Free Republic

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The shrinking U.S. combat role in Afghanistan has given insurgents an opening to devise and carry out deadlier attacks using bigger improvised bombs against U.S. and coalition military vehicles and bases, American officials say.</p> <p>With fewer U.S. forces patrolling road networks beyond their bases — and with the grounding of eye-in-the-sky surveillance balloons known as aerostats — Taliban fighters are adapting their tactics, according to officials at a Pentagon agency that tracks attacks that use improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.</p>

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit commemorative events in Ukraine dedicated to the celebration of the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia. The visit will take place on July 27-28. The head of the Department for Relations with the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox community Kirill Frolov shared his comments on Putin's upcoming trip with Pravda.Ru. "Vladimir Putin's route coincides with the route of his divine patron, Equal to the Apostles Saint Prince Vladimir. The president will first visit key celebrations. July 27 will be the day for the historic prayer, to be attended by the leaders...

In a close vote yesterday in the House, 205-2017, a bill to stop NSA spying on Americans and roll back the Patriot Act was defeated. Part of the reason for the defeat was the House Democratic Leadership who voted for continued spying on American citizens, even though many made public statements condemning the Patriot Act. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, and Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz all voted for violating the 4th amendment. Nancy Pelosi’s vote may be the most dishonest of all given her previous statements on the Patriot Act. House Democratic Leader Nancy...

(WASHINGTON) -- Even the U.S. government has to deal with those pesky, Internet-based scams out of Africa. New court documents show that several years ago, the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies fell victim to an intricate fraud scheme, whereby individuals in Kenya were able to divert payments from those agencies to their own bank accounts. In 2008, a group of unidentified individuals in Kenya somehow accessed the U.S. government’s Central Contractor Registry, a password-protected database that maintains bank account information of government contractors and research institutions doing work for the government, according...

The search continues for three men wanted for questioning in the murder of Kelly Hunnewell, a bakery employee and mother of four small children. Police have received tips, but leads have reached a dead end. They're certain someone saw these three men caught on surveillance video. All were wearing hoodies and jeans in 70 degree weather around 3:30 a.m. Monday near Beltline Boulevard and Tommy Circle. It's obvious Hunnewell was more than a baker for Carolina Cafe. "She was family, you know," said Lauren Schuleter, Carolina Cafe's owner. "When you see somebody every day, it's very hard for them to...

A popular New York City barbecue restaurant that came under fire for renting space to a Christian church, has evicted the congregation because of a sermon about same-sex attraction, the pastor told Fox News. Freddy Wyatt, the pastor of The Gallery Church, said they had been renting space in a restaurant to hold their worship services for several months. That agreement was cancelled after local residents barraged the restaurant with complaints. “There was backlash from the neighborhood toward the restaurant for hosting a Christian church in their space,” he told Fox News. Wyatt declined to name the restaurant because they...

The U.S. Justice and Education departments said Wednesday that a transgender California student who is anatomically female but lives life as a male must be able to use school bathrooms, locker rooms and other facilities designed for boys. The first-of-its-kind decision from the agencies tasks the Arcadia school district outside Los Angeles to change district policies and practices to accommodate the rising ninth-grade student. Teachers and staff must be trained in how to prevent gender discrimination, and federal agencies will be keeping tabs on the district through at least 2016.

Listen to the Quinn & Rose Morning Show from 6:00 to 9:00 Eastern on: www.wpgb.com (104.7 Pittsburgh, Pa) http://wysl1040.com/ (Rochester, NY) http://www.talkradio560.com/ (Frostburg, MD) http://www.wncoam.com/main.html (Ashland, OH) http://wicofm.com/ (Salisbury/Ocean City, MD) http://www.wobx.net/ WOBX - Outer banks NC WVTT 96.7 - Olean, NY And now on 244 XM (until August 31, 2013) http://tunein.com/radio/The-War-Room-p34761/

When Michelle Hammack,a teacher at the Little Temples Childcare facility in Arlington, Fla., smelled smoke and the children were napping, she rushed out of her classroom to investigate. Seeing that chicken nuggets were burning in an oven, she was able to put out the fire before even the fire trucks arrived on the scene, according to a report by WTEV-TV in Jacksonville. Her boss, however, wasn't impressed. On that same day, the owner of the childcare facility Olga Rozhaov fired Hammack. Rozhakov defended her decision to the media. "I fired her only because she left her room," she told the...

With all the acrimony about race flooding the news & internet, this should provide a much needed change in perspective. http://www.wimp.com/designscomponents/

THE WHITE HOUSE Hello everybody -- The basic bargain of this country says that if you work hard, you can get ahead -- you can build a secure life for your family, and know that your kids will do even better someday. (1) But for more than a decade, that bargain has frayed, and a devastating recession made it worse. Over the past four and a half years, America has fought its way back, laying a new foundation for more durable economic growth. (2) But many of the challenges that faced the middle class before the recession remain. And Washington...

Auburn, Alabama is home to sprawling plains, Auburn University, and a troubling police force. After the arrival of a new police chief in 2010, the department entered an era of ticket quotas and worse. “When I first heard about the quotas I was appalled,” says former Auburn police officer Justin Hanners, who claims he and other cops were given directives to hassle, ticket, or arrest specific numbers of residents per shift. “I got into law enforcement to serve and protect, not be a bully.” Hanners blew the whistle on the department’s tactics and was eventually fired for refusing to comply...

Detroit Barack City

ROQUE BLUFFS, Maine (AP) — A pregnant Maine woman and her friend visiting from Pennsylvania got lost hiking and were rescued but died later that evening, authorities said, when they accidentally drove their car into the ocean in the nighttime fog.

President Barack Obama has flipped-flopped once more, this time on states’ “Stand Your Ground” laws despite voicing his support for them as a state senator in Illinois. Obama spoke out against “Stand Your Ground” while giving an impromptu speech on George Zimmerman’s not guilty verdict before the White House press briefing Friday. “Along the same lines, I think it would be useful for us to examine some state and local laws to see if it — if they are designed in such a way that they may encourage the kinds of altercations and confrontations and tragedies that we saw in...

OM PETTY, JEFF LYNNE, DHANI HARRISON, STEVE FERRONE, and PRINCE Performing "WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS" at the Induction of GEORGE HARRISON into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Bill O really went after the so-called black leaders, including Obama, for ignoring the real issues that plague the black community like the breakdown of the family and the peddling of ‘poison.

Just saw this picture on Drudge, and looked-up a better resolution. Sometimes we forget what our national symbol is. Not a donkey nor an elephant. If we ever get to establish new political party representing our values, it's symbol should be this:

"With 100% of precincts reporting, the Hanford-area grower holds a nearly 6,000 vote lead over Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez in the contentious 16th State Senate race. According to the California Secretary of State's office, Vidak has 54% of the vote with a total of 39,085 votes. Perez has 46% of the vote with a total of 33,252 votes. As with May's special election for the seat -- which was vacated by Michael Rubio -- Vidak enjoyed strong support. from Kings and Tulare counties................"

In an almost palpable irony, Russian and U.S. officials simultaneously announced their intent to move forward with controversial arms transfers to opposing sides in the Syrian civil war Monday.