Free Republic

Days before the Capitol riot provoked a years-long effort to impeach, prosecute, and politically malign former President Donald Trump, Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney coordinated efforts to deter the very actions she now claims haunt the former president. Cheney has blamed Trump for not ordering the National Guard to defend the Capitol complex, even though multiple sources confirm that he authorized their deployment days prior to the Jan. 6 rally at the White House and riot at the Capitol. Security officials in charge of the Capitol declined to call up troops to protect it, government records show. Yet Cheney herself seems...

Liz Cheney is going to New Hampshire. She's getting her political operation in order. And she's raising money like mad from icons of the Republican Party. The Wyoming congresswoman is clearly exploring her political options and power well beyond her congressional district, even if she's not talking openly about a run for president. "I've never had a conversation with her about 2024," said Eric Edelman, a former ambassador, Pentagon official and adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney. "If there was going to be a Never Trump candidate, I can't think of anyone better." Eight months after she voted to...

Republican Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney “secretly orchestrated” an op-ed in the Washington Post from all living former secretaries of defense slamming former President Trump’s handling of the military in January, according to the New Yorker. Eric Edelman, a friend of Cheney’s, reportedly told the New Yorker that Cheney had personally met with all 10 living former defense secretaries, including Trump’s first defense secretary, Jim Mattis, urging them to participate in the op-ed. The report comes as Cheney is facing an onslaught of criticism from pro-Trump factions in the Republican Party who want to see her removed from the GOP leadership...

Dani Rodrik has just returned from Turkey, shunned while defending his father-in-law, the main defendant in the military coup plot case. The Harvard professor explains his take. IN DECEMBER I traveled to Turkey with my wife and young son, as we do every year during winter break. This time, though, we had more than visiting family and friends in mind. We were on a mission to demonstrate that what many have called the trial of the century in Turkey is in fact a sham built on fabricated evidence. Nearly two hundred Turkish military officers stand accused of having plotted a...

The “Near Earth Asteroid” discovered in 2013, which was called 2013 TX68 before being renamed to “B2Bomber,” will make its close approach to Earth on March 10. Slooh will broadcast the asteroid’s approach from Canary Islands Observatory. The event will be followed by discussions by Slooh Astronomer, Eric Edelman, and scientist Dr. Mark Boslough, an expert on planetary science and global catastrophes. The experts are unable to pin down the asteroid’s orbit, though it is suggested that it may pass as close as 11,000 miles, maybe even colliding with Earth in September 2017. Video on Demand: http://www.ruptly.tv Contact: cd@ruptly.tv Twitter:...

Writing for the online Politico newsmagazine, Ross argues that American allies in the region are growing more apprehensive over what they see as growing Iranian influence in the region. Former US peace envoy Dennis Ross (L), seen here with late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 2000 Former US peace envoy Dennis Ross (L), seen here with late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 2000. (photo credit:REUTERS) Dennis Ross, the veteran Mideast hand and former peace envoy, criticized his former boss, US President Barack Obama, for “not being tough enough” with Iran in light of the stalled nuclear talks and the recent...

Embattled Muslim aide to leave Pentagon job Hesham Islam's 'resume didn't add up,' official says WorldNetDaily February 11, 2008In a stunning turn of events, a high-level Muslim military aide blamed for costing an intelligence contractor his job will step down from his own Pentagon post, WND has learned. Meanwhile, his rival, Maj. Stephen Coughlin, a leading authority on Islamic war doctrine, may stay in the Pentagon, moving from the office of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the office of the secretary of defense. However, sources say a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey is trying to block...

Don't be misled by the outraged tone of Sen. Hillary Clinton's response to a top Pentagon aide who accused her of "reinforcing enemy propaganda" on Iraq. The Democratic presidential front-runner was handed a political opportunity - and is milking it for all it's worth. The fact is, Undersecretary of Defense Eric Edelman was on the mark in his attack. Asked by Clinton about plans for withdrawing troops from Iraq, he wrote in reply: "Premature and public discussion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq reinforces enemy propaganda that the United States will abandon its allies in Iraq, much as...

...From his perch as ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Levin has been running a one-man assault on civilian appointees fighting the war on terror. He currently has a "hold" on no fewer than four nominees selected by President Bush for key national security posts: Eric Edelman for Undersecretary of Defense of Policy, the No. 3 position at the Pentagon; Peter Flory, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy; Alice Fisher, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Justice Department's Criminal Division; and Benjamin Powell, general counsel in the office of new Director of National Intelligence. Keep...

President Bush opted again yesterday for a functioning government. Faced with an endless Senate stall, he used his recess-appointment power to install Peter Flory as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy.... [L]et us suggest that he pick up his pen to fill two even more senior positions at the Pentagon -- Gordon England to succeed Paul Wolfowitz as Deputy Secretary and Eric Edelman to replace Douglas Feith as Undersecretary for Policy, the department's No. 3. Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner called Monday for Mr. Bush to do just that -- which we take as an admission he's...