Free Republic

WASHINGTON - A Cuban exile long regarded as a violent opponent of Cuban President Fidel Castro has applied for asylum in the United States, a government official said Monday. Luis Posada Carriles, a suspect in the bombing of a Cuban passenger plane in 1976, reportedly slipped into South Florida several weeks ago but the Bush administration says it cannot confirm his whereabouts. Posada, a former senior officer of the Venezuelan intelligence service, denies involvement in the bombing, which killed 73 people, including 24 members of Cuba's national fencing team. To be eligible for political asylum, Posada must prove that he...

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) - There's a lot of improvising going on at the Pan American Games. Just ask the United States fencing team. The Americans won gold in women's sabre and men's foil Saturday night, but when officials were ready to present the medals they realized there was a hitch: The venue couldn't play the U.S. national anthem. No problem. U.S. fencing captain Jeff Bukantz jumped into action. He called the American athletes, support staff, parents and fans from the stands to the floor to sing while the flags were raised for Sada Jacobson (women's sabre) and Dan...