Free Republic

Thousands of Guineans on Wednesday cheered a young army captain chosen as de facto head of state by the military junta that took over the West African country in a coup after the death of President Lansana Conte. The installation of Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara as leader of the world's top bauxite exporter went ahead despite international condemnation and statements opposing the coup from civilian leaders and the top military commander. The coup leaders, calling themselves the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), appeared unopposed in their control of the Guinean capital Conakry two days after Conte's death from...

CONAKRY, Guinea — Coup leaders in Guinea issued a declaration on state radio Sunday saying all military generals of the former regime had been demoted, raising the spectre of instability in the country. The demotions included more than 20 military heads, including those who ran the country's army, navy and air force. The list also includes security force chiefs. .... The move comes amid questions about whether coup leader Capt. Moussa Camara is able to control the plethora of military units created under Conte's 24-year rule. Capt. Camara's group seized public airwaves and declared a coup Tuesday just hours after...

NEW YORK (AP) — Police say a security guard has died after a man walked into a federal building in Manhattan and opened fire. The guard, identified by his union as Idrisa Camara, died shortly after the shooting Friday evening. Police say the gunman walked through a side entrance of the building that houses an immigration court and other government offices. Chief James O'Neil says the gunman later shot himself in the head. He was found dead in the building. A law enforcement official identified the shooter as Kevin Downing, of Fort Lee, New Jersey.

One has the impression that under Francis the Church is becoming, in her human element, the equivalent of a banana republic, replete with Latin American-style demagoguery, exalting the poor and depicting them as always the innocent victims of the greedy rich. Our Lord said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 5:3)." Francis' version of this beatitude is: "blessed are the poor" — apparently just because they are poor. He has even gone so far as to suggest that the poor be treated as objects of veneration before whom we should literally kneel...

"US Accuses Guinea-Bissau Military Officers of Drug Trafficking Two top officers are named as major players in cocaine shipment from Latin America to Guinea-Bissau" SNIPPET: "Na Tchuto denied the allegations on Friday and said that he will cooperate with the United States government. He also said the charges of drug trafficking do not make sense because he was in Portugal on June 29, 2008 when the cocaine shipment from Venezuela arrived. Na Tchuto said he did not return to Guinea-Bissau until July. Na Tchuto also pointed out that he was not arrested by Interpol when he was in Gambia or...