October 2005 Security News

PRESS CONFERENCE ON RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM UNITED STATES ON ACCESS TO GUANTANAMO BAY DETENTION FACILITIES United Nations 31 Oct 2005
UN nuclear watchdog reviews anti-terrorism action, verification in general report UN News Centre 31 Oct 2005 -- Few activities of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have undergone so major an expansion in so short a period as its security programme against nuclear terrorism, but at the same time the array of challenges facing it in the area of non-proliferation is unprecedented, IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei told the General Assembly today.
U.S., Colombia Work Together To Capture Colombian Drug Trafficker Washington File 31 Oct 2005 -- U.S. and Colombian law authorities have teamed up to capture and arrest a Colombian drug trafficker and money launderer, a man whom the United States describes as one of Colombia's most violent and dangerous drug criminals.
NAS Jax, FEMA Work Together to Provide Relief Navy NewsStand 31 Oct 2005 -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been working together to provide relief to the victims of Hurricane Wilma.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 31 Oct 2005 [PDF]
US Invites UN Rapporteurs to Guantanamo VOA 29 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. government has invited three United Nations special rapporteurs to visit the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where 505 detainees are being held in connection with the war on terrorism.
Iran: Officials Say No Bird Flu RFE/RL 29 Oct 2005 -- With no confirmed reports of an outbreak of bird flu in Iran, Iranian officials believe the country is free so far of a virus potentially fatal to humans.
Military Attachés from 60 Nations Discuss Counterterrorism Washington File 28 Oct 2005 -- Further progress in the Global War on Terror will require nations to develop strategies to better inform their publics and to garner public support for anti-terror programs, says Lieutenant General Dell Dailey, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
Philippine Counterterror Effort Impressive, State's Crumpton Says Washington File 28 Oct 2005 -- The State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism says he is impressed with the Philippine government's fight against terrorism.
Africa Not Prepared To Spot Bird Flu in Animals, Humans Washington File 28 Oct 2005 -- Animal and human disease surveillance systems in Africa are poorly equipped to detect, contain or control an outbreak of avian influenza should it appear on that continent, according to a risk assessment issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) October 28.
Bush Outlines U.S. Strategy Against Terrorism Washington File 28 Oct 2005 -- President Bush, speaking in Norfolk, Virginia, October 28, repeated a familiar theme: that the United States will not shrink from its mission to defeat terrorists who seek to establish a totalitarian empire that denies all political and religious freedom.
PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGES, LAWYERS United Nations 28 Oct 2005
Bush: U.S. Won't Stop Short of Victory Against Terror AFPS 28 Oct 2005 -- President Bush opened a major speech about the war on terror today by praising the military and crediting veterans for the solid example they've set for today's troops waging a fight he said the United States won't abandon.
Invitation to U.N. Special Rapporteurs 28 Oct 2005 -- The Department of Defense announced today the U.S. government's decision to extend an invitation to three U.N. special rapporteurs to visit detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, Cuba.
4 Terror Suspects Arrested in Denmark VOA 28 Oct 2005 -- Police in Denmark have arrested four Danish Muslims suspected of plotting a terror attack in Europe.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 28 Oct 2005 [PDF]
IRAQ: Steps taken to head off bird flu IRIN 27 Oct 2005 -- Iraq’s health ministry’s is taking preventative measures against the possible appearance of the deadly avian influenza – the so-called “bird flu” – after experts noted that some Gulf countries could be in danger of exposure to the malady.
Medical Professionals Leave Guantanamo With New Impressions AFPS 27 Oct 2005 -- Some public- and private-sector medical professionals were impressed with what they saw during an Oct. 19 visit to observe detainee operations at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Defense Department's senior medical official said here Oct. 26.
Russia: Researchers Express Hope On Bird-Flu Vaccine RFE/RL 27 Oct 2005 -- Russian researchers are working on a prototype vaccine they say they hope might help stem a possible bird-flu pandemic.
State's Crumpton Says Terrorist Threat Is Evolving Rapidly Washington File 27 Oct 2005 -- The United States faces unique challenges in a rapidly evolving global battlefield and against a transformative enemy that uses terrorism in new ways, says the State Department's senior counterterrorism official.
Most Countries Meet October 26 Deadline for Digital-Photo Passport Washington File 27 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announces that 25 of 27 countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) have achieved "full compliance" with an October 26 deadline to produce passports with digital photographs.
US Senate Approves $8 Billion to Fight Bird Flu VOA 27 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. Senate, concerned about a bird flu pandemic, has approved $8 billion to stockpile vaccines and other drugs to prepare for a potential outbreak of the disease.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 27 Oct 2005 [PDF]
PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TORTURE United Nations 26 Oct 2005
More than 100 reports due to UN anti-terror panels not yet submitted, chairs say UN News Centre 26 Oct 2005 -- More than 100 reports that countries are required to submit to United Nations anti-terrorism committees are overdue, the chairmen of those bodies told Security Council today.
U.S. Military Commissions Fair, Transparent, U.S. General Says Washington File 26 Oct 2005 -- The military trial of David Hicks, an Australian enemy combatant who was captured while fighting in Afghanistan in 2001, will begin on November 18.
PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS United Nations 26 Oct 2005
France Considers Anti-Terrorism Measures VOA 26 Oct 2005 -- The French government is considering a new anti-terrorism bill that is already being criticized for eroding basic civil liberties.
Pinning The Drug Kingpins RFE/RL 26 Oct 2005 -- The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on 24 October announced the extradition of alleged drug kingpin Baz Mohammad from Afghanistan to the United States on charges of heroin trafficking.
Philippine Authorities Arrest Islamic Militant Leader VOA 26 Oct 2005 -- Philippine security forces have arrested eight suspected Muslim extremists, including a man with a history of terrorist attacks who now leads a group of converts to Islam.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 26 Oct 2005 [PDF]
National Guardsmen Assisting in Wilma's Wake AFPS 25 Oct 2005 -- National Guard soldiers from the Carolinas and New York are providing air and communications support to Florida in the wake of Hurricane Wilma.
EADS North America Receives Contract to Re-engine and Upgrade U.S. Coast Guard’s HH-65 Helicopter Fleet EADS 25 Oct 2005 -- EADS North America business unit, American Eurocopter, has received a subcontract from Lockheed Martin to re-engine and upgrade the U.S. Coast Guard’s HH-65 Dolphin helicopter fleet under the Integrated Deepwater System program.
Afghanistan: Alleged Taliban-Linked Drug Lord Extradited To United States RFE/RL 25 Oct 2005 -- For the first time, the government of Afghanistan has extradited one of its citizens to the United States
Australian Poll Shows Support for Anti-Terror Laws VOA 25 Oct 2005 -- An opinion poll indicates an overwhelming number of Australians support tough anti-terrorism measures proposed after the London bombings.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 25 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Scientists Identify Step in Process of Flu Virus Infection Washington File 24 Oct 2005 -- If avian influenza (bird flu) mutates sufficiently to jump from chickens and migratory birds to people, early diagnosis will be a critical step in preventing a human pandemic.
Airmen in place for Hurricane Wilma relief AFPN 24 Oct 2005 -- As Hurricane Wilma rips through south Florida, Airmen from 1st Air Force are already in place today to help storm victims.
National Guard Mobilized, Alerted for Hurricane Wilma AFPS 24 Oct 2005 -- More than 3,000 Florida National Guard soldiers and airmen have been mobilized and 3,000 more are on alert, Gov. Jeb Bush said today as Hurricane Wilma's eye was finishing its rapid journey across the southern part of the Florida peninsula.
Convoys roll behind Hurricane Wilma Army News 24 Oct 2005 -- As Hurricane Wilma hit southwestern Florida this morning, more than 3,000 National Guard members were on state active duty with another 3,000 on high alert.
U.K.: Should British Terror Trials Consider Evidence Gained Through Torture? RFE/RL 24 Oct 2005 -- Judges from Britain's upper chamber of Parliament, the House of Lords, are considering whether evidence obtained through torture abroad should be permitted in British courts
Indonesia Posts Rewards for Information on Bali Bombers VOA 24 Oct 2005 -- Police in Indonesia have announced a $10,000 (100 million rupiah) reward for information identifying the three men who carried out suicide bomb attacks on Bali earlier this month.
US Stockpiling Antiviral Drugs Against Possible Bird Flu Pandemic VOA 24 Oct 2005 -- As health experts around the world prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic, one area of focus is the antiviral drugs that would be relied on to treat people once they have contracted the disease.
Japan, Australia and US Discuss Cooperation Against Terrorism VOA 24 Oct 2005 -- Officials from Japan, Australia, and the United States have held discussions ranging from Asian security issues to the Middle East and Japan's quest for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. Delegates have wrapped up bilateral and three-way meetings.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 24 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Ships Still on Alert for Hurricane Wilma AFPS 23 Oct 2005 -- The Navy continues preparations for Hurricane Wilma's landfall in Florida, with three ships on a 96-hour alert for possible humanitarian relief, a Navy spokesperson said today.
British Arrest Man From Northern England in Connection With July 7 Bombings VOA 23 Oct 2005 -- British police have arrested a man from northern England in connection with their investigation into the July 7 bombings in London.
Croatia Kills Thousands Of Birds To Fight Avian Flu RFE/RL 23 Oct 2005 -- Croatian authorities today are destroying thousands of domestic fowl in the east of the country, where wild swans died recently of bird flu.
Europe Taking Precautions as Bird Flu Spreads VOA 23 Oct 2005 -- The feared spread of bird flu in Europe is slowly being confirmed. Croatian authorities are killing thousands of domestic birds
Bush Says US to Spend More on Border Security VOA 22 Oct 2005 -- President Bush says the government is spending more money to boost security at America's borders and cut illegal immigration. Democrats say the president should do more to help poor people pay their heating bills at a time of record fuel prices.
Naples Carries Out Anti-Terror Maneuvers VOA 22 Oct 2005 -- In Italy, authorities on Saturday carried out simulated terror attacks in the port city of Naples as part of the country's efforts to test its response in the event of a terrorist attack
Services Prep for Hurricane Wilma AFPS 22 Oct 2005 -- The military continues preparations for the predicted Monday Florida landfall of Hurricane Wilma.
Military Moves Aircraft, Prepares Response for Hurricane Wilma AFPS 21 Oct 2005 -- Local, state and federal officials are taking all steps necessary to protect life and property in advance of Hurricane Wilma.
Army, local Hazmat teams clean up New Orleans for residents' return Army News 21 Oct 2005 -- The Army Civil Support Teams and the New Orleans Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team have collected more than 5,000 containers of hazardous materials throughout Louisiana since they were scattered by flooding from Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
Norfolk Ships Ready to Provide Hurricane Wilma Relief Navy NewsStand 21 Oct 2005 -- Three Norfolk-based amphibious ships will get underway Oct. 22, headed for the south Florida region in the event assistance is needed if Hurricane Wilma strikes land there.
Plane crashes, terrorist threats, dirty bombs - all part of UN nuclear exercise UN News Centre 21 Oct 2005 -- Airplanes crashed, terrorist threats proliferated and dirty bombs were primed as 38 of the world's senior security officials wrestled with doomsday scenarios in a mock emergency exercise mounted by the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency.
Leader of Colombian Cocaine Ring Extradited to United States Washington File 21 Oct 2005 -- The leader of the North Valle Cartel, one of Colombia's most powerful cocaine trafficking rings, has been extradited by Colombia to the United States where he faces racketeering and drug charges, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
Bird Flu Needs Better, Modern Vaccine Production Methods Washington File 21 Oct 2005 -- The threat of a global pandemic from the H5N1 bird flu virus is prompting scientists to move away from the 50-year-old influenza vaccine production methods in use today and turn to techniques perfected in the current age of biotechnology.
United States Gives Laos $3 Million To Combat Bird Flu Washington File 21 Oct 2005 -- The United States is providing $3.4 million in assistance to support Laos in the effort to stop avian influenza and to improve pandemic preparedness.
U.S. Health Secretary Predicts Continued Spread of Bird Flu Washington File 21 Oct 2005 -- Confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Europe leads U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt to predict that the disease will continue to spread.
US Apologizes to France Over Diplomatic Incident VOA 21 Oct 2005 -- The United States has apologized to France over the "overzealous" checking of a French minister's diplomatic credentials by a U.S. immigration official.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 21 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Stennis Sailors Continue Katrina Relief Efforts in Mississippi Navy NewsStand 20 Oct 2005 -- Sailors from USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) passed out food, clothing and other much-needed supplies to the victims of Hurricane Katrina in Bay St. Louis, Miss., Oct. 18.
U.S., Mexico Boost Efforts To Stop Drug Violence on Mutual Border Washington File 20 Oct 2005 -- The United States and Mexico have intensified efforts to stop violence fueled by the illegal drug trade on their mutual border.
State Department Alerts Americans to Pandemic Threat Washington File 20 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. State Department issued a fact sheet October 19 to heighten awareness about the global threat of pandemic influenza and urge caution for Americans who may be traveling in areas where avian influenza is widespread among birds.
Global Demand Grows for Bird Flu Vaccine Washington File 20 Oct 2005 -- Demand is growing for a vaccine to protect against the spreading H5N1 strain of bird flu, but many experts say it will take months to develop an effective vaccine and they question the ability of manufacturers worldwide to produce enough vaccine if a pandemic occurs.
British Court Grants Bail to Four Terrorism Suspects VOA 20 Oct 2005 -- A British immigration tribunal has granted bail to four Algerian terrorism suspects facing deportation from the country.
EU Expands Anti-Bird Flu Measures VOA 20 Oct 2005 -- The European Union is taking steps it hopes will stop the spread of the dangerous bird flu virus from western Russia.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 20 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Secretary of the Army to Convene Panel to Evaluate Performance of Hurricane Protection Systems in New Orleans 19 Oct 2005 -- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced today that he has directed Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey to convene an independent panel of national experts under the direction of the National Academies of Science to evaluate the performance of hurricane protection systems in New Orleans and the surrounding areas.
World: Anti-Viral Drugs For Possible Flu Pandemic In Short Supply, Vaccines Not Yet Ready RFE/RL 19 Oct 2005 -- International officials are warning that the world is not yet fully prepared to deal with a possible pandemic if the bird-flu virus mutates into a human strain
EU: Brussels Reacts To News Of Avian Influenza Spreading In Russia RFE/RL 19 Oct 2005 -- Alarm over avian influenza was ratcheted up another notch today as Russia announced a case just south of Moscow
War on Terrorism Involves Battle of Ideas, Arms, Hadley Says Washington File 19 Oct 2005 -- From the beginning, the War on Terror has been both a battle of arms and a battle of ideas for the United States, its allies and friends, says President Bush's national security advisor.
Passport Upgrade Deadline October 26, Homeland Security Says Washington File 19 Oct 2005 -- Visitors arriving in the United States from 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) face some new requirements starting October 26.
New Bird Flu Cases Found in China, Romania, Russia VOA 19 Oct 2005 -- China, Romania, and Russia have announced new bird flu outbreaks while the United Nations warns the virus could spread to Africa and the Middle East.
9/11 Panel Says Government Anti-Terrorism Efforts Falls Short VOA 19 Oct 2005 -- A published report says members of the commission that investigated the September 11 terrorist attacks have criticized the federal government for failing to act on many of the panel's recommendations to prevent another terrorist attack.
Bush Signs Homeland Security Bill, Calls for Temporary Workers Program VOA 19 Oct 2005 -- President Bush has signed a $31 billion homeland security bill with calls for lawmakers to approve his temporary guest worker program.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 19 Oct 2005 [PDF]
First National Security Cutter Fabrication Unit Lifted Into Place Since Hurricane Katrina Northrop Grumman 18 Oct 2005 -- The first National Security Cutter (NSC 1) fabrication unit to be lifted into place since Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast is pictured here at Northrop Grumman's Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard on Monday, Oct. 17. The National Security Cutter is being developed by Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture between Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. It is designed to be the flagship of the Deepwater fleet, capable of meeting all maritime security mission requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard. It will be the largest and most technically advanced class of cutter in the Coast Guard. Construction of the NSC 1 began in September 2004 at Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems sector in Pascagoula, and the ship is expected to be delivered to the Coast Guard in 2008. Eight of these ships are planned to be built for the Coast Guard's fleet by 2017.
More Reports of Bird Flu Emerge in Europe Washington File 18 Oct 2005 -- The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported October 17 that laboratory tests have confirmed chickens in Romania were infected with the H5N1 avian flu virus that has caused the deaths of more than 150 million birds in Asia.
Officials Urge Calm in Face of Bird Flu Spread Washington File 17 Oct 2005 -- A flu virus that has killed millions of birds in Asia now has appeared in birds in Europe, but the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that Turkey and Romania have mounted aggressive responses to destroy flocks infected with H5N1.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 18 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Al Qaeda Leader's Letter Questions Zarqawi Tactics AFPS 17 Oct 2005 -- A letter from al Qaeda's second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri, intended for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al Qaeda terrorist leader in Iraq, chided Zarqawi for some of his tactics.
AVIAN FLU: GLOBAL 'ANTIDOTE' IS 'BE PREPARED' US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 15 Oct 2005
National Guard units finish filling levees with sandbags Army News 17 Oct 2005 -- Soldiers and Airmen finished filling levees with sandbags Saturday, after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed the levees and any sense of security from the devastating waters of the Mississippi River.
Legal challenge on UK use of torture evidence IRNA 17 Oct 2005 -- Britain's top court Monday began deliberations on whether evidence from other countries can be used against terrorist suspects which may have been obtained by torture.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 17 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Romania Confirms Outbreak of Deadly Bird Flu Strain VOA 15 Oct 2005 -- Romania says a bird flu virus, which was detected this week in its Danube Delta region is the same lethal strain, which has spread across Asia and killed dozens of people there
Tests Confirm Discovery of H5N1 Bird Flu Virus in Romania and Turkey VOA 15 Oct 2005 -- Concerns are mounting in Europe after lab tests confirmed that an outbreak of bird flu in Turkey and Romania is the same strain as the one that has killed 60 people in Asia
EU Repeats Plea for Measures to Limit Spread of Bird Flu VOA 14 Oct 2005 -- Medical researchers say a 14-year-old Vietnamese girl treated for bird flu has apparently developed a resistance to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.
U.S. Dismantles Major Mexican Cocaine-Methamphetamine Ring Washington File 14 Oct 2005 -- U.S. law enforcement authorities have dismantled a major Mexican drug-trafficking organization accused of distributing methamphetamine and cocaine to many U.S. cities.
US Top Health Official Urges Global Surveillance System for Bird Flu VOA 14 Oct 2005 -- The United States' top health official has called for a worldwide surveillance network that could prevent a deadly avian influenza virus from becoming a pandemic.
World: Global Response Against Possible Bird Flu Pandemic Gathering Force RFE/RL 14 Oct 2005 -- Fears are growing about a possible global outbreak of deadly bird flu in humans. But the response, too, is now gathering pace, with countries around the world stepping up their precautions.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 14 Oct 2005 [PDF]
United States Promotes Bird Flu Prevention in Southeast Asia Washington File 13 Oct 2005 -- U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt has signed agreements with Cambodia and Laos to help strengthen defenses against avian influenza in the region in an effort to avert a global flu pandemic.
U.S.: Is Al-Qaeda Letter Sign Of Rift, Or Opportunity For Bush? RFE/RL 13 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has released the text of a letter from Osama bin Laden deputy Ayman al-Zawahri to Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, the head of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 13 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Secretary of State Has Key Role in Designating Terrorist Groups Washington File 12 Oct 2005 -- When the secretary of state designates a group as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), that act can trigger a series of actions by three branches of the federal government, as well as the U.S. banking and financial sectors, to deny the group funds, resources, accomplices and anonymity, according to a fact sheet from the State Department.
U.S. Senate Approves Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism Washington File 12 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. Senate approved October 7 the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism, which has received the strong support of the Bush administration.
US Says Letter Reveals Al-Qaida as Perverter of Islam VOA 12 Oct 2005 -- The United States Wednesday made public a letter from a senior al-Qaida figure to the group's chief operative in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, that, among other things, questions his tactic of attacking Iraqi Shiite mosques.
NMCOSC-Tulsa Assists with Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts Navy NewsStand 12 Oct 2005 -- Reservists, full-time support personnel and active-duty personnel here joined civilians in assisting more than 1,100 Hurricane Katrina evacuees relocated to Camp Gruber near Braggs, Okla., in early September.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 12 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Letter from al-Zawahiri to al-Zarqawi Released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence 9 Jul 2005 but released on 11 Oct 2005 -- Translated version of a letter between two senior al Qa'ida leaders, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, that was obtained during counterterrorism operations in Iraq.
New Orleans Is Dry, Says Corps of Engineers AFPS 11 Oct 2005 -- Sections of New Orleans that had been under water after levee-system failures following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are now dry, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman said here today.
London mayor leads opposition to new anti-terror laws IRNA 11 Oct 2005 -- London Mayor Ken Livingstone has joined a new cross-party coalition to oppose some of the government's more extreme anti-terror measures following July's attacks in the British capital.
FBI Now Aims To Thwart Terror, Not Just Gather Clues Afterward Washington File 11 Oct 2005 -- In a world in which communications technology has flattened former barriers, the FBI is using those tools to battle crime and terror, its director says.
U.S. Declares Moroccan Group a Foreign Terrorist Organization Washington File 11 Oct 2005 -- The State Department announced October 11 that the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) under U.S. law.
U.S. Works with Canada, Spain To Break Up Global Drug-Trafficking Ring Washington File 11 Oct 2005 -- U.S. law enforcement agents, working with their counterparts in Canada and Spain, have broken up an international drug-trafficking ring that was attempting to smuggle 1,000 kilograms of cocaine from the Caribbean into Spain and other parts of Europe.
US Adds Moroccan Group to Terrorism List VOA 11 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. State Department has added a radical Moroccan-based faction, the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, to its list of foreign terrorist organizations
Indonesian Police Make First Arrest in Latest Bali Bombing VOA 11 Oct 2005 -- Indonesian police say they have made their first arrest in the triple suicide bombing on the island of Bali earlier this month
Bush: New Orleans Officials Should Determine Rebuilding Plan VOA 11 Oct 2005 -- President Bush says the federal government should not dictate how New Orleans rebuilds from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 11 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Hospital Ship Leaves New Orleans Navy NewsStand 10 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed New Orleans Oct. 8 to return to her homport in Baltimore after providing several weeks of disaster relief to the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.
Experts Say Soft Soil May Have Caused New Orleans Levee Breaches VOA 08 Oct 2005 -- Experts studying the flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina say the breach of key floodwalls might have been caused by soft soil under the walls, a problem the Army Corps of Engineers had been warned about.
Indonesian Police Ask for Public Help to Catch Bali Bombing Suspects VOA 08 Oct 2005 -- Indonesian police are appealing to the public for help in catching two men identified as key suspects in last week's suicide bombings in Bali.
U.S., EU Counterterror, Security Experts Outline Next Steps Washington File 07 Oct 2005 -- U.S. and European Union law enforcement and security officials have agreed on a series of practical steps to improve cooperation on counterterrorism and other issues, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says.
Meeting Aims To Combat Illicit Arms Trafficking in the Americas Washington File 07 Oct 2005 -- The Organization of American States (OAS) held an October 6-7 meeting aimed at developing steps to prevent and combat illicit arms trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.
Intel from Iraq Raids Leads to New York City Security Hike AFPS 07 Oct 2005 -- Information from Iraq collected by the U.S. military and passed through the chain of command to other U.S. federal agencies was part of New York City's decision to announce a security alert on its mass transit system, defense officials confirmed today.
World: Four Years Later, No Clear Winners In War On Terror (Part 1) RFE/RL 07 Oct 2005 -- It has been a little more than four years since the global war on terror began in the wake of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States.
World: Who Is The Enemy -- And How Is It Changing? (Part 2) RFE/RL 07 Oct 2005 -- When Islamic militants crashed airliners into New York and Washington on 11 September 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people, U.S. President George W. Bush responded by declaring war on terrorism"
World: Can West Fight Terror And Still Maintain Civil Liberties? (Part 3) RFE/RL 07 Oct 2005 -- It has been a little more than four years since the war on terror began in the wake of the 11 September 2001 terror attacks on the United States
World: Global War On Terror Faces Government With Unique Enemy (Part 4) RFE/RL 07 Oct 2005 -- The global war on terror has presented Western governments with an enemy unlike those of the past
Pentagon Claims Intel that Led to New York Alert VOA 07 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. Defense Department says the terrorist alert in New York was based on information it gathered in recent weeks, and that the information also led to a raid on a suspect location in Iraq during the last few days.
NY Subways Run Normally Despite Terror Threat VOA 07 Oct 2005 -- New York City's subway system is operating normally, a day after authorities said they had received a credible terrorist threat.
Pentagon Says al-Qaida Leader Criticizes Iraq Insurgents VOA 07 Oct 2005 -- U.S. officials say they have intercepted a letter from the number two official in the al-Qaida terrorist network to its chief in Iraq, outlining a broad strategy to dominate the Middle East and saying some of the Iraqi insurgents' most brutal tactics are hurting the movement.
Red Cross Says Hunger Guantanamo Strike ''Serious'' RFE/RL 07 Oct 2005 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says that prisoners are hunger striking at the U.S. military jail at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Bush: 10 'Serious Al-Qaida Plots' Thwarted Since 2001 VOA 07 Oct 2005 -- President Bush says the United States and its allies have disrupted 10 serious plots by the al-Qaida network since the terrorists' September 11 attacks in 2001 on New York and Washington.
Part of New York Subway Station Closed Amid Terror Threat VOA 07 Oct 2005 -- Millions of New Yorkers have headed to work under tightened security Friday, after city officials announced a threat of a terrorist attack on the subway system.
Latest Bali Bombers Called a New Breed of Indonesian Terrorists VOA 07 Oct 2005 -- Officials and terrorism experts say the three suicide bombers who struck Indonesia's resort island of Bali last week are likely a new breed of young recruits, who may or may not be part of the regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah.
New Letter Shows Bin Laden's Goals in Iraq VOA 07 Oct 2005 -- U.S. officials say they have obtained a letter sent from Osama bin Laden's top deputy to the leader of Iraq's insurgency, outlining a goal of forming an Islamic state in Iraq.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 07 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Army Engineers Focus on Helping South Recover from Hurricanes AFPS 06 Oct 2005 -- The "dewatering" of New Orleans should be complete today, the Army's top engineer said during a news conference here today.
U.S. Arrests Leader of Mexican Cocaine-Trafficking Organization Washington File 06 Oct 2005 -- U.S. and Mexican authorities have worked together to arrest the leader of a Mexican cocaine-smuggling organization who was considered one of world's top cocaine drug traffickers.
Fact Sheet: Plots, Casings, and Infiltrations Referenced in President Bush's Remarks on the War on Terror The White House 06 Oct 2005
US, European Officials Renew Efforts to Fight Terror VOA 06 Oct 2005 -- Top U.S. and European officials met in Washington Thursday and pledged to renew their efforts to jointly fight the international war on terror.
Transcript: Defense Department Special Briefing 06 Oct 2005 -- Presenter: Commander, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Carl Strock
New York City On Alert for Subway Attack VOA 06 Oct 2005 -- Authorities in New York City have increased security in the subway system after receiving a specific threat of a terrorist attack.
US Offers $11 Million Reward for 2002 Bali Bombing Suspects VOA 06 Oct 2005 -- The United States is offering rewards for two suspects in the terrorist bombings in the Indonesian resort of Bali three years ago that killed more than 200 people.
Total force proves beneficial to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita recovery AFPN 06 Oct 2005 -- More than 6,900 active-duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen supported Hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief operations, proving that the total-force concept works, said the Air Force chief of staff here recently.
Bush: Intelligence Reform Key to Preventing Future Terrorist Attacks VOA 06 Oct 2005 -- President Bush says the United States and its allies have blocked at least 10 attempts by al-Qaida to carry out terrorist attacks around the world since the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.
Indonesia Confirms Three More Australians Among Victims of Bali Blasts VOA 06 Oct 2005 -- Forensics experts in Indonesia now say that three of four unidentifiied victims of Saturday's bomb blasts in Bali were Australian nationals.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 06 Oct 2005 [PDF]
AVIAN FLU: 'FRIGHTFULLY MUTABLE'...AND MIGRATING US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 05 Oct 2005
Air Force named executive agent for Katrina-related funds AFPN 05 Oct 2005 -- In a recent memorandum, defense officials named the Air Force as the executive agent for Hurricane Katrina funding.
Cheney: America 'Won't Wait to Be Hit Again' by Terrorists AFPS 05 Oct 2005 -- U.S. servicemembers fighting in the global war against terrorism are "directly engaging the enemies of the United States" who have considered themselves to be at war with America since long before Sept. 11, Vice President Richard B. Cheney said here today.
Texas Guard relief mission begins drawing down Army News 05 Oct 2005 -- With power coming on throughout the area, Texas National Guard Soldiers with Task Force Seguin transferred food and water distribution duties Oct. 4 to other groups and local authorities.
Spanish Court Sentences Former Guantanamo Detainee to 6-Year Prison Term VOA 05 Oct 2005 -- Spain's National Court has sentenced a Spanish citizen, released last year from the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to six years in prison for membership in al-Qaida.
US Arrests Alleged Drug Trafficking Chief VOA 05 Oct 2005 -- U.S. authorities say they have arrested a Mexican national alleged to be the leader of an international drug-trafficking ring.
Bush to Make Speech on Terrorism VOA 05 Oct 2005 -- With a crucial referendum on the new Iraqi constitution now less than two weeks away, President Bush is stepping up efforts to win support for his Iraq policy among the American public and skeptical members of the U.S. Congress.
Analysis: Lessons Learned - Or Only Identified? By Kenneth Allard 05 Oct 2005 -- "Mobile homes shipped to Mississippi as emergency housing - but with the keys missing. And the now-notorious "ice odyssey" - in which truckloads of the stuff were apparently shipped all over the country but without coming anywhere close to those who desperately needed it. As they try to figure out what went wrong with these and other bungled FEMA responses to the hurricanes, it may be easier for Congress and the administration to throw up their hands and simply place the military in charge of the whole thing"
Australian Surgeons Treating Bali Bombing Victims Remove 'Bags of Shrapnel' VOA 05 Oct 2005 -- Doctors in Australia are continuing to treat victims of Saturday's bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali.
World: Concern Mounts Over Possible Flu Pandemic RFE/RL 05 Oct 2005 -- International concern is growing over the possible outbreak of an avian influenza (bird flu) epidemic.
Indonesian President Says Bali Blasts Spoiled Country's Reputation VOA 05 Oct 2005 -- Indonesia's president says Saturday's deadly bombings on Bali have helped spoil Indonesia's reputation in the eyes of the world.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 05 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Investigation of Bali Bombings Yields Important Clues VOA 04 Oct 2005 -- Indonesian officials have revised the death toll to 19 people after three explosions rocked popular tourist areas Saturday on the island of Bali.
Northrop Grumman Receives Naval Reserve Contract to Support E-2C Hawkeye Aircraft Involved in Drug Interdiction and Homeland Security Northrop Grumman 04 Oct 2005 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received a follow-on contract to support six E-2C Hawkeye aircraft primarily used for drug interdiction and homeland-security operations for the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Comfort, Local NOLA Doctors Establish Trauma Treatment Unit Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2005 -- Medical staff on board USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) and local New Orleans physicians began treating trauma patients aboard the hospital ship Oct. 3 in a landmark partnership between the Navy and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.
JTF Katrina Commander Visits Comfort Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2005 -- Joint Task Force Katrina Commander Lt. Gen. Russel Honore visited hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) Oct. 3 for a commander's assessment meeting with area JTF commanders.
NMCB 40 Erects Housing Units in Support of Katrina Relief Efforts Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2005 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40's Delta Company worked alongside the men and women of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division in September to set up a crucial berthing area in support of local disaster recovery efforts after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Total Force Manning Emergency Coordination Center During Hurricane Response Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2005 -- Navy officers and enlisted members, as well as civilian contractors, formed a team to man Navy Personnel Command's Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) here to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina Aug. 30, a day after the hurricane devastated the Gulf Coast.
Security Council strongly condemns deadly weekend bombing in Bali, Indonesia UN News Centre 04 Oct 2005 -- The Security Council today strongly condemned the deadly weekend bombing in Bali, Indonesia, regretting that the island had "again fallen victim to a heinous act of terrorism."
UN Legal Counsel urges action to complete comprehensive terrorism convention UN News Centre 04 Oct 2005 -- The United Nations General Assembly's Legal Committee must act to conclude a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs has said.
United Nations Condemns Bali Bombings Washington File 04 Oct 2005 -- Condemning the recent terrorist bombings in Bali, Indonesia, the U.N. Security Council October 4 stressed the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of the brutal attacks to justice.
Army Updates Detainee Operations Information Oct. 4 Army News Release 04 Oct 2005 -- The Army continued its effort to keep the public informed concerning detainee operations by releasing documents Oct. 4 pursuant to Freedom of Information Act litigation with the American Civil Liberties Union.
Indonesian Police Interrogate Dozens in Bali Blasts VOA 04 Oct 2005 -- Indonesian police say they have questioned some 39 people in connection with Saturday night's Bali suicide bombings that killed 22 people.
Security Scare at Japanese, Thai and German Embassies in Kuala Lumpur VOA 04 Oct 2005 -- A security scare rippled through the embassies of Japan, Thailand and Germany in Malaysia Tuesday after what police called suspicious packages were received at the facilities.
Experts: Anti-Terrorism Efforts in Southeast Asia Have Improved, Despite Latest Bali Bombing VOA 04 Oct 2005 -- Security experts in Southeast Asia believe that despite setbacks like the latest bombing on Bali, the region has achieved a great deal in recent years in the fight against terrorism.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 04 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Disaster Drill Measures 'Medical Megaplex' Response Navy NewsStand 03 Oct 2005 -- National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center and Suburban Hospital, hosted its largest mass casualty exercise Sept. 29 to test the hospitals' emergency response capabilities and interoperability.
Seabees Building Tent City to House 1,000 Katrina Homeless Navy NewsStand 03 Oct 2005 -- U.S. Navy Seabees are building a "tent city" in what's left of this devastated coastal town to house 1,000 people rendered homeless by the impact of Hurricane Katrina.
World: Recent Developments In The War On Terror RFE/RL 03 Oct 2005 -- Recent developments in the war on terror appear to resemble a pendulum.
Bali Investigators Race To Identify Suicide Bombers RFE/RL 03 Oct 2005 -- Investigators on the Indonesian island of Bali are racing to identify the three suicide bombers responsible for the 1 October attacks that left as many as 26 people dead and nearly 130 others wounded.
New Technology Accurately Detects Explosives on Airport Luggage Washington File 03 Oct 2005 -- Fast, reliable detection of chemicals that could indicate the presence of explosives and other hazardous materials inside luggage is now possible, with technology whose development is being funded in part by the U.S. Office of Naval Research.
U.S. Designates Seven Egyptians as Terrorist Supporters Washington File 03 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. government has designated seven Egyptian nationals as members of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a terrorist group that has merged with al-Qaida, and has issued orders freezing their financial assets within U.S. jurisdiction and prohibiting financial transactions between U.S. persons and the designees, according to a statement from the Treasury Department October 3.
U.S., Hungary Agree To Destroy Man-Portable Air Defense Systems Washington File 03 Oct 2005 -- The United States and Hungary will cooperate in the destruction of 1,540 of Hungary's shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles in order to ensure that they never fall into the hands of criminals, terrorists or other nonstate actors, the U.S. State Department announced September 30.
Severed Heads Used in Effort to Identify Bali Bombers VOA 03 Oct 2005 -- Indonesian authorities investigating Saturday's terrorist bombings on the resort island of Bali are hoping to identify the bombers by distributing photographs of their severed heads to newspapers.
Economic Impact from Bali's Latest Terrorist Bombings May be Limited VOA 03 Oct 2005 -- The tourist-dependent island of Bali has suffered a new blow just after having recovered from a devastating terrorist bombing in 2002.
Indonesian Authorities Search for Clues to Bali Bombing VOA 03 Oct 2005 -- Indonesian authorities investigating the weekend bombings on the resort island of Bali are searching for clues from an amateur video taken moments before one of the bombs exploded.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 03 Oct 2005 [PDF]
Indonesia: Police Probe Possible Suicide Bomber Attacks In Bali RFE/RL 02 Oct 2005 -- Indonesia's antiterrorism chief says near-simultaneous explosions yesterday on the resort island of Bali were likely caused by suicide bombers working with Jemaah Islamiyah -- a network seen as the regional arm of Al-Qaeda.
Officials, Experts Suspect Jemaah Islamiyah Behind Latest Bali Bombings VOA 02 Oct 2005 -- Officials and security experts say the bombings Saturday night on the Indonesian island of Bali bear the hallmarks of Jemaah Islamiyah, which has carried out similar attacks across Southeast Asia.
Australia Condemns 'Murderous' Bombings in Bali VOA 02 Oct 2005 -- The Australian Prime Minister John Howard has said he is ''horrified" by a series of bomb blasts on the Indonesian island of Bali that have killed at least 25 people and injured more than 100
Officials Say Evidence in Bali Attacks Points to Suicide Bombers VOA 02 Oct 2005 -- Indonesian officials say it appears suicide bombers were responsible for blasts that killed at least 25 people on the island of Bali, and injured more than 100 others - many of them foreign tourists
World Leaders Denounce Bali Bombings VOA 02 Oct 2005 -- World leaders and diplomats are uniting to condemn Saturday's deadly suicide bombings on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.
Indonesia President Says Bali Bombings May be Work of Suicide Bombers VOA 02 Oct 2005 -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says initial investigations indicate the bombings that killed 25 people and injured more than 100 Saturday on the resort island of Bali were likely the work of suicide bombers.
Detainee Transfer Announced 01 Oct 2005 -- The Department of Defense announced today that it released one detainee from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Egypt.
Multiple Explosions Rock Bali RFE/RL 01 Oct 2005 -- At least three explosions went off almost simultaneously in two tourist beach resorts on the Indonesian island of Bali today, killing at least two people and causing several injuries.
Multiple Explosions Kill At Least 22 on Indonesian Island of Bali VOA 01 Oct 2005 -- Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyno headed to the resort island of Bali late Saturday shortly after three near simultaneous bomb blasts killed more than 22 people and injured dozens of others.

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October 2005 Security News