Free Republic

Economic consequences of the invasion After losing a relatively modest 4% of GDP to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the Ukrainian economy grew at a healthy 3.2% in 2021 and was expected to grow at the same pace in 2022. The sudden Russian invasion upset this forecast. The initial stage of the invasion hit the capital Kiev and ten regions, which jointly account for 55% of pre-war GDP. Ukraine’s GDP shrank by 15.1% in the first quarter of 2022 – the year-on-year decline recorded in March 2022 was a massive 45%. In the second quarter, GDP fell by a staggering...

Four students (out of the 35 currently in Israel) live at the Jerusalem Makuya Center, along with its new director Asher Seito Kimura, his wife Tzofiya and their children. Each Makuya member has a Hebrew name, taken, or given to him or her upon arrival in Israel. They chat easily about their faith, which is based heavily on the Old Testament and doesn't contain even a hint of proselytism. But none of the Makuya will discuss politics. They will talk with feeling, however, about their position on Israel. Every Makuya, they say proudly, identifies with -- and wholeheartedly supports --...

Americans Jumping to Their Deaths on 9/11 Although leftist treachery led to an obscene withdrawal from Vietnam at a time when our troops in the field had won every battle, there were no lasting effects from our defeat due to the efforts of Ronald Reagan. With the installation of the Peacemakers and the development of Star Wars, the “wall” came tumbling down. Through the ages Americans have gotten complaisant about the protection from harm our two great oceans and our brave and brilliant military have afforded us. Unfortunately, I don’t think the same good fortune is in our future if...