Free Republic

NEW DELHI: Home Minister L.K. Advani linked Tuesday’s terrorist attacks on an Army camp and a bus in Jammu to US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca’s visit, saying it was aimed at derailing the global fight against terrorism. Thirty-four people were killed and 48 injured in the attacks. Making a statement in both Houses of Parliament, Advani said the incident seemed to have been "timed to demonstrate to the world that despite the global coalition against terrorism, the terrorists are not likely to be cowed down." "It is not a coincidence that the incident has occurred at a time...

One thing I often hear here is that the US is not a democracy, it's a republic. I thought voting to elect government defines democracy. Isn't that true? Thus, isn't the US a democracy? And isn't that a good thing? Also, what is a republic? Isn't it just a synonym for 'country'? Is there a value judgment associated with the words 'democracy' and 'republic' based on the names of the Democrat and Republican parties?