Free Republic

The rain that fell on California in recent weeks could have supplied the state’s water needs for 10 years — if it had been captured and stored. Unfortunately, most of the water is being left to drain to the Pacific Ocean. California received some 32 trillion gallons of water in three weeks of “atmospheric river” storms across the state, according to Fox News. In 2014, the state used 42 million acre feet, or about 1.4 trillion gallons, annually, according to the Desert Sun, citing the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (A more recent figure from USGS suggests the state withdraws up...

A Saudi Arabian official has reportedly disclosed that the Sunni kingdom sent Syrian rebels a new batch of one of the most effective weapons for battling against the Assad regime this week. BBC correspondent Frank Gardner tweeted that a Saudi official confirmed the delivery of 500 TOW antitank missiles to the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The FSA is currently being squeezed from all directions by the Syrian military, Russian airstrikes, and competition from jihadist fighters, including ISIS. The delivery of the TOW missiles — which have also been provided by the CIA — will increase the capabilities of the FSA...

As the entire “traditionalist” (aka Catholic) community surely knows by now, in a Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization at the beginning of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis stated: A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X. This Jubilee Year of Mercy excludes no one. From various quarters, several Brother Bishops have told me of their good faith and sacramental practice, combined however with an uneasy situation from...

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 12, 2007) -- Minutes away from the armed gates that lead into the villages and cities of Iraq’s Al Anbar Province, Marines work long hours, supplying units with everyday essentials and gear needed for combat. Without their hard work and tireless dedication, war efforts would slow, transition would start to backslide and progress would halt. Without them, units would struggle to get by, and though this job does not come with many purple hearts or combat action ribbons, those who work here know they are the bloodline to the mission in Iraq. The Marines of Multi...

Alongside the discussion of the military and political failure of Lebanon War II, another important matter came up: the enlistment of individuals from Israel and from the Diaspora to raise contributions from world Jewry. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) published a report that the French-Jewish media were helping to feed Israeli soldiers. Israel, the Middle Eastern power that for some 60 years now has been raising tens and hundreds of billions of dollars from world Jewry and the government of the United States, now needs prepared meals, soft drinks, ice cream and watermelons that are donated in the Diaspora. The...

FOB KALSU, Iraq (Army News Service, April 21, 2006) – As Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, fight terrorists and help the Iraqi army protect its country, Soldiers from Company A, 204th Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, silently creep through the streets of Iraq re-supplying Soldiers in the fight. New supply shipments arrive daily at Forward Operating Base Duke, where they are processed and distributed by the Soldiers of Co. A, 204th Spt. Bn. “Everything from food, water and office supplies to oil, wood and serviceable parts are sent on logistical packages to each base in the 2nd...