Free Republic

Iran is in no position to fight a long-term war with Israel and even asked the US to intervene to prevent a possible large-scale Israeli retaliation to any Iranian attack, according to Mohsen Sazegara, founder of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in an exclusive interview with The Jerusalem Post. The IRGC was founded shortly after the 1979 revolution in Iran to protect the Islamic Republic’s religious control over the country, and to act as a counterbalance to the regular Iranian Army, many of whose officers were still loyal to the Shah of Iran, and therefore could not be trusted...

As a patriotic American, I hope the Washington Post über-journalist misquoted President Obama in his upcoming book discussing the president's thinking behind the war on terrorism. Reading advance excerpts earlier today, I came across the following quotation attributed to the president: "We can absorb a terrorist attack. We'll do everything we can to prevent it, but even a 9/11, even the biggest attack ever ... we absorbed it and we are stronger." How dare the president opine that "we can absorb a terrorist attack”? This isn't a gravel spill or an overturned apple cart in which no one gets hurt....

I always vote. I could say it's because I am a responsible citizen who believes wholeheartedly in the democratic process, but I'd be lying. It probably has more to do with being naturally contrary. Voting is the one sure way in Utah to prove you're different. Almost nobody around here does it. On Tuesday, voter turnout in Salt Lake County was only 18 percent of registered voters. That's pathetic given the fact that most eligible voters don't even bother to register. Last year, the "Behind State" had the lowest voter turnout in America. Demographically, Utahns made it to the polls...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. auditors urged the Air Force Wednesday to rerun its marathon, $35 billion competition for refueling aircraft, upholding a protest by losing bidder Boeing Co (BA.N). The Government Accountability Office found the Air Force made "a number of significant errors that could have affected the outcome of what was a close competition between" Boeing and Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N). "We therefore sustained Boeing's protest," Michael Golden, head of the a GAO bid protest unit, said in a statement. Northrop was teamed with EADS, parent of rival passenger-jet maker Airbus. EADS (EAD.PA) had no immediate comment. --snip-- The...

As any battlefield commander will tell you, getting troops to the fight can be as difficult as winning it. And for modern-day soldiers, the sites of conflict are so far-flung, and the political considerations of even flying over another country so complicated, that rapid entry has become nearly impossible. If a group of Marine Corps visionaries have their way, however, 30 years from now, Marines could touch down anywhere on the globe in less than two hours, without needing to negotiate passage through foreign airspace. The breathtaking efficiency of such a delivery system could change forever the way the U.S....

HOUSTON, July 20, 2006 – A new program aims to help military students develop leadership skills, patriotism, commitment to selfless service, and intellectual and problem-solving capacity. The "Student 2 Student Initiative," under the auspices of the Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program, is a student-led, school-managed program designed to help students moving from one school to another focus on the positive aspects of their new experiences. The Military Child Education Coalition, a nonprofit group that advocates on issues facing military families, sponsors the program. "The leadership program will develop our leaders of the future, who are our hope," Frances Hesselbein...

International Solidarity Movement, Electronic Intifada, Boycotting Israel Since I started my column here at Canada Free Press it seems the Palestinian propaganda movement, which also likes to call itself the International Solidarity Movement, is upset with me. After all, a movement that likes to tell the world it is a "peace and human rights" movement out for "social justice," but then works to steal foreign aid money and to aid terrorists to murder women and children can get very upset when it is exposed to the light of day. They are so upset with me that no less than five...

Fueling the fight Submitted by: 2nd Force Service Support Group Story Identification #: 2005111115111 Story by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser CAMP GANNON, Iraq--Marines serving with Combat Logistics Battalion-2, 2nd Marine Logistics Groups (Forward), distributing upward of 12, 000 gallons of fuel per day for various units participating in Operation Steel Curtain. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser, captioned by 2nd Lt. Jorge O. Escatell) (released). Photo by: Sgt. Josh H. Hauser CAMP GANNON, Iraq (Nov. 9, 2005) -- A key ingredient to the success of Operation Steel Curtain is ensuring vehicles helping to clear Husaybah of insurgents...