Free Republic

Analysts have used other evidence to conclude that the transfers were most likely part of an effort to offer payments to Taliban-linked militants to kill American and coalition troops in Afghanistan. American officials intercepted electronic data showing large financial transfers from a bank account controlled by Russia’s military intelligence agency to a Taliban-linked account, evidence that supported their conclusion that Russia covertly offered bounties for killing U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan, according to three officials familiar with the intelligence. Though the United States has accused Russia of providing general support to the Taliban before, analysts concluded from other intelligence...

New York Times foreign correspondent Rukmini Callimachi on Sunday tweeted: Rukmini Callimachi ✔@rcallimachi Free speech aside, why would anyone do something as provocative as hosting a "Muhammad drawing contest"? The tweet came off of the news that police had killed two gunmen at a Garland, Tex., event showcasing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. SNIP In his treatment of the issue, the “Daily Show’s” Jon Stewart couldn’t resist throwing in some qualifiers regarding the First Amendment implications of the episode. AFDI, he noted, had given away $10,000 to the best entry in a “Draw Muhammad” cartoon contest. SNIP “AFDI is a...