Free Republic

US forces are facing a wave of attacks across the Middle East as Iranian forces and their proxies test defences in response to Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip. On Tuesday, officials said that at least two dozen US troops had been hurt in a wave of attacks on their bases in Iraq and Syria over the past week. Tortoise understands that the attacks are more extensive than has been reported.

Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) reintroduced the American Forces Going Home After Noble (AFGHAN) Service Act to end America’s longest war and provide bonuses to those who have deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism. This legislation also empowers America to redirect the savings from ending nation-building in Afghanistan to the country’s needs at home. The United States has been at war in Afghanistan since October 2001, where it has cost $2 trillion. We completed our mission long ago, Osama Bin Laden was killed in 2011, and Al Qaeda is all but eliminated from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, there...

IT HAS taken the Japanese government more than 18 months since the earthquake and tsunami that hit Fukushima to pay tribute to a group of brave men, once known as the “Fukushima 50”, who risked their lives to prevent meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant from spiralling out of control. But when the prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, belatedly offered official thanks to them on October 7th something strange was afoot: six of the eight men he addressed had their backs to the television cameras, refused to be photographed and did not introduce themselves by name, not even to...