Free Republic

The United States lacks the intelligence needed to pursue the fight against pirates on Somali soil, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said . His comments came days after the U.S. delegation at the United Nations circulated a draft resolution that would give countries the right to pursue pirates on land as well as at sea. Analysts say that pursuing pirates on land is crucial to any military response to attacks that have targeted dozens of ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean in recent months. Referring to media reports that "two to three clans or extended families" were...

KABUL, Afghanistan — A deadly traffic accident involving U.S. troops sparked a riot in the Afghan capital on Monday, with U.S. and Afghan security forces firing on protesters, police and witnesses said. At least five people were killed and 60 injured. Hundreds of protesters marched on the palace of U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai in the city center after the incident, shouting "Death to Karzai! Death to America!" Gunfire was also heard near the U.S. Embassy. The staff was moved to a secure location within the heavily fortified compound, said Chris Harris, an embassy spokesman

Khaled Al-Dakhil, Saudi academic and columnist for the UAE daily Al-Itihad, wrote in his column that extremist discourse in Saudi Arabia enjoys significant freedom under the protection of the government, even though it often conflicts with state policy and interests. He also stated that extremist discourse has taken over school curricula, so that pupils are prevented from studying world history out of the fear that their faith might be compromised. [1] The following are excerpts: Extremist Discourse Enjoys More Freedom Than the State Allows Itself "Terrorism initially emerged in the Arab world out of the religious discourse, due to the...