Free Republic

MINGORA, Pakistan – NATO warned Tuesday that Pakistan risked creating a safe haven for Islamist extremists after it struck a deal to impose Islamic law and suspend a military offensive in the former tourist haven of Swat. Criticism of the truce mounted as a hard-line cleric dispatched by the government to convince the Taliban to stop fighting as part of the deal arrived in the Swat Valley's main city of Mingora to a hero's welcome. NATO says it has 55,000 troops across the border in Afghanistan, and many of them have come under attack by Taliban and al-Qaida fighters believed...

ESCONDIDO – The lawyers who successfully challenged the city's illegal-immigrant housing ordinance said recent statements by council members that legal obstacles can be overcome are unrealistic. They also warned that should Escondido try to enact a similar ordinance, it would cost the city dearly. David Blair-Loy, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties, said fundamental problems will exist with any ordinance designed to banish illegal immigrants. Last week, after the Escondido council agreed to rescind an ordinance adopted in October, several council members said they hoped to create a better one in the...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell advised Israel on Wednesday that diplomacy and not force is the way to deal with Iran's nuclear weapons program. Two decades ago, Israeli warplanes destroyed an Iraqi reactor to prevent Saddam Hussein from developing nuclear weapons. With Iran now moving in that direction, Powell said "there was a lot of speculation and horror stories and other stories about what this might lead to in the way of crisis, and part of that speculation is that the Israelis might do something or not do something." "I have no information on that," Powell said...

PICKING YOUR BATTLESby Timothy Rollins, Editor and Publisher March 5, 2002 If there has ever been a time to pick sides, that time is now – and that applies to every aspect of your life imaginable. Six months ago, I may not have said that publicly (though I have privately practiced that philosophy my entire adult life), but since the events of 9-11, all bets are off. In every area of our lives, we are called upon to make choices, and those choices we make will affect other areas of our lives – as such, we need to choose carefully...