Free Republic

Irreconcilable differences of opinion?They are veto-holding partners in Europe and on the UN Security Council. But as yesterday's speech by Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, demonstrated, politically they have rarely been so far apart. What are the main points that divide them? 12 February 2003 By Kim Sengupta in London and John Lichfield in Paris The threat from Iraq is overstated; it is no worse than other rogue regimes. What is the threat to Europe and the United States? THE BRITISH VIEW"We have to differentiate between the threat posed by Iraq and other would-be proliferators. No other country shares Iraq's...

If 2001, that annus horribilis, was the year of Western unity in the face of terror, then 2002 appeared to herald a schism between America and Europe. As Robert Kagan of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace put it in a groundbreaking article for Policy Review, "Americans are from Mars and Europeans are from Venus." "It is time to stop pretending that Europeans and Americans share a common view of the world," Kagan warned. The Europeans, it seems, are realizing Kant's fantasy world of Perpetual Peace, a place wherein international law, international conventions and international opinion settle disputes. Negotiation, persuasion...

Republicans say "Merry Christmas!" Democrats say "Season's Greetings!" ------ Republicans help the poor during the holidays by sending $50 to the Salvation Army. Democrats help the poor by giving $50, one buck at a time, to panhandlers on the street. --------------- Democrats let their kids open all the gifts on Christmas Eve. Republicans make their kids wait until Christmas morning. ------------- When not in stores, Republicans shop from a catalog. Democrats watch for "incredible TV offers" on late night television. ----------------------- Republicans do much of their shopping at Target and Wal-Mart. So do Democrats, but they don't admit it. ---------------...

Oddly Enough - Reuters Sex 149 Times a Year Is UK Average? Mon Nov 25,11:02 AM ET Add Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo! LONDON (Reuters) - Britons have sex more often than Americans and Spaniards, but are outdone between the sheets by the French, Dutch, Danes and Canadians, a survey by condom manufacturer Durex found Monday. The Durex Global Sex survey revealed that Britons make love an average of 149 times a year, pipped only by couples in France (167), the Netherlands (158), Denmark (152) and Canada (150). Those taking their love-making at a more relaxed pace included...

By Derick SturkeOn my Rail Fan Politics board, an internet forum for us rail fans to discuss political issues, there are all stripes. Conservatives, Centrists, Idio... er, Liberals. It is frankly scary how some folks in this country think. I have established that liberals are very short sighted, and operate from an emotional level only. And one of great envy. After one round of extended semi debate (conservatives debated, liberals merely ranted on in hatred), I came up with the following concise description of the entire debate. I knew I hit the nail square on the head as I...

The Disconnect Between Hollywood and America Reprinted by permission from IMPRIMIS, the national speech digest of Hillsdale College (www.hillsdale.edu).Written by Pat Sajaak Here in this quiet, peaceful corner of Michigan, you might not have a sense of your importance in the world. I come from a community that has the opposite problem. Because it is so big and so powerful, so great and so well-known, it has an exaggerated view of its significance. That community is Hollywood. Not Hollywood, the town. Not much Show Business actually goes on there. Most of the studios are spread around other Southern California...

Saudi Arabian government declaring all out war against Christianity within its bordersWithin the last 2 years, the US government has been receiving very favorable statements from the Saudi government in regards to religious toleration within its borders, especially to the over 200,000 person Christian community. The Saudi regime has verbally committed to the State Department, notable Senators and Congressmen the provision for allowing Christian worship in private homes. The Saudi government had previously stated such provisions for religious freedom exist in the Arab News as well as at the 1998 dedication of the Saudi-funded Mosque in Los Angeles (stating that...