Free Republic

What happened to cause leaks in Russia’s Nord Stream 1 and 2, designed to send gas to Germany? The speculation runs from rational to delusional. There’s always some mystery in the news that provides a blank page for fantasy thinking. This week’s mystery has initiated a storm of speculation: What happened to cause leaks in Russia’s Nord Stream 1 and 2, designed to send gas to Germany? The speculation runs from rational to delusional. A good example of more rational speculation is by Jed Babbin at the Spectator: He thinks Russia is the most likely suspect: Germany, Sweden, the United...

Climate science was an obscure and unimportant corner of academia until the professors lucked out with global warming. The global warming idea apparently struck a spark with the government and media establishments and caught fire. Money and influence flooded from Washington to academia. In his farewell address in 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against the scientific-technological elite being dependent upon government grants. Eisenhower feared that the elite would use their influence and expertise to warp public policy for their own benefit. That is exactly what is happening. Global warming is only one of many current scientific frauds that enhance...

At least one camera in the hallway outside the cell where authorities say registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein hanged himself earlier this month had footage that is unusable, although other, clearer footage was captured in the area, according to three people briefed on the evidence gathered earlier this month. It was not immediately clear why some video footage outside Epstein's cell is too flawed for investigators to use or what is visible in the other, usable footage. The incident is being investigated by the FBI and the Justice Department's inspector general's office, which are attempting to determine what happened and...

DUBAI (Reuters) - Four commercial vessels were targeted by “sabotage operations” near the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates without causing casualties, the foreign ministry said on Sunday, without giving details of the nature of the sabotage.

<p>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates said Sunday that four commercial ships off its eastern coast “were subjected to sabotage operations,” just hours after Iranian and Lebanese media outlets aired false reports of explosions at a nearby Emirati port.</p>

Damage to South Bay substation triggers power alert About 10,000 gallons of oil began leaking Tuesday morning from a transformer at a San Jose PG&E substation, which authorities said was vandalized, possibly damaged by gunfire. The damage prompted the California Independent Service Operator to issue a "Flex Alert" Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for Silicon Valley because of the heavy damage at the substation on Metcalf Road. The agency asked everyone in Northern California, but especially in Silicon Valley, to conserve energy as crews are working to fix the substation's damaged equipment. Power is being rerouted as the work is being...

Fire strikes Ukraine ammunition dump An ammunition dump was on fire near a town in the east Ukrainian region of Kharkiv today and some military personnel were evacuated from the area, the Emergencies Ministry and Defence Ministry said. "A fire broke out in the military depot near the town of Lozovaya, we are taking steps to localise the blaze, the size of which we are checking," said a Defence Ministry spokesman. The Defence Ministry said no one had been killed and military families had been evacuated from the area. An Emergencies Ministry spokeswoman said the situation was "very serious" and...

Woman falls from consulate in Olympics protest Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, August 7, 2008 (08-06) 13:03 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- A rappelling protester fell two stories from the roof of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco Wednesday, two days before the Olympic Games begin in Beijing and amid worldwide protest against China's human rights record in Tibet. San Francisco police and the State Department are conducting a joint investigation into the incident, including claims that the protester's ropes may have been intentionally cut. The protester was identified as Nyendak Wangden, 22, of Suisun City and a member of...

I hope this isn't a dimwitted post, but I am having a computer issue. I was just discussing it with my mother who brought up the issue of terrorism and spam. Her IT guy swears it is going on. Curious what other people think. Let me explain my problem. I changed isp's at the beginning of the year. When I left my old isp,they offered me a one time charge of $20 to keep my email address. It would only be able to receive emails, not send. I thought this was handy until I got all my contacts updated to...

TEL AVIV - All departing flights at Ben Gurion International Airport have been grounded after routine checks revealed the fuel supplied to airlines failed to meet international standards. Following the disturbing findings, fuel companies decided to refrain from supplying fuel to planes at the airport, prompting the grounding of all flights scheduled to leave Israel Monday night until further notice.

I Just tuned in KGO, AM 810, to listen to Bill Wattenburg and he started the show by saying he has learned that top Democrats in Sacramento are sabotaging Governor Elect Schwarzenegger to make it impossible for him to balance his budget and to repeal the car tax increase and make a fool out of him. They are pushing NEW contracts through the Governor's Department of General Services at record speed. It is their intent to spend the state government into oblivion in spite of Governor Davis' statement of offering a smooth transition. If you live on the west coast,...

FReeper Activism Alert - AntiWar rallies to take on new meaning - can you say SABOTAGE? The A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition and other organizations are calling for an Emergency National Anti-War Convergence to TAKE IT TO THE WHITE HOUSE on Saturday, March 15 (gather 12 noon at Washington Monument - Constitution Ave between 15th and 17th Sts NW). There will be parallel actions in San Francisco (gather at 11 am at Civic Center Plaza) and Los Angeles (gather at noon at Olympic & Broadway, March to Downtown Federal Building).

ARLINGTON, Va. — Protecting Iraq’s oil wells would be a major priority for U.S. troops if the United States goes to war against Saddam Hussein, a senior defense official said Friday. Saddam “has the capability and, in fact, the interest to cause damage” to some or all of Iraq’s wells, the official, who declined to be named, told Pentagon reporters. “We see that as a real potential crisis.” Planners in U.S. Central Command “have crafted plans to allow us to secure and protect fields as soon as possible” in the event of a war, the official said. Iraq has about...