Free Republic

Secret US air force team to perfect plan for Iran strikeSarah Baxter, Washington September 23, 2007 THE United States Air Force has set up a highly confidential strategic planning group tasked with “fighting the next war” as tensions rise with Iran. Project Checkmate, a successor to the group that planned the 1991 Gulf War’s air campaign, was quietly reestablished at the Pentagon in June. It reports directly to General Michael Moseley, the US Air Force chief, and consists of 20-30 top air force officers and defence and cyberspace experts with ready access to the White House, the CIA and other...

John Jefferson started laughing even before the question about those who play a certain position, his position, was finished. He knew where it was going. "You hate to say it's what the public wants, but unfortunately it seems like the more distractions you create, the more positive it is," said Jefferson, the Redskins' director of player development and a wide receiver of some distinction with the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The exceedingly intense rivalry between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Charles Schumer (N.Y.) embroiled just about everybody in the Senate Democratic leadership Tuesday, including Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and his spokeswoman, ROLL CALL reports. Apparently, Clinton and her staff felt snubbed when party leaders organized a news conference in which they vowed to block efforts to give Members of Congress a pay raise until Congress approves an increase in the minimum wage. Clinton has introduced legislation along those lines, but she was not involved in planning the leadership’s news conference to trumpet the issue. ROLL CALL's Mary Ann...

Who here is a Yankee fan? Yankees have gotten off to somewhat of a rocky start but the starting pitching has been generally fantastic and once the offense stops coming in spurs, they will do some solid damage. This is the year that they finally break through and win the World Series.

Detroit -- Joe Montana, the only three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, was one of only three Super Bowl MVPs who turned down the NFL's invitation to take part in pregame ceremonies for Super Bowl XL. Montana also declined the league's invitation for a news conference with all the MVPs after Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's Friday news conference. "We were disappointed we weren't able to work it out with him," said Greg Aiello, the NFL's vice president of public relations. The former MVPs were guaranteed $1,000 for incidental expenses while in Detroit. The NFL also provided each former Super Bowl MVP...

When the NFL unveiled its MVPs from the previous 39 Super Bowls, only three living members skipped the ceremony. Former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana and former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw decided to stay home, while former Dolphins MVP Jake Scott was traveling in Australia. Montana, the league's only three-time Super Bowl MVP, turned down the invitation over money, Newsday and the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Bradshaw, who told league officials that he wanted to be with his family, also took issue with the fees, the Chronicle reported. Bradshaw, through a representative, denied the Chronicle's report that there was a dispute...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2005 — After a four-day overseas trip that took him to four countries in the Middle East, Vice President Dick Cheney really wanted to get his iPod charged for that long return flight to Washington. Since it is his plane, the vice president's iPod took priority and was plugged into one of the only working power outlets on Air Force Two, frustrating reporters who were trying to file stories.

NI celebrates win over England Football fans across Northern Ireland are basking in the glory of the national team's shock World Cup victory over England in Belfast. By:Press Association Lawrie Sanchez`s men had been given little hope against a star-studded England side which included David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen. But Leeds United striker David Healy sent the capacity-crowd Windsor Park crowd wild with a stunning strike in the 74th minute. The 1-0 Group Six win was Northern Ireland`s first over England for 33 years and one of the greatest sporting successes in the province`s history. Politicians hailed the...

Sen. Lugar Cautions Bush on Iraq By WILLIAM C. MANN .c The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - A leading Republican lawmaker urged President Bush on Sunday to underpin any military action against Iraq with resolutions from the United Nations, demanding that weapons inspectors be allowed to return, and from Congress, giving its approval for action. Sen. Richard Lugar, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the U.N. Security Council's action would be little more than symbolic, because Iraq would reject the demand and it would be left to the Americans to enforce it. Just before Lugar spoke...