Free Republic

The view of the US's role in the world has deteriorated both internationally and domestically, a BBC poll suggests. The World Service survey, conducted in 25 nations including the US, found that three in four respondents disapproved of how Washington had dealt with Iraq. The majority of the 26,381 respondents also disapproved of the way five other foreign policy areas had been handled. Poll findings in more detail The number of those who said the US was a positive influence in the world fell in 18 nations polled in previous years. In those countries, 29% of people said the US...

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. military officials say no guard at the Guantanamo Bay prison for terror suspects flushed a detainee's Quran down the toilet, but they disclosed that a Muslim holy book was splashed with urine. In other newly disclosed incidents, a detainee's Quran was deliberately kicked and another's was stepped on. On March 25, a detainee complained to guards that "urine came through an air vent" and splashed on him and his Quran. A guard admitted he was at fault, but a report released Friday evening offering new details about Quran mishandling incidents did not make clear whether the...

<p>A day after the Senate passed a state spending plan, it was still unclear when Democrats could rally enough support to get the six Republican votes they need to push the bill through the Assembly.</p> <p>Republican Assembly Leader Dave Cox, of Fair Oaks, said Monday that he's still looking over the budget that passed the Senate Sunday.</p>