Free Republic

Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front, an opposition group, is claiming this evening to be on the verge of victories over the Taliban in several districts in the country’s Northeastern provinces. The NRF, which describes itself as “the last force fighting for the restoration of democracy in Afghanistan,” expressed hopes that these victories were the first steps in an effort to liberate the country from Taliban rule. It noted, though, that it was working without foreign aid that could bolster its efforts. Security analysts, meanwhile, expressed skepticism over whether the NRF could topple the new regime in Kabul, though noting the Taliban...

In the latest revealing turn of events, upstart Jackson Lahmeyer, the MAGA-friendly challenger to Oklahoma GOP Senator James Lankford, was endorsed this week by the state’s party chairman, John Bennett. Lankford, a moderate who offered only the most tepid support for Trump, was stunned, telling Tulsa World it is “highly unusual for a state party chair in any state in America to come out and say, ‘I’m not going to at least be neutral.’” While this may seem a minor development, it speaks volumes about the unambiguous preferences of the party base. And major media, far from minimizing this defining...

An Oklahoma politician is under fire for cautioning people to be “wary” of Muslim Americans — but he’s not backing down. State Rep. John Bennett (R-Sallisaw) refused to apologize for a private Facebook post that called on Christians to “be especially wary” of people who call themselves Muslim-Americans because the Koran “clearly states that non-Muslims should be killed.”

Mysterious Group Buys Building Next to Ground Zero For Mosque Wednesday, December 16, 2009 Jim Hoft A mysterous Muslim group with unknown sponsors has purchased a building steps away from Ground Zero. Hudson New York reported: An identified group with unknown sponsors has purchased building steps away from where the WorldTrade Center once stood — to turn it into potentially one of the largest New York City mosques. At the moment the building, the old Burlington Coat Factory, already serves as a mini-mosque: an iron grill lifts every Friday afternoon for a little known Imam leading prayers a few yards...

<p>Driving will be on the minds of state lawmakers as they convene today in Trenton, where they are scheduled to consider bills that would toughen the definition of drunken driving, ban motorists from using cell phones and mandate cleaner-running cars.</p>