Free Republic

In an unusual display of police might, Mayor John F. Street and Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson yesterday announced plans to deploy 80 additional police officers in the 12th Police District in Southwest Philadelphia. For emphasis, the officials, after inviting media coverage, conducted a roll call of 80 uniformed police officers in the parking lot of Woodland Village Plaza at 60th Street and Woodland Avenue about 4 p.m. The roll call, in which officers drilled in formation and displayed their handguns, was held "so the people of this community can see that we are serious about the problem of crime and...

AUSTRALIA has reaffirmed its commitment to the US-led war in Iraq, with Defence Minister Brendan Nelson saying a decision to cut and run would impact generations to come. Dr Nelson is in the US for high level talks with White House officials including Vice President Dick Cheney and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. "If we do not participate in fighting terrorism in places like Iraq, the next generation of Australians will pay a very high price, and it won't just be money," Dr Nelson said on ABC radio. He refused to outline an exit strategy for Australian troops in Iraq despite...