Free Republic

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2006 – The primary threats to Afghan stability include remnant Taliban members, followed by al Qaeda-affiliated and other terror groups, and criminals engaged in the opium trade, a senior U.S. military commander told Pentagon reporters here today. "The level of violence ebbs and flows on many factors," Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 76, said from Afghanistan during a satellite new conference. The amount of terrorist activity in Afghanistan appears to change with the weather or it may reflect the insurgents' mood at a given time, Freakley, also the commander of...

Support for Category 5 Storm Protection in New Orleans Ebbs in D.C. BY BILL WALSH And BRUCE ALPERT Newhouse News Service Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco speaks at a Rebuilding and Recovery Conference in New Orleans, La., Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005. Blanco talked about the effects of Hurricane Katrina and how the state would have to rebuild. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) WASHINGTON -- In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the tattered Gulf Coast received an outpouring of sympathy -- and money -- from Washington. Congress appropriated $62 billion for relief and recovery, and President Bush vowed to rebuild New Orleans "higher...

Support for Bush ebbs away because of growing violence By Andrew Buncombe in Washington 30 October 2003 The growing violence in Iraq and America's apparent inability to deal with it are eroding public support in the United States for the occupation. A poll released yesterday suggests support for war has plunged since spring, when Saddam Hussein and his regime were ousted. The Gallup poll published by USA Today revealed that 52 per cent of Americans think the war was "worth it", compared with 71 per cent back in April. With the election campaign gathering pace, such polls are a worry...