Free Republic

Iran has begun enriching uranium deep inside a mountain and sentenced an American to death for spying, angering the West and undermining hopes that diplomacy could avert further sanctions or war. The start of enrichment at the Fordow bunker near the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Qom was confirmed on Monday by an Iranian official in Tehran and by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran says its nuclear program is purely non-military but the West believes it is designed to produce nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic's decision to carry out enrichment work deep underground could eventually make it much...

A summit meeting of Latin American and Caribbean leaders in Trinidad has ended without a consensus on a final declaration. Thirty-four countries spent two days in talks on the issues facing the continent, but were unable to agree on a clear statement. In a positive outcome, the United States and Venezuela agreed to work towards improving their frosty relationship. US President Barack Obama says he feels that many countries in the Americas want a more constructive relationship with the United States. "I do not see eye to eye with every regional leader on every regional issue and I do not...