ending up like Europe, with its big government, high tax approach. As David Blair has reported, Philip Gordon, the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian...

Archaeologists believe they have found the first pre-Roman planned town discovered in Britain.It has been unearthed beneath the Roman town of Silchester or Calleva Atrebatum near modern Reading. The Romans are often credited with bringing civilisation to Britain - including town planning. But excavations have shown evidence of an Iron Age town built on a grid and signs inhabitants had access to imported wine and olive oil. Prof Mike Fulford, an archaeologist at the University of Reading, said the people of Iron Age Silchester appear to have adopted an urbanised 'Roman' way of living, long before the Romans arrived. "It...

Isi Leibler has written a fierce denunciation in the Jerusalem Post of Britain’s Jewish community leadership for their supine and craven response to the way Britain’s political and intellectual class is throwing Israel ever more brazenly under the bus. I agree with all that he says. However, I fear that his hope that British Jews get rid of these leaders and replace them by individuals who are prepared to mount a proper defence of Israel in the face of this verbal pogrom is tragically unrealisable.

The study says that the UK has by far the largest number of banks for Muslims – whose products prohibit interest payments and investment in alcohol or gambling firms – of any western country. There are now five "fully Sharia-compliant" banks in the UK while another 17 leading institutions including Barclays, RBS and Lloyds Banking Group have set up special branches or subsidiary firms for Muslim clients. The $18billion (£12bn) in assets of Britain's Islamic banks dwarf those of some states where Islam is the main religion, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and Egypt.

I am hearing ever more alarming accounts of the deepening attrition against British Jews in the wake of the incitement against Israel provoked by the war in Gaza. In addition to the record number of attacks upon Jewish individuals and institutions and murderous incitement displayed on the anti-Israel demonstrations and riots as reported by the Community Security Trust, Jewish parents report that their children – some as young as eight – are now running a gauntlet of attack from their Muslim classmates at school who accuse them of ‘killing Palestinian children’. Comments by adults about ‘Jews controlling all the money/the...

Britain's terror crackdown By Duncan Gardham, David Millward, and Richard Edwards Last Updated: 2:36am BST 02/07/2007 Cars were banned from approaching airport terminals last night as unprecedented security measures were enforced to combat a suspected al-Qa'eda bombing campaign. The terrorist threat level was at "critical" - its highest - after two car bombs were found in London and a third, potentially devastating, attack was narrowly averted at Glasgow airport. An armed police officer prevents vehicles from approaching too close to Heathrow It has forced police and the Government to take the draconian step of closing off all forecourts at airports....

Delving deep into Britain's past By Paul Rincon Science reporter, BBC News Neanderthals probably made this hand axe from Swanscombe in Kent Scientists are to begin work on the second phase of a project aimed at piecing together the history of human colonisation in Britain. Phase one of the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain project (AHOB) discovered people were here 200,000 years earlier than previously thought. Phase two has now secured funds to the tune of £1m and will run until 2010. Team members hope to find out more about Britain's earliest settlers and perhaps unearth their fossil remains. They...

Britain's human history revealed By Jonathan Amos Science reporter, BBC News, Norwich The story has been filled out but human remains are scarce Eight times humans came to try to live in Britain and on at least seven occasions they failed - beaten back by freezing conditions. Scientists think they can now write a reasonably comprehensive history of the occupation of these isles. It stretches from 700,000 years ago and the first known settlers at Pakefield in Suffolk, through to the most recent incomers just 12,000 years or so ago. The evidence comes from the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain...

Britain's pampered pooches are too soft to be police dogs By Elizabeth Day (Filed: 23/07/2006) Britain's policemen have long been used to handling lazy youngsters with no ambition - but that was the human variety. Now several forces across the country are having to import police dogs from abroad because domestic canines lack the requisite motivation and drive. Over recent years, dog handlers have found that many adult canines in Britain prefer an easy life as cosseted family pets and fail to show the determination or physical energy required of a police dog. Sonny's father was imported from the Czech...

US academic attacks Britain's hidden 'white supremacy' By James Langton (Filed: 30/04/2006) White supremacy is "alive and well in Britain", according to one of America's leading black academics. Speaking before next week's local elections, which could see an unprecedented surge of support for the far-Right British National Party, Prof Cornel West said that white people in Britain have failed to embrace the black community. 'You have a legacy of white supremacy tied to colonial history' In an exclusive interview, the best-selling author, who is a household name on race relations in the United States, said: "Britain is a paradoxical place...

SAS man bolsters Britain's new FBI By Thomas Harding and John Steele (Filed: 04/04/2006) A former SAS chief has been drafted in to "get a grip" of the new Serious Organised Crime Agency after tensions are said to have arisen in the merging of investigators from bodies including the police and Customs. Lt Gen Sir Cedric Delves, one of the most distinguished SAS commanders, will oversee intelligence operations by Soca and will give it access to the expertise of undercover surveillance teams at SAS headquarters in Hereford. The Home Office has called on other military figures, including dozens of colonels...

The British authorities investigating the London terrorist bombing have put forth an intriguing theory. Did the four young Muslim men know they were destined to become suicide bombers? These young men had gone to Pakistan to “study” Islam. What they got tangled up in was Islam in its purest form—murderous and radical. It doesn’t seem to take much influence from the experts in death to convince peaceful and law-abiding people to become mass murderers for Islam. But convincing the new father of an eight month old baby to die for Islam? That might take a little more time. An 18-year-old...

Archaeologists Unearth Britain's Own Miniature Coliseum By Emma Gunby, PA Archaeologists have discovered evidence of Britain’s own miniature Coliseum, it was revealed today. The two-tier stone built structure, in Chester, which dates back to 100AD, hosted gladiatorial contests, floggings and public executions. Experts say the amphitheatre is the only one of its kind in Britain and the new evidence proves that Chester must have been an important site within the Roman Empire. Dan Garner, senior archaeologist for Chester City Council, said: “Previous findings have suggested that the amphitheatre was a two-tier structure, but it was always believed the second tier...

Archaeologists find 'Britain's oldest shoe' James Sturcke and agencies Tuesday May 10, 2005 A 2,000-year-old shoe uncovered at a Somerset quarry. Photograph: Exeter Archaeology/PA Archaeologists excavating a quarry in Somerset claim to have found Britain's oldest shoe, believed to be 2,000 years old. They said the shoe, which was found at Whitehall Quarry, near Wellington, was the equivalent to a modern size 9 or 10, and was so well preserved that the stitching and lace holes were visible in the leather. It was taken to a specialist conservation centre in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and was expected to go on display at...

December 22, 2004 Women warriors from Amazon fought for Britain's Roman army By Lewis Smith THE remains of two Amazon warriors serving with the Roman army in Britain have been discovered in a cemetery that has astonished archaeologists. Women soldiers were previously unknown in the Roman army in Britain and the find at Brougham in Cumbria will force a reappraisal of their role in 3rd-century society. The women are thought to have come from the Danube region of Eastern Europe, which was where the Ancient Greeks said the fearsome Amazon warriors could be found. The women, believed to have died...

Britain's nuclear deadline for Iran By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor (Filed: 09/09/2004) Britain last night gave Iran two months to come clean about its nuclear programme and halt work on enrichment of uranium or face a demand for United Nations sanctions.After more than a year of "engagement" with Teheran over its nuclear ambitions, which America believes are designed to make a nuclear bomb, a senior British official said European countries were running out of patience. The governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency meets next week and the official said western countries would seek a resolution setting the...

Britain's drowned landscapes New underwater technology to reveal an age when the UK was linked to Europe by plains and forests Robin McKie, science editor Sunday September 21, 2003 The Observer (UK) Herds of reindeer and horses migrated across its plains, huge forests covered much of the countryside and men and women made their homes by rivers and lakes. Then came the deluge, and this ancient Arcadia - which stretched across the North Sea, and covered the Channel - was inundated. All signs of human and animal activity were covered by several hundred feet of water. Only the occasional stone...

Senua, Britain's unknown goddess unearthed Clues to catastrophe after rare Roman temple treasure found Maev Kennedy, arts and heritage correspondent Monday September 1, 2003 The Guardian (UK) Sensua - probably an older Celtic goddess, who was then adopted and Romanised. Photo: British Museum She is faceless and armless, but she has a name: Senua. A previously unknown Romano-British goddess has been resurrected at the British Museum, patiently prised from soil-encrusted clumps of gold and corroded silver which have buried her identity for more than 1,600 years. Her name is published for the first time today. The 26 pieces of gold...

Rhodes to freedom Greece should crack down on boozy Brits Leader Thursday August 21, 2003 The Guardian Greece's courts may not always be everyone's idea of the classical criminal justice system. But it is difficult not to sympathise with the Greek authorities this time. Their long-overdue attempt to end the degradation that British "booze tourism" has inflicted on their islands and culture deserves this country's enthusiastic approval and cooperation. For too many summers, quiet resorts in the poorer southern half of Europe have been forced, for economic reasons alone, to turn a blind eye to the behaviour of thousands of...

Iran shuns Britain's appeal for nuclear inspectors By Angus McDowall in Tehran 30 June 2003 Iran rejected an appeal from the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, yesterday for more intrusive inspections of its nuclear facilities, amid fears that the country may be developing nuclear weapons. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, said his country was not yet ready to accept the demands. While Iran was prepared to consider the need to be more "transparent" on its nuclear intentions, Tehran needed to know more about what was expected of it. "We have nothing to hide. We are ready to co-operate but that...