Free Republic

Doubts over America's northern pincer may give Saddam a chance to strengthen his defences By Patrick Cockburn 04 March 2003 The failure of America to persuade Turkey to allow its bases to be used by troops for an attack on Iraq has complicated Washington's plans to open a northern front against Saddam Hussein. The United States had hoped to attack Iraq from the north and south. Now the existence of the northern pincer is in doubt. About 62,000 US soldiers and 310 military aircraft were to be deployed in Turkey, enabling the 4th Infantry Division to push south. The prizes...

<p>Jannie Edwards, with 16-month-old daughter Azaya, would under Gov. Gray Davis' proposal lose about $31 in monthly welfare she gets to care for the girl. The minimum-wage worker said she'll try to trim baby-sitting costs if the cuts are implemented.</p>

In civil law, they sometimes speak of the " Doctrine of the Last Clear Chance " - as in : Which driver had the last clear chance to avoid a collision ? Who had the last chance to avoid or mitigate injury ? I wish, sometimes, we could apply this doctrine to international relations. As I sit here, this Christmas Eve ( You can tell it's Christmas Eve : The NJ TV station is offering back to back episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. What could say Christmas better than that ? ) I can't help but think of the...

Tuesday, 5 November, 2002, 16:28 GMT Bones raise leprosy doubts The bones were found in East Lothian Leprosy may have arrived in Britain 1,500 years earlier than first thought, according to evidence taken from an ancient grave in Scotland. The evidence was taken from bones which were found near Dunbar in East Lothian and which belonged to a child who lived 3,500 years ago. Julie Roberts, a biological anthropologist with Glasgow University's archaeological research division made the diagnosis. This find may be one of the earliest cases of leprosy in the world so far identified. Rod McCullagh, Historic Scotland She...