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BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military decided Tuesday to conduct an accelerated inquiry to learn why American troops opened fire, killing an Italian intelligence agent and wounding an Italian journalist he helped rescue from insurgents in Iraq (news - web sites). The decision to fast-track the investigation into the attack, which has strained relations with Italy, a key American ally, came as the military also opened an inquiry into the shooting death of a Bulgarian soldier. That death appeared to be another friendly fire incident on the same day.

ROCKLAND - Free speech clashed with free expression on a downtown street corner Saturday as artists opposed to war protested the showing of combat paintings of Marine Sgt. Michael Fay at the Farnsworth Art Museum. Sgt. Fay stood ramrod straight when confronted by the small group of protesters upset with the Farnsworth for exhibiting his paintings of combat forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The afternoon sun reflected off the combat ribbons pinned to his green uniform, and the red chevrons on his sleeves glinted in the finish of his spit-shined shoes as Fay listened to his challengers. Fay told the...

A week ago, Noel Borden was sleeping in a bunker in Baghdad. On Sunday night, he and his fiancée, Sarah Harmon, slept on a pillow-top bed in a luxurious third-floor suite at the Ann Bean Mansion Bed and Breakfast in Stillwater. They lit a fire, tried out the hot tub and ate a gourmet meal — poached pears with a berry compote and vegetable quiche — for breakfast. Borden, a radio operator in the Minnesota National Guard's Delta 216 unit, is home on a two-week leave, and his St. Croix River Valley getaway was free, compliments of the innkeepers. "It's...

I just found this book in a box of old stuff my dad sent me. It's in mint condition, printed in 1952, and startling in its blunt ambition: to teach you how to kill with your hands or a knife. Pictures throughout. Silver letters on a deep blue cover: COLD STEEL This is a keeper. Here's the preface: "Brutality makes apology impossible. But as brutality begets cruelty, so apology begets explanation. And, since America is not a brutal nation, the words between these covers are vulnerable to condemnation. But an honest purpose cannot be damned. As long as other nations...

It used to tick me off when the Muslim detractors in the Middle East, or the socialist detractors in Europe, Hollywood and other cesspools of America called my President a cowboy; but the more I think about it, the more glad I am that he is. When I was a kid, cowboys were my heroes. Well, I mean the ones in the white hats, the black hats were the bad guys. There was Tom Mix, Buck Jones, Johnny Mack Brown, Hopalog Cassiday, Red Ryder, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, then later Marshall Matt Dillon, and others. Personally, I think Gene Autry...

What is memorial day and how was it intended to be celebrated? I believe the answer to those questions was set forth in the Kentucky poet Theodore O’ Hara’s epic poem, “The Bivouac Of The Dead.” He starts the poem by saying; The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat the soldier’s last tattoo; No more on life’s parade shall meet the brave and fallen few. On fame’s eternal camping ground their silent tents are spread, and glory guards with solemn round the Bivouac Of The Dead. Rest on embalmed and sainted dead; Dear as the blood ye gave; no impious...

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997. Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world. A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in...

As military men and women return home from fighting the global war on terrorism, citizens and communities across America are greeting them with public displays of gratitude for their service and sacrifices. Supporting and taking note of local community celebrations and observances, including upcoming Veteran's Day events, or any event or individual act that pays tribute to the military is what Operation Tribute to Freedom is all about. The OTF initiative sprang from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's office in May and is intended to achieve three major goals: thanking servicemen and women, strengthening the bond between American citizens and...

My 23 year old neice, Priscilla, is considering joining the Navy. She's been working at Radio Shack as a sales associate for the past few years, but is a sales person, rather than a techo-geek type. She's not super smart in a bookish sense, so probably is not Air Force material, but seems to have tons of street smarts. She lives in a rented house in Detroit (in a somewhat rough neighborhood). Bought a used car. Got ran into by others driving DUI, car broken into, and finally got it totaled by someone running into it while it was parked...

So when and how did the U.S. military get this good? The elements of swift victory in Gulf War II have been well laid-out: the agility and flexibility of our forces, the pinpoint accuracy of the bombs, the commanders' real-time view of the battlefield, the remarkable coordination among all branches of the armed services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) and special operations. But these elements, and this degree of success, have not been seen in previous wars, not even in the first Gulf War 12 years ago. Three major changes have taken hold within the military since then—a new war-fighting...

In the comming hours the world is going to witness an assualt like never before. Please pray for all the members of the armed forces, our allies and the Iraqi people. Pray for their ability to accomplish their mission, wisdom for their leaders & for their quick return home. God Bless them all. God Bless America. The power of prayer is awesome.

<p>WASHINGTON - After 13 parachutes were discovered to have been sabotaged at Camp Lejeune, N.C., last fall, the Marine Corps suspected an inside job. Thursday, officials said that they had arrested two Marines, that one had confessed and that the other was apprehended as he allegedly prepared to flee.</p> <p>Lance Cpl. Antoine Boykins, 21, of Baltimore, and Lance Cpl. Julian Ramirez, 25, of Los Angeles, both members of the 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group, were detained Tuesday evening, the officials said.</p>

<p>President Bush decided not to give federal workers a paid holiday on the Friday following Thanksgiving because of cost to taxpayers. The U.S. Army, however, took the day off anyway, as it does every Friday before a federal holiday weekend.</p>