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Here’s the thing: London has just suffered a major terrorist attack for which Al Queda has taken responsibility. Fine. Seriously. No big deal. What, 40 dead? 700 injured? Sometime after 9/11 I began writing about Al Queda and terrorist attacks against the United States. My suspicion then was that the attacks against the U.S. were extensions of attacks against the West, but I could not be sure. Of course, we all knew that the USS Cole and other terrorist attacks were plotted and carried out by Arab terrorists. Heck, even the Clinton Administration knew and prosecuted Arab criminals for the...

Sen. Hillary Clinton is "abusing the system" -- using New York State voters as a springboard to the presidency, according to a 38-year-old Republican who would like to stop Mrs. Clinton in 2006, well before the 2008 Democratic race for president. "[Clinton] is not even running for U.S. Senate, she is running for president and she clearly has no intention of fulfilling a six-year Senate term if she is re-elected," said likely GOP Senate candidate Adam Brecht in an interview with Cybercast News Service. "Unfortunately, she's abusing the system," Brecht said. "I think putting everyone through the charade of a...

THE COMPLACENCY of CHRISTIANS is the scandal of Christianity. Time is short, and eternity is long. The end of all things is at hand. Man has proved himself morally unfit to manage the world in which he has been placed by the kindness of the Almighty. He has jockeyed himself to the edge of the crater and cannot go back, and in terrible fear he is holding his breath against the awful moment when he will be plunged into the inferno. In the meantime, a company of people exist on the earth who claim to have the answer to all...

The male perspective on (ugh) commitment BY DAVE BARRY (This classic Dave Barry column was originally published on Aug. 25, 1991.) Today, in our continuing series on How Guys Think, we address the painful issue of: Why Guys Won't Make Commitments. The fundamental question is: How can a guy say he's ''not ready'' to make a permanent commitment to a woman with whom he is obviously compatible; a woman with whom he has been intimate for years; a woman who once drove HIS dog to the veterinarian in HER new car when it (the dog) started regurgitating violently after eating...

President and German Chancellor Schröder Exchange Toasts Grosser Saal Lobby Electoral Palace Mainz, Germany 11:58 A.M. (Local) CHANCELLOR SCHRÖDER: (As translated.) Dear Mr. President, Mrs. Bush, ladies and gentlemen: Let me begin by sharing with you how very pleased, indeed, my wife, Doris, and I are about this opportunity of welcoming you, Mr. President, and your wife, Laura, not only to Germany, but here to Mainz, as well. Your visit is a strong sign of the true friendship -- and I emphasize friendship -- and trusting cooperation that has developed between Germany and the United States of America. I still...

Jan. 24, 2005 19:31 Germany's Fischer reaffirms commitment to Israel By JPOST.COM STAFF At the special session of the UN to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer began by saying, "The Shoah is the ultimate crime against humanity of the Twentieth Century." He said, "Democratic Germany has learned its lessons the Holocaust has left an indelible mark." Explaining one aspect of this indelible mark, Fischer reiterated Germany's commitment to the State of Israel. "The State of Israel's right to exist and its people to security will always remain nonnegotiable fixtures of German...

Kerry’s Record of “Commitment” "I will not have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have, and who misled America into Iraq," were Kerry’s words at a recent midnight rally in Ohio; Oh?! Okay, the President doesn’t have to say a word, 2.5 million Vietnam Veterans will. For too many years Kerry’s lapdogs protected him whenever he was challenged, but they have never had to face the collective wrath of those who he betrayed. If commitment is defined in part by ones voting record, then the list below sheds light into...

I tell you, it's getting tougher to be an American these days. Seems like everyone around the world either hates us or is embarrassed by us, including some of our own. How else can anyone explain why the U.S. Olympic Committee is telling its athletes— our athletes—to tone down any displays of Americanism while competing in Athens this month? According to a report in the Christian Science Monitor, the moniker of "ugly American" is being used to describe any displays of national pride—flag waving at the Games, the wearing of American flag or other insignia on clothing, etc.—our athletes may...

by Fr. James Farfaglia Other Articles by Fr. James Farfaglia Contact this Author Meeting the Daily Demands of Fatherhood 06/19/04 A few days before Bob and Helen were going to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, I had the privilege of joining them for a home-cooked meal at their lovely East Texas home. As Helen diligently prepared the remaining details of the delicious dinner she would be serving that evening, I asked her what was the secret that caused her and her husband, Bob, to remain faithful to each other for so many years. In This Article... The Demands of CommitmentNeeded: Real...

The United States will not shrink from its task of giving Iraqis a country that is based on democracy, freedom and individual rights, Secretary of State Colin Powell said today in a briefing from Baghdad. "We must not let anyone believe that we won't prevail," he said. "We will prevail. We owe it to the Iraqi people. The Iraqi people deserve it. They want to live in a democracy." Just how far the war-torn country has progressed on the road to democracy was evident as several journalists walked out prior to Powell's opening remarks. The journalists' departure followed a statement...

THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN By John Wesley (text from the 1872 edition) Preached at St. Mary's, Oxford, before the University, on July 25, 1741. --------------------------------------------------------- "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Acts 26:28 AND many there are who go thus far: ever since the Christian religion was in the world, there have been many in every age and nation who were almost persuaded to be Christians. But seeing it avails nothing before God to go only thus far, it highly imports us to consider, First. What is implied in being almost, Secondly. What in being altogether, a Christian....

Covenant Renewal Service Adapted from that of John Wesley And First Published in 1780 (*Adaptation) PASTOR: "Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant which will never be forgotten" (Jer. 50:5). PASTOR: Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy name through Christ our Lord. Amen. PASTOR and PEOPLE: The Lord’s Prayer THE SCRIPTURE LESSON: John 15:1-8 INTRODUCTION PASTOR: My dear friends,...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The surprise visit by President Bush to Baghdad on Thursday gave a morale boost to beleaguered troops and provided some Thanksgiving political theater for Americans at home, policy experts said. By spending the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday with soldiers in Iraq, instead of in Texas with his family as was first announced, political scientists said Bush aimed to show the White House was undeterred by mounting U.S. casualties and guerrilla violence that have marred the post-war occupation. "He must be serious about being willing to stay the course," said Byron Shafer, professor of political science at the University...

Terri's Threads on FreeRepublic.com - 18 Nov 2003 0351 PST I've got good news and I've got bad news................ THE GOOD NEWS There are now five hundred seventy-four ( 574 ) 'Terri' threads containing a total of sixty-seven thousand five hundred and twenty-five ( 67,525 ) posts....that could be counted...I couldn't find eight of the threads previously posted.) THE BAD NEWS The blog I used seems to have nullified the URL's I pasted to each thread. If one of you is a wizkid and can tell me how overcome this situation - without having to do the whole thing over...

Terri's Threads on FreeRepublic.com - 13 Nov 2003 1035 PST Today, as of 1035 PST, a total of four hundred and ninety-five threads (495!!!) related to the Terri Schiavo life or death struggle taking place in Florida have been posted by one hundred and seventy-two (172) FReepers!!! Given the astonishing and incredible number of threads which focus on a wide variety issues all reated to the same subject, I thought it might be helpful to the FR membership, and those who occasionly review FR commentary, to have a source from which they could more easily access a particular item of...

<p>Gen. Douglas MacArthur (search) (1880-1964) was one of the greatest -- and arguably the greatest -- military leaders ever produced by the United States.</p> <p>He graduated first in his West Point class of 1903, rose to the rank of brigadier general in World War I, and served as Army chief of staff in the 1930s. During World War II, he was the top commander of Allied forces in the southwest Pacific (search), masterminding the liberation of the Philippines (search) and the island-leaping strategy that outmaneuvered Japanese forces. He became a five-star general, the highest rank in the U.S. army (and one not held by anyone alive today).</p>

On Monday August 11, six of the 12 Cuban refugees that the Bush administration so swiftly returned to Castro were brought for the typical kangaroo trial in Havana. They were charged with “hijacking.” But every Cuban knows that, especially for high-profile cases, the regime carefully chooses the charge that will maximize the intimidation effect for the population. Actually, this group of 11 men and one woman overpowered a crew of three men taking a Cuban mapping and geological research vessel on July 15. The next day the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted their trip to freedom off the Bahamas. As swiftly...