Free Republic

By ANNA JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer Sun Aug 3, 4:15 PM ET CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida confirmed Sunday the death of a top commander accused of training the suicide bombers who killed 17 American sailors on the USS Cole eight years ago. Abu Khabab al-Masri, who had a $5 million bounty on his head from the United States, is believed to have been killed in an airstrike apparently launched by the U.S. in Pakistan last week.

The decision of the Left parties to publicly demonstrate and try to disrupt the India-USA air exercises being held in West Bengal raises many doubts, not only about the understanding of national security issues by major national parties currently supporting the government, but also their sense of responsibility. One wonders how much understanding those demonstrating against the joint exercises have of the issues involved. Let us look at some facts first. The air force base at Kalaikunda was originally built by the Americans (including the two satellite airfields at Kharagpur and Dudhkudi), as part of a vast network of bases...