Free Republic

Nations, like men, have destinies. They choose to fulfill them or fail. Free Will, not fate, makes choices at every crossroads in life for men and nations alike. President George W. Bush stated the vision for the United States as “our generational commitment to the advance of freedom”. That vision may be part of a greater destiny for our Nation. America has a Munificent Destiny, if we, The People, choose it. America’s Munificent Destiny serves us for a century, perhaps longer. America’s Munificent Destiny is to use our phenomenal aggregation of wealth, power, technology and culture with pragmatic generosity. The...

The success of the Jan. 30 elections in Iraq has created an exciting moment of opportunity. It matters greatly that Iraq's transition is a success. I am determined to make certain that the United Nations will play its full part in helping the Iraqi people achieve that end. But it also matters that the international community, which has been angrily divided over Iraq, now recognizes that we all share a common agenda: to move Iraq from the starting point -- its successfully completed elections -- to a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future. Even the scars left by past differences can...

February 9, 2005 Release Number: 05-02-09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IRAQI PILOTS RECEIVE C-130 TRAININGBAGHDAD, Iraq -- A five-man crew from Squadron 23 of the Iraqi Air Force trained for the first time on flying and operating an American C-130 cargo plane outside of Iraq's air space. A crew of U.S. Air Force pilots used a five-hour round-trip flight to Amman, Jordan as a training exercise for the Iraqi pilots and crew members. Five other crews from Squadron 23, of Ali Base in Talil, Iraq, were passengers on the flight, heading to training in Jordan. One crew will continue traveling to...

Although the heroic vote for freedom here in Iraq was humbling, it did not surprise us. Since the transition to Iraqi sovereignty seven months ago, we have seen daily manifestations of Iraqi courage and determination. Once again, as in South Africa, El Salvador and Ukraine, democracy proved stronger than fear. Despite attacks by terrorists and insurgents - indeed, partly because of them - Iraqis were determined to put their mark on history. Even so, it is impossible to overstate the bravery displayed when people walked out of their front doors armed only with their convictions. There are scores of examples...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia reportedly has spent billions of dollars to bust terror cells and buy sophisticated equipment to track down militants, but extremist ideologies promoting rejection of anything but the purest Islamic lifestyle are proving harder to combat. A four-day conference opening Saturday will focus on ways to curb violence, as well as how to change ways of thinking in societies bound by religion and tradition. Experts from the United States, Britain and more than 50 other countries will share terror-busting techniques and lessons learned from cracking down on militants. Homeland Security adviser Frances Fragos Townsend will...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2005 – In less than a year, Iraqi military ground forces have grown from one operational battalion to 21 – and counting. Iraq's navy now sports five 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment. The country's air force has three operational squadrons equipped with nine reconnaissance aircraft and three U.S. C-130 transport aircraft. And Iraq's special operations forces include a counterterrorist force and a commando battalion. These count among a multitude of accomplishments across the spectrum of the Iraqi interim government, reported in a series of just-released fact sheets by Multinational Force Iraq...

Fear of Change January 20, 2005; The anti-government campaign to disrupt the elections is failing. Yesterday, six car bombing attempts failed, with none of the bombers able to reach their intended targets. One bomber was captured, the other five detonated where they were when they realized they could not get through the security. Some two dozen Iraqis were killed as a result. This sort of thing only makes the Sunni Arab terrorists more unpopular, and more likely to be turned in by someone the Sunni Arab neighborhoods where the terrorists live, and prepare their car bombs and other explosive devices....

January 13, 2005 Release Number: 05-01-57 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IRAQI POLICE GRADUATE MORE THAN 1,600 FROM TRAININGBAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Iraqi Police Service graduated more than 1,600 officers from basic police training and four specialized policing courses this week as the Iraqi government continues the police force training effort in the country. The Jordan International Police Training Center in Amman, Jordan, graduated 1,440 new officers, the Adnan Training Facility, Baghdad, 80 specialized course students, and 99 graduated from the Al Kut Regional Training Academy. IPS basic training runs recruits through instruction in the fundamental basics of policing skills and the...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2005 – Progress made by the Afghan National Army over the past year has "enabled Afghan institutions to build enduring local, regional and national security, extended the reach of the national government and assisted in Afghanistan's transition to a democratic nation," a U.S. Army spokesman said today at a Kabul news conference. The Afghan army "is well trained, brave and relentless in its execution of missions," U.S. Army Maj. Mark McCann pointed out. Afghanistan's army, McCann pointed out, helped to set the stage for successful nationwide voting conducted in October that elected Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan's president....

BAGHDAD [MENL] -- The U.S.-led coalition believes it has been whittling the command structure of the most lethal Islamic insurgency group in Iraq. U.S. officials said the military has captured several key leaders of the Tawhid and Jihad group led by Abu Mussib Al Zarqawi. They said the detainees were identified as leading aides of Al Zarqawi, whom the United States regards as the most lethal insurgent in Iraq.

Ray is completing his tour in Iraq. He offers this summary of what's been accomplished there: Over 400,000 kids have up-to-date immunizations. School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war. Over 1,500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons stored there so education can occur. The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off-loaded from ships faster. The country had its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August. Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq. The country now receives 2 times the electrical...

December 24, 2004 Release Number: 04-12-53 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MOI CONFIDENT IN ELECTION SECURITY PLANRELEASED ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIORThe Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has developed a comprehensive security plan for the upcoming elections which will ensure a secure environment for Iraqis who are casting their votes. Iraqi Security Forces will not only handle the security of the polling centers but will also ensure residents are able to vote without the fear of intimidation. Under no circumstances will militia members be required or allowed to participate in the security of election polling centers. The Ministry of Interior...

December 27, 2004 Release Number: 04-12-55 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FALLUJAH RESETTLEMENT UPDATEFALLUJAH, Iraq -- More than 480 residents returned to their homes in the Al Andalus district of the city under the supervision of Iraqi and U.S. forces on Dec. 24, which brought to 1,404 the total number of residents who have returned to the city in the past two days. Additionally, 467 vehicles, 18 contractors and workers entered the city Dec. 24 bringing the total number of vehicles to 632 and the total number of contractors and workers to 214 entering the city over the past two days. Lastly,...

An unmanned Russian supply ship docked with the International Space Station on Saturday, delivering food, water and Christmas presents to astronauts running low on supplies. Progress M-51 linked up with the station at 6:58 p.m. (2358 GMT), bringing 2.5 tonnes of supplies for American astronaut Leroy Chiao and Russian Salizhan Sharipov, including letters, videos and photographs from their families. The supply ship completed "a flawless two-day Christmas pilgrimage to the International Space Station," said a commentator on NASA TV, which relayed live Russian images of the rendezvous. "Docking occurred 225 statute miles above Central Asia -- a flawless approach and...

December 19, 2004 Release Number: 04-12-34 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IRAQI NATIONAL GUARDSMEN GRADUATE FROM BASIC TRAININGFORWARD OPERATING BASE DANGER, TIKRIT, Iraq -- The sixth Iraqi National Guard basic training class graduated Dec. 18 from the Iraqi National Guard Training Academy located here. The class of 329 graduates was the first to participate in the newly modified four-week course. The ING soldiers were the first to use the new obstacle course as well as spend extra time on rifle marksmanship and first aid. During the basic training course, students are instructed on wear of the uniform, military customs, courtesies, and drill...

KANDAHAR PROVINCE AND KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Abdul Rahman Akhund has been battling US and Afghan government troops for three long, hard years. He misses raising his kids among the quiet pomegranate orchards he used to tend at home. With another frigid winter setting in, and a new US offensive being launched this week, this weary Taliban fighter says he's ready to come in from the cold. "If the government will let us peacefully return to our villages and our children, we will come," he says. "We are tired living on the run in these snowy mountains." His fellow tribesman, Sarwar...

THE hardest fighting in places like Fallujah and An Najaf has been concluded — for now. The casualties for American forces would, even for a campaign in Korea or Vietnam, be termed "light" — unless, of course the killed and wounded are your friends and family, in which case there is no such thing as a "light" casualty rate. This may be part of the problem for the United States. It's tough in the middle of a war to maintain a sense of perspective, a sense of the "big picture." We have a number of reporters who spend a great...

The lake's progress In ancient times Lake Mareotis was a pleasure resort and watering spot surrounded by market gardens. Jenny Jobbins considers the fertile past of an area that is now desert Western Alexandria was once heavily populated in the Greek and Roman eras. Leucaspis, a residential seaport, is among the few surviving remains. Note Lake Mareotis in the background -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When the Greek colonisers and Roman cohorts -- and, later, the Persians and Arabs -- marched to and from Cyrenaica along Egypt's northern coast they all had one aim in mind -- to hold and control North Africa. The...

The news that I.B.M. is selling its personal computer division is not very surprising. The bloom is long gone off the PC market, profits have plummeted, and the machine has become utterly generic. The brand on the box matters less than it ever has. And that is the direct result of decisions made by I.B.M. before it introduced its first PC in 1981. In those days, the personal computer was synonymous with Apple, which kept a close hold on its machines. I.B.M. chose to create a PC with parts developed by other manufacturers. It was a great way to get...

Remember back when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan? The harrowing World War II movie Twelve O'Clock High begins with a postwar bald and bespectacled Dean Jagger (Colonel Harvey Stovall) riding his bicycle out to an old airfield in Archbury, England, that years earlier had been home to the 918th B-17 Bombing Group of the 8th Air force. As the nondescript Jagger walks along the weed-infested airbase and rusting bombers, the movie unfolds as one long dreamlike flashback of the horrors of what daylight bombing over Germany in 1942 entailed and the courageous men who used to take off from the now...