Latest News

U.S. Officials Doubt Syrian Rebels’ Chemical Attack Claim -- Danger RoomOpposition activists in Syria are claiming that the embattled regime of Bashar Assad gassed rebel forces in the battleground city of Homs on Sunday. U.S. officials tell Danger Room that they are skeptical about the rebels’ chemical weapon claims, however.Al Jazeera reported that...

An Open Letter To The Commandant Regarding the “Alcohol Policy” -- Bring the heat, bring the StupidGeneral Amos,You are the senior Marine in our beloved Corps, holding a position entrusted to just 34 other men over the glorious history of our Sea Service. You are not the Chief of...

My Comment: Everyone needs a refuelli...

India, Russia Seal Defense Deals Worth Billions -- Voice of AmericaNEW DELHI — India and Russia have sealed defense deals worth billions of dollars during a visit by the Russian president, in a move which reaffirms the long-standing strategic alliance between the two countries.Calling Russia a key partner in the effort to modernize India's armed forces,...

Jihad Makdissi was formerly the spokesman for the Syrian embassy in London [Al Jazeera]Senior Syrian Official In US And Co-Operating With Intelligence Agencies -- The GuardianGuardian understands that US intelligence officials helped Jihad Makdissi to flee, though details of journey...

Turkey Lifts Veto On Israel’s NATO Activities Despite Tensions: Report -- Al ArabiyaTurkey has reportedly agreed to Israeli participation in NATO activities in order to get Patriot missiles on its border with Syria, the Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday.The Israeli newspaper said...

Coalition force members ride in a light-tactical all-terrain vehicle during a presence patrol in Afghanistan's Farah province, Dec. 16, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete ThibodeauEncouraging Signs Toward Peace In Afghanistan -- David Ignatius, Washington PostIn this season...

Kremlin’s Syria Policy Hurts Russia’s Position in Arab World -- Voice of AmericaIn the days of the Soviet Union, Moscow was a major player in the Arab world. But in the last two years, the Kremlin has repeatedly backed the losing sides in the Arab Spring.In Syria, President Bashar al-Assad is using Russian-made rockets, rifles and tanks to battle rebels.But...

As Special Envoy Meets Syria’s Assad, Russia Signals New Pessimism -- New York TimesBEIRUT, Lebanon — Lakhdar Brahimi, the special envoy seeking an end to the Syria crisis, held an urgent meeting with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Monday as new signs emerged that Mr. Assad’s grip on power was weakening and that Russia, his most important...

U.S. Army Gen. Carter Ham, the commander of United States Africa Command, seen here at the 134th National Guard Association of the U.S. General Conference in Reno, Nev., Sept. 10, warned against military action in Mali. (Jim Greenhil / Army)Army Plans To Shift Troops To U.S. Africa...

The Palestinians’ Christmas Lies -- Jonathan S. Tobin, CommentaryChristmas in Bethlehem and video of the annual parade in the Palestinian city south of Jerusalem is standard holiday fare on television news. Since the days of Yasir Arafat the Palestinian Authority has made a big deal out of the Christmas celebration, and the media’s need for footage...

(Pastor Nazir Alam smiles as he talks to a journalist at a church in South Waziristan November 28, 2012.REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood )Pakistan’s Loneliest Church Celebrates Christmas In Taliban Territory -- ReutersThis Christmas, Pastor Nazir Alam will stoke up a fire, lay a fresh cloth...

...

Soldier's Christmas Eve -- Elise Cooper, American ThinkerWhile many soldiers coming back from deployment have shown their talents by writing books about their experiences, one former Marine, Scott Brown, chose to become a songwriter and a performer. The result is a group, the Scooter Brown Band, that sounds a lot like Jackson Browne with songs that...

(Click on Image to Enlarge)Halloween Decorations Carry Haunting Message Of Forced Labor -- Oregon LiveThe letter came in a box of Halloween decorations purchased at Kmart, but for a year Julie Keith never knew. It gathered dust in her storage, a haunting plea for help hidden among...

Syria: Halfaya Carnage -- Khaleej Times editorialDamascus seems to be groping in the dark as it struggles to confront dissent against its rule. The brutal attack on a bakery in Halfaya is a case in point.At least 100 people are supposed to have been killed under the debris of the building that Syrian jets attacked in venom. The move is a crime against...

Pilgrims Celebrate Birth Of Jesus Christ In Bethlehem -- BBCThousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world are celebrating the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.The day culminated with Christmas Eve Mass at the 1,700-year-old Church of the Nativity, built on the spot where it is believed Jesus was born.In Bethlehem, the head of the Roman Catholic...

(Click on Image to Enlarge)My Comment: Here is an easy prediction .... this story will be dominating the headlines in the U.S. for the next week (or two). And for our kids .... they will be living with this story for the rest of their liv...

Mali On Brink Of Becoming A Terrorist Safe Haven -- Voice of AmericaAfrican and world leaders say they will not let Mali become a terrorist safe haven, a failed state, a so-called "Afghanistan" in the Sahel. The U.N. Security Council has backed a regional military deployment to Mali next year to deal with an ongoing political crisis in the capital...

Former UK General Warns Western Troops Could Trigger Syria 'Collapse' -- BBCSending Western troops into Syria too soon could create a power vacuum and a "sudden, uncontrolled state collapse", a retired British general has warned.Prof Sir Paul Newton said weapons of mass destruction could fall into the wrong hands if the state disintegrated.His warning...

The 'City Soldiers' Paid £100,000 To Fight In Afghanistan: Huge Government Payouts To Reservists Who Earn Less While On Tour -- Tthe Daily Mail* Some serving reservists earn up to £225,000* Last year eight reservists were paid more than £100,000 for their tour * 'Reservist Awards'...

Bassel Issa2012 In Syria's Civil War: One Rebel's Story -- Clarissa Ward, CBS News(LONDON) I first met Bassel Issa in February 2012. At the time, he was leading a group of rebel fighters who called themselves the Syrian Liberation Army. In reality, they were more local militia than...

Nearly 200 Dead And Hundreds Injured After Syrian Airstrike Targets People Queuing For Bread -- Daily Mail* Bodies left piled on the streets among rubble and shrapnel * Latest reports say hundreds were also wounded in the strike* Eye-witness videos show the bloodied bodies of women and children killed* More than 100 people were queuing for hours when...

Syria Envoy Meets Assad As Opposition Frustration Grows -- Reuters(Reuters) - Syria special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi discussed solving the country's conflict with President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, but the opposition expressed deepening frustration with the mission following what it called the latest massacre of civilians.Underlining how rebels are...

Assad Just Hit Us With Poison Gas, Syrian Rebels Say -- Danger RoomThe regime of embattled Syrian president Bashar Assad gassed rebel forces in the battleground city of Homs, anti-government activists told Al Jazeera on Sunday. If the unconfirmed report is true — and that’s a huge if — the chemical attack could signal the biggest escalation yet of...

WNU Editor: The Google Santa Tracker is he...

Afghan Female Police Officer Shoots Dead US Military Adviser -- The GuardianShooting inside police headquarters in Kabul is the first attack on foreigners by a woman serving in the national security forcesAn Afghan female police officer has shot dead a US adviser in police headquarters in Kabul, the first attack on foreigners by a woman serving in...

U.N. Envoy Meets With Syrian President As Deaths Mount Across Country -- CNN(CNN) -- With the carnage in Syria reaching unimaginable levels, U.N. peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met with Syria's president Monday in hopes of making headway in ending the country's civil war.But a lack of details after the meeting suggests that the 21-month-old crisis might...

Russia Seals Major Arms Deal with India. © RIA Novosti. Press service of the president of the Russian FederationRussia Seals Major Arms Deal with India -- RIA NovostiNEW DELHI, December 24 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is to supply India with combat helicopters and warplanes worth $2.9...

Taliban executionPakistan, Afghanistan Trying To Turn Taliban Into Political Movement -- ReutersKABUL (Reuters) - Pakistan is genuine about backing the nascent Afghan peace process and shares the Kabul government's goal of transforming the Taliban insurgency into a political movement,...