Free Republic

Nov 19, 2004 Russia comes on strong in Central Asia By Bruce Pannier PRAGUE - Visiting the Tajik capital Dushanbe last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised his audience by pledging substantial financial investment in the Central Asian republic. "The Russian side - both its state structures and private companies - intends to invest some [US]$2 billion in the Tajik economy within the next five years. I do not think any other country has, in the past 12 or 13 years, ever invested such an amount of money, or even announced plans to invest such an amount of money in...

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq (Sept. 16, 2004) -- She had just got home from a long day at work and was sifting through the mail when the phone rang. Elizabeth Avellino picked up the phone when she saw the words 'US Government' displayed on the caller ID. She had never seen those words displayed before, and like many families who have gotten a similar call, never wants to see them again. "When I answered the phone, Lt. Col. Mike Melillo identified himself and said he was from Camp Pendleton," said Elizabeth, 54, and the mother of two. "He told me...