Free Republic

ISIS fighters are taking cheap, easy-to-make amphetamine pills that help keep them awake for days, which is fuelling the civil war in Syria. The small tablets of the highly addictive substance Captagon are produced in Syria and is widely available across the Middle East. It is thought that the trade of the drugs brings in millions of dollars in revenue to Syria, providing funding for weapons and ammunition. .......A drug control officer in the central city of Homs said he had observed the effects of Captagon on protesters and fighters held for questioning. He told Reuters news agency: 'We would...

Peruvian president Alan Garcia Thursday proposed a national referendum [press release, in Spanish] on introducing capital punishment for convicted terrorists after a legislative proposal to that effect was defeated 49-26 in the Peruvian Congress [official website] on Wednesday. Garcia described the defeat as one contrary to the will of the Peruvian people, and "[it was his] duty to fulfill what [he has] promised... in [his election] campaign." Political observers believe that Congress is unlikely to support the referendum proposal, which itself requires the approval of Congress. Congressional opposition to the proposal cite the American Convention on Human Rights [text], which...

Look at her! These people are straight up deranged. It really is like a religious cult. Kudos to that security guard and the guy dressed up as Frederick Douglass (who must be turning in his grave).

Two Poles and one Italian were killed by Shining Path guerrillas in 1991Three European missionary priests killed by Shining Path terrorists in Peru in 1991 have been beatified. According to Associated Press, 30,000 people attended the beatification ceremony for Franciscans Fathers Michal Tomaszek and Zbigniew Strzalkowski of Poland and Fr Alessandro Dordi of Italy in a stadium in Chimbote, in northern Peru, on Saturday. Italian Cardinal Angelo Amato presided over the ceremony and there were representatives from all of the dioceses of Peru and groups from Poland and Italy. Father Zbigniew, 32, and Fr Michal, 30, were killed on August...

Imprisoned former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has been pardoned by incumbent leader Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Mr. Kuczynski's office said in a statement that Fukimori, 79, was being released on health grounds. Fujimori-who was in power from 1990 to 2000-was recently taken from prison to hospital because of low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythm. He has been serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses and corruption..... He was admired by some Peruvians for combating Maoist rebels, whereas his critics consider him a corrupt dictator. Fujimori has been in and out of hospital for a variety of health problems in...

PICHARI, Peru - Shining Path guerrillas ambushed a 30-man marine patrol in a section of steep, mountainous jungle, killing seven and wounding 10 in the Peruvian military's worst loss to rebels in at least four years, military sources said Friday. A marine captain, four other marines and two civilian guides were killed in the attack Thursday afternoon in the Ayacucho region when rebels opened fire after they stopped to take a break in a clearing, said an army officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. The attack was another strong sign of a resurgence in Shining Path activity. Last month,...