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Homeland Security


March 2003 Security News

  • SINGAPORE/TERRORISM VOA 31 March 2003 -- Singapore has imposed tight new inspection restrictions on all vehicles crossing its border with Malaysia, amid fears that a U-S-led war against Iraq could trigger terrorist attacks on Singaporean soil. Singapore is expressing support for an attack on Iraq with or without U-N authorization.
  • ASIA PNEUMONIA VOA 31 Mar 2003 -- Countries around Asia are checking airline passengers for signs of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. In Hong Kong, the outbreak has spread to hundreds of residents in a single apartment complex.
  • CDC Puzzles over SARS Transmission Washington File 31 March 2003 -- Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been detected in 13 nations, but health officials in those countries are seeing the disease unfold in different ways, according to officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC Director Julie Gerberding and other experts discussed the spread of the disease and their efforts to combat it in a briefing March 29 at the agency's Atlanta, Georgia headquarters.
  • Bush Moves to Bolster U.S. Homeland Security Washington File 31 March 2003 -- President Bush visited U.S. Coast Guard facilities at the Port of Philadelphia March 31 to discuss the Coast Guard's expanding role in national homeland security and announce that additional funding is being made available for new Response Boats used in harbor and port security patrolling.
  • Transcript: Ashcroft on New Extradition, Asset Sharing Pacts with U.K. Washington File 31 March 2003 -- U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and British Home Secretary David Blunkett signed a new bilateral extradition treaty and an agreement on asset forfeiture assistance and asset sharing March 31 in Washington.
  • Text: Ashcroft on New Extradition, Asset Sharing Pacts with U.K. Washington File 31 March 2003 -- U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and British Home Secretary David Blunkett signed a new bilateral extradition treaty and an agreement on asset forfeiture assistance and asset sharing March 31 in Washington.
  • Grant to help rid Myanmar of poppy cultivation, UN anti-drug office says UN News Centre 31 March 2003 -- To support United Nations drug control efforts in one of Myanmar's main opium producing regions, the Government of Japan will provide $1.2 million towards a project expected to contribute to increasing the food security of opium farmers, improving their living standard, and eventually eradicating opium poppy cultivation.
  • ISRAEL BOMBING/IRAQ VOA 31 March 2003 -- The militant Palestinian group, Islamic Jihad, is describing its suicide bombing on Sunday in the Israeli coastal city of Netanya as a gift to the Iraqi people. The State Department Designated terrorist group is vowing to step up such attacks in support of Iraq.
  • NY/9-11/COMMISSION VOA 31 March 2003 -- An independent commission looking into what could have been done to prevent the 2001 September 11th terrorist attacks has begun two days of public hearings in New York City. The commission is hearing from survivors, relatives victims, counter-terrorism experts, and local lawmakers.
  • L-A/TOLERANCE PLEDGE VOA 31 March 2003 -- Los Angeles officials say homeland security involves protecting the rights of Americans who are sometimes the target of hate crimes. City officials are asking residents to endorse.
  • CQ IRAQ TERRORISM VOA 30 March 2003 -- The commander of the coalition fighting the Iraqi government says his forces have seized what he describes as a massive terrorist camp in northern Iraq.
  • ISLAMIC JIHAD/IRAQ VOA 30 March 2003 -- The militant Palestinian group Islamic Jihad says a group of its suicide bombers has arrived in Iraq to help fight U-S and British forces.
  • MCBH to test ability to respond to Weapons of Mass Destruction USMC 28 March 2003 -- The Crisis Management Team aboard MCB Hawaii is scheduled to exercise the installation's ability to react to a Weapons of Mass Destruction incident April 10.
  • U-S-Iraq-Terrorism VOA 28 March 2003 -- The State Department says it has asked unspecified number of countries to expel suspected Iraqi intelligence officials after turning up information they were planning terrorist attacks against U-S interests. It says specific plots in two countries have been broken up and Iraqi agents arrested.
  • NEW ZEALAND/TERROR THREAT VOA 28 March 2003 -- New Zealand is on a heightened state of alert, after an envelope containing cyanide was sent to a national newspaper. The envelope follows previous threats to contaminate water supplies and attack the interests of the United States and its war-time allies.
  • TURKEY HIJACKING VOA 28 March 2003 -- A Turkish airlines flight was hijacked late Friday some 20 minutes after it took off from Istanbul en route for the Turkish capital, Ankara.
  • SOUTHERN AFRICA/HUMAN TRAFFICKING VOA 28 March 2003 -- The International Organization for Migration says that there is widespread human trafficking in southern Africa -- much of it women and children intended for the sex trade. The trade flows both into and out of the region.
  • ASIA/PNEUMONIA VOA 28 Mar 2003 -- The World Health Organization is recommending that airline passengers from areas with deadly pneumonia outbreaks be screened.
  • CHINA/PNEUMONIA VOA 28 Mar 2003 -- World Health Organization experts say the Chinese government has agreed to start giving regular updates on the spread of a deadly respiratory disease in the country. The number of reported cases in China is expected to rise, as local officials begin to be more open about the illness.
  • House Science Committee Calls for Review of Visa Policy Changes Washington File 27 March 2003 -- The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science is asking the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct an inquiry into new visa approval procedures and policies that have been adopted since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
  • Treasury Department Adds New Cali Cartel Leaders to List of Traffickers Washington File 27 March 2003 -- The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on March 27 that new Cali cartel leaders Joaquin Mario Valencia Trujillo and Guillermo Valencia Trujillo have been added to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers.
  • Pentagon and Homeland Security Chiefs Talk Money With Congress AFPS 27 March 2003 -- Justifying the president's request for $75 billion in emergency funding for the cost of war in Iraq and the global war on terrorism, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told House and Senate Appropriations Committees today that "whatever the cost, it is worth it."
  • U-S VISAS/TERROR VOA 27 March 2003 -- The U-S government has been tightening restrictions on student visas since the September 11th terrorist attacks. The increased security has hit America's prestigious research institutions, where half of the students in science and technical fields are foreign-born. At a hearing this week, some members of Congress said the visa problems put the country at risk.
  • U-S VISAS/TERROR VOA 27 March 2003 -- The U-S government has been tightening restrictions on student visas since the September 11th terrorist attacks. The increased security has hit America's prestigious research institutions, where half of the students in science and technical fields are foreign-born. At a hearing this week, some members of Congress said the visa problems put the country at risk.
  • CONGRESS/SOUTHEAST ASIA VOA 27 March 2003 -- A top U-S official says the United States is receiving good cooperation from governments in southeast Asia in the war on terrorism. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Matthew Daley, testified before a congressional subcommittee:
  • Defendant Pleads Guilty to Providing Support to al Qaeda Washington File 26 March 2003 -- The Justice Department announced March 25 that Yahya Goba, one of six defendants indicted in the Buffalo cell case, pleaded guilty to providing material support to al Qaeda.
  • Kelly Calls Fighting Terrorism Top U.S. Priority in East Asia, Pacific Washington File 26 March 2003 -- Combating terrorism is the top priority of the United States with regard to the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region, according to Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly.
  • White House Reports on Visa, Immigration Policies and Security Washington File 26 March 2003 -- The White House sent a report to the U.S. Congress March 25 outlining new procedures being undertaken to better screen visa applicants and potential immigrants to the United States.
  • USAID Strives to Minimizes Conditions That Foster Terrorism, West Says Washington File 26 March 2003 -- The United States sees the need to promote stability as part of the war against terrorism, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Assistant Administrator Gordon West.
  • Threat of Terrorism Said to Strengthen U.S.-Southeast Asia Ties Washington File 26 March 2003 -- The countries of Southeast Asia are "largely coming to grips with terrorism," according to Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Daley.
  • National Guard's WMD Response Teams Gain New Capabilities AFPS 26 March 2003 -- The National Guard Bureau's 32 Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams have gained new capabilities since last summer, an expert on the teams' capabilities explained today.
  • Guard Flexes Muscle in the War Against Terrorism AFPS 26 March 2003 -- More than 141,000 members of the Army and Air National Guard were mobilized, placed on alert or identified for possible mobilization by March 24, five days after Operation Iraqi Freedom began, National Guard Bureau officials have reported.
  • INDONESIA BALI VOA 26 March 2003 -- Authorities in Indonesia have handed over the alleged mastermind of the Bali bombing to prosecutors. The move brings Imam Samudra one step closer to trial for his part in the terrorist attack last October that claimed more than 200 lives.
  • KENYA/BOMBING VOA 26 March 2003 -- At least three policemen have been arrested in Kenya in connection with last year's bombing near the coastal city of Mombasa, in which 15-people were killed. It is alleged that the police officers let two suspects escape.
  • CONGRESS/TERRORISM VOA 26 March 2003 -- A State Department official has told Congress the United States and its coalition partners could face terrorist threats from a variety of sources acting out of sympathy for Iraq.
  • State Department Outlines Aerial Eradication Program in Colombia Washington File 25 March 2003 -- The U.S. State Department has issued a fact sheet detailing frequently asked questions about the U.S.-supported aerial eradication program in Colombia.
  • Text: Bush Names Nominee to Head Drug Enforcement Agency Washington File 25 March 2003 -- President Bush has nominated a new head for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Karen P. Tandy currently serves as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the Department of Justice and the director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
  • Text: Bush Requests $74,700 Million for Iraq War, Aid and U.S. Security Washington File 25 March 2003 -- The White House March 25 issued a fact sheet on President Bush's request to Congress for $74,700 million more spending for the year ending September 30 to support military operations related to the war in Iraq, provide humanitarian relief for the Iraqi people and help defend the United States from terrorism.
  • Smallpox vaccine program extends to 'emergency essential' civilians AFPS 25 March 2003 -- Civilian employees deployed to fill emergency-essential positions at selected overseas locations are now required to receive the smallpox vaccine, Pentagon officials said.
  • AL-QAIDA SUPPORTERS/GUILTY PLEA VOA 25 March 2003 -- The third of six Yemeni-Americans accused of training with the al-Qaida terrorist network has pleaded guilty in the northern New York city of Buffalo.
  • AFGHANISTAN PRISONERS VOA 25 March 2003 -- Eighteen Afghan men held for months at the U-S detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba were released to their families in Afghanistan on Tuesday. Most of the men say they were well treated at Guantanamo Bay, but they also say they are angry they were held for so long.
  • Study Abroad and the War VOA 25 March 2003 -- The war in Iraq has raised new security issues for college administrators working with American students studying abroad. Even if those students aren't at universities in the Middle East, school officials say a wave of international animosity toward American policies has raised personal safety concerns that both parents and students must address. These worries aren't keeping American students at home.
  • U.S. Hails Capture of Head of Powerful Mexican Drug Gang Washington File 24 March 2003 -- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has hailed the capture by Mexican law enforcement officials of a powerful Mexican drug lord, calling him one of the world's most wanted, feared, and violent drug traffickers.
  • "Ringmasters" Net Fourth Drug Bust NAVSEA News 24 March 2003 -- In late January, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 48 Detachment 2, the "Ringmasters," operating from USS John L. Hall (FFG 32), participated in their fourth counter narcotics bust.
  • Wolfowitz: Iraq War Is Part of Global Anti-Terror Efforts AFPS 24 March 2003 -- Operation Iraqi Freedom "is all a part of the war on terrorism," U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz said here March 23.
  • AL QAIDA SYMPATHIZERS/PLEA VOA 24 March 2003 -- In northern New York state a second man has pleaded guilty to charges of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
  • Black Highlights Diplomacy's Role in Defeating Terrorism Washington File 23 March 2003 -- The United States is conducting a broad range of diplomatic initiatives and training activities with other nations in the global war against terrorism, according to Ambassador J. Cofer Black, the State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism.
  • AUSTRALIA/TERROR WARNING VOA 22 March 2003 -- The Australian government says it has information that terrorists may be planning an attack aimed at Westerners in Indonesia's second largest city, Surabaya.
  • U.S. Has Strengthened Its Focus on South Asia after September 11 Washington File 21 March 2003 -- The United States after the September 11 attacks has "significantly changed and deepened" its relationships with nations in South Asia, said Christina Rocca, assistant secretary of State for south Asian affairs, in testimony before the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the House International Relations Committee on March 20.
  • FBI Escalates Counterterrorism Measures Washington File 21 March 2003 -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has heightened its counterterrorism measures since the outbreak of hostilities with Iraq, according to a statement from Director Robert S. Mueller March 20.
  • Text: U.S. Blocks Additional Assets Linked to Cali Drug Cartel Washington File 21 March 2003 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced that it is blocking the assets of nine businesses and eight individuals with links to the Colombia-based Cali drug cartel.
  • Text: Japan Implements Container Security Initiative at Yokohama Washington File 21 March 2003 -- The Container Security Initiative, a program to prevent cargo container shipments from exploitation by terrorists, will become operational at the Japanese port of Yokohama March 24, according to a statement released by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) March 20.
  • Text: Bush Informs Congress of U.S. Efforts in Global War on Terrorism Washington File 21 March 2003 -- In keeping with the War Powers Resolution and Public Law 107-40, President Bush has sent a letter March 20 informing Congress of the U.S. efforts in the global war against terrorism.
  • More Money Coming Coast Guard's Way for Homeland Security AFPS 21 March 2003 -- Before testifying before the House Subcommittee on Appropriations March 20, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said, "our thoughts and prayers are with the men and women overseas fighting in the latest front in the global war on terrorism to protect all Americans and make the world a safer place."
  • FRANCE/TERRORISM VOA 21 March 2003 -- France's interior minister says traces of the poison ricin, discovered earlier in the week at a Paris train station, are too minute to have been deadly. French officials have not ruled out links between the discovery and an alleged Chechen terrorist network.
  • EAST AFRICA/TOURISM VOA 21 March 2003 -- The Kenyan government has called for a swift end to the war in Iraq, which is having a serious impact on East Africa's crucial tourism sector. Thousands of visitors have already canceled their holidays to Kenya.
  • METRO TRANSIT SAFETY VOA 21 March 2003 -- Washington, D.C.'s Metro transit system has cautioned passengers to be on the lookout for possible signs of terrorist threats on subways and buses.
  • TERRORISM AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION VOA 21 March 2003 -- The United States and its allies are confronting Iraq in large part out of concern that Saddam Hussein might arm terrorists with weapons of mass destruction. There is also concern that terrorists like al-Qaida are trying to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons on their own.
  • FDA Heightens Protections of Food Supplies Washington File 20 March 2003 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking more aggressive action to protect the nation's food supplies from criminal or terrorist action, according to an announcement from the agency March 19.
  • Official Calls Diplomacy Vital to Global War on Terrorism Washington File 20 March 2003 -- Diplomacy plays a critical role in the global war on terrorism by taking the war to the terrorists, helping to cut them off from critical resources, and strengthening political will and international cooperation, says Ambassador J. Cofer Black, the U.S. State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism.
  • TITLE=SPECIAL ENGLISH AMERICAN MOSAIC #915- INS VOA 20 March 2003 -- Our VOA listener question this week comes from the United Arab Emirates. Samatar Abdi Hirsi asks about the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service also known as the I-N-S.
  • KENYA/TERRORISM VOA 20 March 2003 -- The Kenyan government is appealing to its citizens not to harbor terrorists. The appeal followed the arrest of a man believed to have been involved in two terrorist attacks in Kenya.
  • Old-Time Wares for a New Wartime VOA 20 March 2003 -- The fear of a terrorist attack on the United States has Americans buying duct tape and plastic sheeting. Army surplus stores have been selling emergency preparedness kits containing potassium-iodide pills and hooded suits, for protection against possible contamination by biological or chemical weapons. But, some Americans are thinking beyond the immediate threat. they are preparing to live without modern "necessities" like electricity and indoor plumbing. A hardware store in Kidron, Ohio has seen a boom in its catalog and store business from people who want non-electric goods such as kerosene lamps and 190-liter rainwater drums.
  • MEN'S BASKETBALL/SECURITY VOA 20 March 2003 -- The men's U-S college basketball tournament is underway (begins 17 HRS UTC) as the United States is involved in a war with Iraq. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, security has increased at high-profile events such as the basketball tournament and the National Football League's Super Bowl game. Fans at this year's basketball tournament can expect tight security.
  • ANTHRAX ATTACK CONCERNS VOA 20 March 2003 -- For days leading up to the attack on Iraq, America has been on a heightened state of alert against domestic terrorism. While the U-S government has a detailed plan to counter a bioterrorist attack involving smallpox, scientists say there is no similar strategy for anthrax, which they say poses a real danger to Americans.
  • TERRORISM AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION VOA 20 March 2003 -- The United States and its allies are confronting Iraq in large part out of concern that Saddam Hussein might arm terrorists with weapons of mass destruction. President George W. Bush described the danger:
  • AIRLINER MISSILE THREATS VOA 20 March 2003 -- Alarmed by what they call a rapidly growing threat to commercial airliners from shoulder fired missiles, U-S lawmakers are vowing to pass legislation that would require aircraft to have anti-missile protection.
  • RIDGE/SECURITY VOA 20 March 2003 -- Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, says authorities across the country have stepped up security since the government raised the terrorist threat level earlier this week. Mr. Ridge testified before a House (of Representatives) committee:
  • TERRORISM/INFRASTRUCTURE VOA 20 March 2003 -- Public anxiety over possible terrorism at home is rising with round-the clock TV and radio coverage of the war with Iraq and the heightened level of alert. But local officials in Los Angeles, and in cities across the country, are boosting public security and doing their best to reassure the jittery public.
  • EAST COAST/SECURITY VOA 20 March 2003 -- Three East Coast governors have joined together in an unprecedented security coalition to protect the region's transportation infrastructure. The elected leaders of Connecticut, and New Jersey will participate in New York Governor George Pataki's anti-terror "Operation NYShield (nigh shield).
  • U.S. Success in Iraq War Could Nip Possible Rise in Global Terrorism Washington File 19 March 2003 -- The debate over the possibility of increased terrorism when U.S. and Coalition forces invade Iraq arose at a March 18 congressional hearing on "Diplomacy and the War on Terrorism" that included witnesses from the State Department, the Treasury Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
  • Text: U.S. Expresses Outrage Over Cuban Crackdown on Dissidents Washington File 19 March 2003 -- The United States is "outraged" by the Cuban government's arrest of dozens of opposition leaders on March 18, according to the U.S. State Department.
  • Fact Sheet: Operation LIBERTY SHIELD is Comprehensive National Plan Washington File 19 March 2003 -- Following is Department of Homeland Security fact sheet that details Operation LIBERTY SHIELD, a comprehensive national plan designed to increase protection for U.S. citizens and the U.S. infrastructure:
  • State Department Gears Up Diplomacy to Meet Terrorism Challenge Washington File 19 March 2003 -- State Department officials testifying March 18 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington said that in the global war against terrorism "a philosophical change" has taken place in the conduct of U.S. diplomacy.
  • Homeland Defense Chief Speaks of New Responsibilities AFPS 19 March 2003 -- The symbolism couldn't be better: The new Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense is located in the section of the Pentagon destroyed in the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001.
  • NEW YORK SECURITY/HARBOR VOA 19 March 2003 -- In New York City, which suffered the most in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, wartime security measures are going into effect as the United States prepares to go to war. The city has tightened security on the ground, in the air and on the sea.
  • TERRORISM AND IRAQ VOA 19 March 2003 -- The war on terrorism is being won, say Americans who are fighting it. One by one, members of al-Qaida are apprehended, and their capture leads to information on others. Yet there are fears these terrorists may be be replaced by others recruited in outrage over the war with Iraq.
  • PHILIPPINES U-S BASILAN REVISITED VOA 19 March 2003 -- A series of joint military exercises between Philippine and U-S troops over the past year have had as their goal the routing of terrorist groups. One exercise targeted the al-Qaida-linked group Abu Sayyaf in its stronghold island of Basilan, which both militaries say resulted in the destruction of the Abu Sayyaf network.
  • L-A/SECURITY VOA 19 March 2003 -- With war looming in Iraq, U-S officials have implemented heightened security at airports and other possible terrorist targets. Security will also be tight at the Oscars, Hollywood's annual celebration, which this year will be more subdued than usual.
  • SOMALIA/ARREST VOA 19 March 2003 -- Kenya says its security forces working with Somali leaders have taken a suspected al-Qaida operative into custody.
  • CONGRESS/SAUDI/TERROR VOA 19 March 2003 -- A U-S Senator is accusing the Bush administration of withholding crucial information linking prominent Saudis to the al-Qaida terrorist network.
  • U.S. Terrorist Threat Alert Raised to Second-Highest Level Washington File 18 March 2003 -- The United States raised its terrorist threat alert level to code orange, or "high risk" -- the second highest threat level -- based on intelligence reports indicating likely attacks on U.S. and coalition targets if the United States begins military hostilities against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
  • Container Security Initiative Now Operational in Singapore Washington File 18 March 2003 -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner says the Container Security Initiative (CSI) is now operational in Singapore, the largest transshipment port in the world for cargo destined for American ports, according to a March 17 news release from the U.S. Customs Service.
  • COAST GUARD INCREASES MARITIME SECURITY MEASURES UNDER "OPERATION LIBERTY SHIELD" US Coast Guard 18 March 2003 -- The Coast Guard has increased maritime security measures under Operation LIBERTY SHIELD.
  • Ridge Launches 'Operation Liberty Shield' As War Footing Steps Up AFPS 18 March 2003 -- As President Bush delivered the final option to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on Monday evening, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge launched Operation Liberty Shield.
  • CONGRESS/TERRORISM VOA 18 March 2003 -- U-S officials appearing before a Senate panel Tuesday acknowledged concerns that terrorists may try to launch attacks in the United States in retaliation for a U-S-led war against Iraq. But they sought to reassure Senators they are working hard to prevent such attacks from occurring.
  • HOMELAND SECURITY/LAX VOA 18 March 2003 -- The new U-S Department of Homeland Security is guarding U-S airports, which are potential targets for terrorists. One of the busiest U-S airports is in Los Angeles where officials hope to smooth the flow of passengers while shielding the airport from potential terrorism.
  • HOMELAND SECURITY/LA PORT VOA 18 March 2003 -- This month, the newly formed Department of Homeland Security absorbed many U-S agencies devoted to public safety, including those responsible for security at airports and seaports. Officials say terrorism remains a threat to both.
  • IRAQ/TERROR VOA 18 March 2003 -- U-S officials have announced a series of steps to shore up security at borders, airports and seaports, bracing for terrorist attacks in the event of war with Iraq.
  • HOMELAND SECURITY/LA PORT VOA 18 March 2003 -- This month, the newly formed Department of Homeland Security absorbed many U-S agencies devoted to public safety, including those responsible for security at airports and seaports. Officials say terrorism remains a threat to both.
  • NEW YORK/SECURITY VOA 18 March 2003 -- New York Governor George Pataki has put into effect a heightened security plan, Operation NYShield (pronounced: nigh shield), across the state and along the border with Canada.
  • KENYA: Terror warnings unfair, tour operators say IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- Tour operators have complained that Kenya is being unfairly singled out by the US and UK which last week warned of possible new terror threats in the Horn and East Africa.
  • Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge White House 17 March 2003 -- The Department of Homeland Security in consultation with the Homeland Security Council, has made the decision to raise the national threat level from an Elevated to High risk of terrorist attack or Level Orange. The Intelligence Community believes that terrorists will attempt multiple attacks against U.S.and Coalition targets worldwide in the event of a U.S led military campaign against Saddam Hussein. A large volume of reporting across a range of sources, some of which are highly reliable, indicates that Al-Qaida probably would attempt to launch terrorist attacks against U.S.interests claiming they were defending Muslims or the Iraqi people rather than Saddam Husseins regime.
  • Text: U.S., Pakistan Cooperate to Repatriate Pakistani Nationals Washington File 17 March 2003 -- The Department of Homeland Security issued a press release on March 13 announcing the repatriation of 103 Pakistani nationals who were illegally present in the U.S.
  • U.N. Reports 30 Percent Drop in Colombian Coca Cultivation Washington File 17 March 2003 -- The United Nations is hailing the findings of a new survey that indicates the amount of coca under cultivation in Colombia dropped by 30 percent from 2001 to 2002.
  • Operation Liberty Shield: Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Homeland Security 17 March 2003 -- The Department of Homeland Security in consultation with the Homeland Security Council, has made the decision to raise the national threat level from an Elevated to High risk of terrorist attack or Level Orange. The Intelligence Community believes that terrorists will attempt multiple attacks against U.S. and Coalition targets worldwide in the event of a U.S - led military campaign against Saddam Hussein. A large volume of reporting across a range of sources, some of which are highly reliable, indicates that Al-Qaida probably would attempt to launch terrorist attacks against U.S. interests claiming they were defending Muslims or the "Iraqi people" rather than Saddam Hussein's regime.
  • U-S/SECURITY ALERT VOA 17 March 2003 -- The U-S government is warning Americans of possible terror attacks against U-S targets if there is a war with Iraq and has put the country on the second highest level of security alert.
  • PAK/AL-QAIDA/ARREST VOA 17 March 2003 -- Authorities in Pakistan are said to have detained six more suspected militants linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network hiding in the country.
  • U-S/AUSTRIA/CENTRAL ASIA VOA 16 March 2003 -- The United States is supporting a project together with Austria and the European Union aimed at combating terrorism in Central Asia.
  • SINGAPORE/TERRORISM VOA 15 March 2003 -- Singapore has imposed tight new inspection restrictions on all vehicles crossing its border with Malaysia, amid fears that a U-S-led war against Iraq could trigger terrorist attacks on Singaporean soil. Ruth Youngblood reports Singapore is expressing support for an attack on Iraq with or without U-N authorization.
  • U.S. Launches New Web Site on Visa Policy Washington File 14 March 2003 -- The U.S. State Department officially unveiled the Web site, "Destination USA: Secure Borders. Open Doors" March 14 in Washington, launching a public education campaign to better communicate changes in U.S. visa policies and procedures.
  • Justice Department Waging Global Campaign Against Hi-Tech Crime Washington File 14 March 2003 -- International cooperation is critical to stop the growing activities of organized criminal groups engaged in intellectual property theft and copyright piracy, according to a Department of Justice official testifying before the U.S. Congress March 13. Deputy Assistant Attorney General John G. Malcolm also emphasized that syndicates engaged in the illegal manufacture and sale of DVDs, CDs, software and games are dangerous, threatening government and law officials with violence.
  • Anti-Money Laundering Group Cites Progress in Philippines Washington File 14 March 2003 -- The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international group established in 1989 to combat money laundering, says that the Philippines will remain on its list of "non-cooperative countries and territories (NCCTs)" until it has implemented its new anti-money laundering legislation effectively, but will not be subject to additional counter-measures.
  • Text: U.S. Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts Effective, Says Treasury Washington File 14 March 2003 -- Efforts to protect U.S. currency against international counterfeiting continue to be effective although advances in computer and reproduction technology will require ongoing and regular security enhancements, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
  • Eberhart Briefs Congress On U.S. Northern Command Northcom 14 March 2003 -- The commander of America's newest combatant command briefed members of Congress on March 13 about the progress his unit has made since its inception less than six months ago.
  • KANSAS CIVIL SUPPORT TEAM CERTIFIED Pentagon 14 March 2003 -- The Department of Defense notified Congress today that the Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) from the Kansas National Guard is now certified. This team is fully ready to assist civil authorities respond to a domestic weapon of mass destruction incident, and possesses the requisite skills, training and equipment to be proficient in all mission requirements.
  • HOMELAND SECURITY/FIRST RESPONDERS VOA 14 March 2003 -- The war on terrorism within the United States is highlighting the role of the people called "first responders" -- the police, firefighters and emergency officials responsible for protecting local communities. Officials say coordination of first responders is the key to an effective reaction to terrorism.
  • SPECIAL ENGLISH DEVELOPMENT REPORT Drug Trade in Developing Countries VOA 14 March 2003 -- Trade in illegal drugs is harming the economies of developing nations. That is the warning contained in a recent report by the International Narcotics Control Board, or I-N-C-B. The I-N-C-B is an independent part of the United Nations. The agency, based in Vienna, examines to see if countries obey international treaties against illegal drugs
  • PAKISTAN SOUTHWEST ASIA AND TERRORISM VOA 14 March 2003 -- Pakistan scored a major victory in the war on terrorism when security forces nabbed Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the most important al-Qaida terrorist captured so far. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was the "details man" behind the September 11th, 2001, attacks on the United States and a slew of other al-Qaida attacks. He was arrested in the city of Rawalpindi in an early morning raid and was soon transferred into U-S custody. And yet, in contrast to this high profile cooperation in fighting terrorism, Islamic extremism appears to be growing in Pakistan.
  • HOMELAND SECURITY/LA PORT VOA 14 March 2003 -- This month, the newly formed Department of Homeland Security absorbed many U-S agencies devoted to public safety, including those responsible for security at airports and seaports. Officials say terrorism remains a threat to both.
  • HOMELAND SECURITY/FIRST RESPONDERS VOA 14 March 2003 -- The war on terrorism within the United States is highlighting the role of the people called "first responders" -- the police, firefighters and emergency officials responsible for protecting local communities. Officials say coordination of first responders is the key to an effective reaction to terrorism.
  • EDITORIAL: ASHCROFT ON TERROR WAR VOA 14 March 2003 -- The United States and its allies are winning the war against global terrorism. In the words of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, "We are gathering and cultivating detailed intelligence on terrorism in the U.S. We are arresting and detaining potential terrorist threats. We are dismantling the terrorist financial network. We are disrupting potential terrorist travel. And we are building our long-term counter-terrorism capacity."
  • Admiral Says Fighting Terrorism Is Pacific Command's Top Priority Washington File 13 March 2003 -- Fighting global terrorism is the highest priority for the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), says Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific.
  • Bush at Shamrock Ceremony Thanks Ireland for Anti-terror Support Washington File 13 March 2003 -- President Bush took the occasion of a Shamrock Ceremony at the White House March 13 to thank the Republic of Ireland for its support in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Bosnia, its participation in the global anti-terrorism campaign and its help in securing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 on Iraq.
  • Fact Sheet: U.S. Works on Container Security in Foreign Ports Washington File 13 March 2003 -- The U.S. Customs Service says it continues to target in foreign ports containers that may be used by terrorist organizations to smuggle their emissaries and/or weapons of mass destruction into the United States. Following is a Customs March 12 fact sheet explaining the container security initiative:
  • IAEA calls for tougher precautions against terrorist 'dirty bomb' UN News Centre 13 March 2003 -- With fears heightened that terrorists might obtain a "dirty bomb," a conference organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded today with a call for stronger national and international security over the sources and illicit trafficking of radioactive materials.
  • CIA Executive Tabbed to Head Threat Intelligence Center AFPS 13 March 2003 -- A veteran Central Intelligence Agency executive will head the Terrorist Threat Integration Center slated to start operations May 1.
  • Eberhart briefs Congress on U.S. Northern Command AFPN 13 March 2003 -- The commander of America's newest combatant command briefed members of Congress on March 13 about the progress his unit has made since its inception less than six months ago.
  • Brennan to Head New Intelligence Center, White House Says Washington File 12 March 2003 -- John Brennan, a long-time CIA veteran, has been appointed director of the newly created Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC), the White House said March 11.
  • Southern Command Chief Warns of Narco-terrorist Threat in Latin America Washington File 12 March 2003 -- Narco-terrorism is a "pervasive force of destruction" that is affecting every country in the Americas, says James Hill, commander of the U.S. Southern Command (Southcom).
  • "Privacy Will Be Protected," by James Loy Washington File 12 March 2003 -- Security and privacy are the guiding principles behind the Transportation Security Administration's latest effort to find foreign terrorists before they board U.S. aircraft.
  • Abraham Warns of "Terrible Threat" from Radiological Weapons Washington File 12 March 2003 -- U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham told a Vienna conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency that Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs), or "dirty bombs" as they are sometimes called, pose "a terrible threat" that requires "a determined and comprehensive international response."
  • US court decision on terror detainees sets 'dangerous precedent' - UN rights expert UN News Centre 12 March 2003 -- A United Nations expert on judicial independence warned today that a "dangerous precedent" could be set in the wake of a ruling in the United States that said terror suspects held prisoner at Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba do not have the right to hearings in US courts.
  • Arab-American Concerns VOA 12 March 2003 -- As the Bush Administration prepares for a potential war with Iraq, the federal government's top terrorism investigators have an additional duty: they're preparing to safeguard Arabs and Muslims living in the United States from any hate crimes launched by angry Americans. Residents of the nation's largest Arab community fear the government is more interested in knowing who and where they are than in protecting them...
  • DEA Official Outlines Drug Trafficking Effects Along Arizona/Mexico Border Washington File 11 March 2003 -- Drug trafficking organizations operating along the Arizona/Mexico border pose "one of the greatest threats to communities" across the United States, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is deeply committed to dismantling these organizations, says James A. Woolley, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA's Tucson District Office.
  • IAEA calls for urgent measures to stop terrorists from obtaining 'dirty bomb' UN News Centre 11 March 2003 -- The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called on the international community today to take urgent additional measures to stop terrorists from obtaining a "dirty bomb," warning that current control of radioactive sources is inadequate, especially in the former Soviet republics.
  • Homeland Security Money Goes to State, Local Communities AFPS 11 March 2003 -- With the Department of Homeland Security now a reality, resources are being provided to the state and local partners that assist the organization in safeguarding America, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said here today.
  • US-LIBYA/LOCKERBIE VOA 11 March 2003 -- The United States is reporting progress in talks with Libya on compensating the families of the 270 people killed in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, though the State Department says reports of an agreement are "premature." A senior U-S envoy is returning to Washington from the compensation talks in London, and will meet family members Wednesday.
  • INDONESIA/AUSTRALIA VOA 11 March 2003 -- Australia and Indonesia have pledged to continue cooperating in the fight against terrorism. Government ministers from both countries also want a regional group to take up the issue of North Korea.
  • Order vs. Freedom VOA 11 March 2003 -- Since the September 11th attacks against the United States, civil libertarians on both the left and the right have charged that basic freedoms in America could be at risk in the war on terrorism. But law enforcement officials and many analysts argue that civil liberties can be protected only through increased surveillance and security measures.
  • CONGRESS/TERROR FINANCING VOA 11 March 2003 -- Congressional lawmakers have called for more intensive government efforts to shut down terrorist financing networks. U-S officials involved in anti-terror efforts appeared before a congressional panel:
  • IAEA/DIRTY BOMBS VOA 11 March 2003 -- The United States has announced a program to help poor countries keep track of radioactive material that could be used by terrorists to build bombs. Melanie Sully has more from Vienna where an international conference on the security of radioactive sources is in progress.
  • DEA Announces Colombian Heroin Traffickers Arraigned in U.S. Court Washington File 10 March 2003 -- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced that two leaders of a Colombian drug-trafficking organization have been arraigned in a federal court in Detroit, Michigan, after being indicted on charges of conspiring to transport and distribute two kilograms of high-purity heroin from Colombia to the Detroit area.
  • Text: U.S. Welcomes Anti-Money Laundering Law in Philippines Washington File 10 March 2003 -- Following is the text of a statement released by the White House March 7 on the passage of anti-money laundering legislation in the Philippines:
  • PHLIPPINES / TERROR VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has called on Muslim separatist rebels to stop violent attacks in the southern Philippines, or risk being tagged as "terrorists." This comes as suspected Muslim rebels briefly took hostage 50 bus passengers in the southern Philippines.
  • GERMANY / TRIAL VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- A court in Frankfurt, Germany, has convicted four Algerians of planning a bomb attack on a Christmas market in France in December 2000, and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from 10 to 12 years. The plot was foiled by police shortly before it was to take place.
  • 'Islam in America' Advertising campaign VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- Many Muslims in the United States are concerned about what they consider to be a rising tide of misunderstanding of Islam worldwide. In response, some private groups have launched advertising and educational campaigns they hope will improve Islam's image.
  • National Communications System Joins Homeland Security Department AFPS 10 March 2003 -- After a nearly 40-year relationship with the Department of Defense, the National Communications System became part of the Department of Homeland Security March 5 during ceremonies at the Defense Information System Agency's Skyline 7 auditorium here.
  • GERMANY/TRIAL VOA 10 March 2003 -- A German court has convicted four Algerian men of plotting to bomb a busy Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg, and sentenced them to prison terms of 10-to-12 years. The plot was foiled by German police just before it was to have taken place in late December 2000.
  • EDITORIAL: MORE TERRORIST ATTACKS VOA 10 March 2003 -- As two recent attacks make clear, there can be no letup in the war against global terrorism. On March 4th, a terrorist bombing in the Philippines killed twenty-one people and wounded at least one-hundred fifty. And the next day, a suicide bomber in Israel killed sixteen people and wounded more than fifty others.
  • HOMELAND SECURITY/DEMOCRATS VOA 09 March 2003 -- The Democratic Party is criticizing President Bush and Republican Party lawmakers for allegedly failing to adequately fund programs to defend the homeland. The Democrats are attempting to put a dent in Mr. Bush's high public approval rating for his handling of the war on terror. Some Democrats say the Bush administration should devote more attention to homeland defense than a possible war on Iraq.
  • ISRAEL HAMAS ATTACK VOA 08 March 2003 -- The Israeli military has killed one of the founders of the military wing of the Islamic militant group Hamas.
  • SPAIN/AL-QAIDA VOA 08 March 2003 -- Spanish police have arrested five suspected Islamic extremists. The interior minister says they are suspected of diverting funds to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network.
  • Radiation sensors deter, detect terrorist attacks USMC 07 March 2003 -- The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a Department of Defense agency tasked with safeguarding the United States from weapons of mass destruction, held a technology demonstration here Feb. 26, to display the capabilities of recently installed Unconventional Nuclear Warfare Defense Program test beds.
  • U.S. is Committed to Helping Colombia Defeat Narcoterrorism, Says Diplomat Washington File 07 March 2003 -- The United States supports Colombia's efforts to defend its democracy and defeat narcoterrorism, says Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman.
  • Rumsfeld Gives Students the Pentagon's Perspective on Terrorism, Iraq AFPS 07 March 2003 -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld today shared the Pentagon's perspective on the war against terrorism and Iraq with more than 100 visiting high school students.
  • EDITORIAL: EFFORTS AGAINST TERRORISM VOA 07 March 2003 -- Citizens from some ninety countries died in the attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001. Israel and other countries of the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and Asia have suffered terrorist attacks often for years. The bombing of the Bali nightclub district in Indonesia in October 2002 demonstrates that terrorism is also a serious threat in Southeast Asia.
  • PHILIPPINES/TERROR VOA 07 March 2003 -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is pushing lawmakers to pass an anti-terror law, amid rising incidents of bombings in the south. Meanwhile, police in the southern city of Davao have filed murder charges against leaders of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front for a deadly airport explosion on Tuesday.
  • SPECIAL ENGLISH IN THE NEWS #575 - Arrest of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed VOA 07 March 2003 -- Last Saturday, Pakistani and American intelligence officials arrested a top al-Qaeda leader. They seized Khalid Shaikh Mohammed at a home in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, the Pakistani capital.
  • BRITAIN/MUSLIM CLERIC VOA 07 March 2003 -- A London court has sentenced a Muslim cleric to nine years in prison for stirring up racial hatred and soliciting murder.
  • EDITORIAL: TERRORIST FINANCING INDICTMENTS VOA 07 March 2003 -- As the result of an extensive undercover operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States has charged two Yemeni citizens, Mohammed Ali Hasan Al-Moayad and Mohshen Yahya Zayed, with conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda and Hamas terrorists. The two are accused of acting as major financiers and recruiters for terror organizations, secretly raising millions of dollars in New York and at other locations across the U.S. The complaint alleges that Al-Moayad personally handed Osama Bin Laden twenty million dollars from his terrorist fund-raising network before the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on America.
  • TAKING DOWN AL-QAIDA VOA 07 March 2003 -- Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, said by U-S officials to be the "opperations planner" of the September eleventh attacks, among other al-Qaida terrorist acts, is now in the U-S custody. He was captured by Pakistani authorities in the city of Rawalpindi on March first. One of al-Qaida's top three leaders, Mohammed has been described as the "details man" for the terrorist network. He ran recruitment efforts and day-in, day-out operations of al-Qaida. As United States Attorny General John Ashcroft said, "Next to [Osama] bin Laden, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was the FBI's most wanted terrorist." What does his capture mean for the ongoing war against terrorism? I'll ask my guests: James Robbins, professor of international relations at the National Defense University; William Rosenau, Associate Political Scientist at the RAND corporation; and author and defense analyst David Isby. Welcome thanks for joining us today. David Isby, let me ask you who is Khalid Shaikh Mohammed?
  • BALI BOMB TRIALS VOA 07 March 2003 -- Indonesian authorities held a ceremony Saturday in which the last remains of the 200-victims of the Bali terrorist bombing were cremated.
  • PAKISTAN BIN LADEN VOA 07 March 2003 -- An intense new search for terror mastermind Osama bin Laden is reportedly underway in Pakistan, mainly in the rugged mountainous region along the border with Afghanistan.
  • TAKING DOWN AL-QAIDA VOA 07 March 2003 -- Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, said by U-S officials to be the "opperations planner" of the September eleventh attacks, among other al-Qaida terrorist acts, is now in the U-S custody. He was captured by Pakistani authorities in the city of Rawalpindi on March first. One of al-Qaida's top three leaders, Mohammed has been described as the "details man" for the terrorist network. He ran recruitment efforts and day-in, day-out operations of al-Qaida. As United States Attorny General John Ashcroft said, "Next to [Osama] bin Laden, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was the FBI's most wanted terrorist."
  • Coast Guard cutter seizes 3,465 pounds cocaine, offloads in San Diego 06 March 2003 -- The 378-foot Coast Guard Cutter Rush, homeported in Honolulu, with a San Francisco-based Coast Guard helicopter crew, seized more than one and a half tons of cocaine and detained four men from a "go-fast" boat Wednesday, Feb. 5. The four men were taken to Tampa, Fla., shortly after the seizure for further disposition. The crew offloaded the contraband in San Diego today and turned it over to federal authorities.
  • World must unite to stop terrorists from getting weapons of mass destruction - Annan UN News Centre 06 March 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on the world to unite to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terrorists.
  • Security Council steps up global cooperation against terrorism UN News Centre 06 March 2003 -- Representatives of some 60 international, regional and sub-regional organizations attending a special meeting of the United Nations Counter-terrorism Committee (CTC) today agreed to share more information and avoid duplicate efforts in a bid to strengthen global cooperation in the fight against the menace.
  • 3 new entities subject to UN sanctions against Al-Qaida operatives UN News Centre 06 March 2003 -- The United Nations Security Council committee monitoring sanctions imposed against the Taliban has added three more organizations to its extensive list of entities and persons subject to the measures because of their links to the group or other terrorist operatives.
  • ALABAMA CIVIL SUPPORT TEAM CERTIFIED Pentagon 06 March 2003 -- The Department of Defense notified Congress today that the Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) from the Alabama National Guard is now certified. This team is fully ready to assist civil authorities respond to a domestic weapon of mass destruction incident and possesses the requisite skills, training and equipment to be proficient in all mission requirements.
  • Powell: We Must Stop Saddam Before He Arms Terrorists AFPS 06 March 2003 -- Saddam Hussein is testing the United States, the U.N. Security Council and the international community, America's top diplomat said today.
  • Muslim Detention Concerns VOA 06 March 2003 -- Recently [2/20], the United States Justice Department arrested a Florida university professor accused of being a terrorist leader. Sami Al-Arian of the University of South Florida, and three other Muslim activists were also charged with crimes ranging from racketeering to money fraud. The arrests are part of the increased monitoring of Muslim residents and visitors in America. A new requirement for men from some mostly Muslim countries to report to immigration officials under a special registration program, has caused widespread concern among many foreign visitors.
  • ROBERT OSTERGARD VOA 06 March 2003 -- U-S officials are hoping to get a wealth of information from two alleged al-Qaida leaders captured in Pakistan Saturday...Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and Mustafa Ahmed Hawsawi. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is believed to have had a hand in the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. Mustafa Ahmed Hawsawi is...according to published reports...named in some U-S and is thought to have been the paymaster responsible for financing the September 11th hijackings.
  • BUSH/F-B-I VOA 06 March 2003 -- The White House is dismissing allegations from a veteran F-B-I agent who says U-S officials are not prepared to deal with new terrorist attacks that she says would follow a U-S war with Iraq.
  • PHILIPPINES BOMB VOA 06 March 2003 -- Prosecutors in the Philippines say multiple murder charges may be filed as early as Thursday against several suspects in the deadly explosion outside Davao International Airport in the southern Philippines.
  • PAKISTAN/BIN LADEN VOA 06 March 2003 -- Pakistani security officials say they believe the head of the al-Qaida terror network, Osama bin Laden, is hiding somewhere in Pakistan, or in the rugged border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad, the recent arrest of a top bin Laden aide has yeilded new information about the terror chief's whereabouts.
  • U-S/MUSLIMS VOA 06 March 2003 -- An Islamic advocacy group has launched an advertising campaign in the United States to counter what it says is a rising tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric. Organizers say the effort is designed to present an accurate picture of Islam.
  • ZIMBABWE/JUDGES VOA 06 March 2003 -- Ten High Court judges in Zimbabwe have issued a statement condemning the arrest and detention fellow Judge Benjamin Paradza last month.
  • KUWAIT/ARRESTS VOA 06 March 2003 -- In Kuwait, authorities have arrested five suspected Islamic militants and seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition. The arrests follow last month's arrest of three Kuwaitis who had allegedly planned to attack U-S troops.
  • New U.S. Immigration Bureau Arrests Suspected Human-Rights Violater Washington File 05 March 2003 --An immigration bureau in the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security has arrested a Honduran man wanted in the killings of two human-rights activists in Honduras in 1988.
  • Northern Command leader visits Hanscom Washington File 05 March 2003 --Deciding when and how to use U.S. military assets during a domestic crisis are not "simple" decisions, said Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart, commander of the United States' newest unified command, Northern Command.
  • PHILIPPINE-U-S TROOPS VOA 05 March 2003 -- The president of the Philippines says U-S troops will not go into combat against Islamic separatists in the southern part of the country. The president's comments came as she visited the site of a bombing on the island of Mindanao, which Philippine authorities blame on the separatists.
  • Muslim Detention Concerns VOA 05 March 2003 -- Recently [2/20], U-S Justice Department authorities arrested a Florida university professor accused of being a terrorist leader. Sami Al-Arian of the University of South Florida, and three other Muslim activists were also charged with crimes ranging from racketeering to money fraud. The arrests are part of the increased monitoring of Muslim residents and visitors in America. A new requirement for men from several mostly-Muslim countries to report to immigration officials under a special registration program, has caused widespread concern among many foreign visitors.
  • NY/COUNTER-TERRORISM VOA 05 March 2003 -- The heads of New York's newly-created counter-terrorist force say that the city is still a primary target of international terrorists.
  • EDITORIAL: CAPTURE OF KHALID SHAIKH MOHAMMED VOA 05 March 2003 -- Khalid Shaikh Mohammed [khah-leed shake moh-hah-med], a top leader of the al-Qaida terrorist network, was captured by Pakistani authorities on March 1st along with two other suspected al-Qaida terrorists. Mohammed is now in the hands of U.S. authorities.
  • KUWAIT/SENTENCING VOA 05 March 2003 -- A Kuwaiti policeman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for shooting two U-S soldiers in the Gulf state last December.
  • PAKISTAN AMBASSADOR VOA 05 March 2003 -- Following the arrest in Pakistan of alleged al-Qaida leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, a Pakistan diplomat says his country probably harbors few other senior members of the terrorist organization. He says those who are in his country are probably hiding in cities. Pakistan's ambassador to the United States spoke in Los Angeles.
  • STEVE EMERSON VOA 05 March 2003 -- Pakistani officials say they have found several hand-written letters from Osama bin Laden that indicate he is alive and hiding in or near Pakistan. A security official says the letters were found Saturday when Pakistani agents arrested the accused al-Qaida operations mastermind, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, near Islamabad.
  • JOEL ROCAMORA VOA 05 March 2003 -- A kidnap-for-ransom gang with alleged ties to the al-Qaida Islamic militant network says it is responsible for an airport bomb attack that killed 21 people and wounded more than 100 in the southern Philippines Tuesday, but Manila is dismissing the claim. Military officials said the Abu Sayyaf group does not operate in Davao, the city where the attack occurred. They said the country's largest Muslim separatist group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is more likely to blame. Five M-I-L-F members are among at least nine suspects whom the government says it has detained for questioning.
  • PHILIPPINE BLAST VOA 05 March 2003 -- Authorities in the Philippines say they think Islamic separatists carried out a bombing that killed 21 people at an airport on Tuesday. At least nine people have been arrested in connection with the attack.Philippine President Gloria Arroyo pledges to punish those responsible for the blast.
  • 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-terrorism) receives new training site 04 March 2003 -- Douglas A. Munro would likely be both proud and pleased were he alive to see the dedication of a new non-lethal and civil disturbance training facility in his honor here.
  • Arrest of Al Qaeda Leader Seen as Blow to Global Terrorist Network Washington File 04 March 2003 -- Attorney General John Ashcroft says the arrest of al-Qaeda operations chief Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in Pakistan dealt a major blow to al-Qaeda's worldwide terrorist network, and it illustrates that the United States and its allies are winning the global war on terrorism.
  • BAE SYSTEMS Brings Chemical Detection Capability To Super Bowl XXXVII Security Team BAE Systems 04 Mar 2003 -- BAE Systems loaned their JCAD ChemSentry chemical detector to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Hazardous Materials Response Unit for use during Super Bowl XXXVII.
  • Text: U.S. Dedicated to Even Stronger Partnerships with Kenya and Tanzania Washington File 04 March 2003 -- The United States is "dedicated to building even stronger partnerships with the people and governments of Tanzania and Kenya," U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher pledged March 4 as he announced the opening of new U.S. embassy office buildings in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi.
  • FBI Director Meets with Muslim, Sikh, Arab-American Leaders Washington File 04 March 2003 -- The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert Mueller, met with leaders of Arab American, Muslim and Sikh organizations in Washington February 28 and said the F.B.I. stands ready to take "strong and immediate action against hate crimes in the event of any anti-Arab American backlash to world events," according to an F.B.I. press release.
  • U.S. Charges Two Yemeni Citizens with Aiding Terrorists Washington File 04 March 2003 -- The U.S. Justice Department announced March 4 that two Yemeni citizens have been charged with conspiring to provide material support to the al-Qaeda and HAMAS terrorist groups.
  • UN counter-terror panel to examine links with regional organizations UN News Centre 04 March 2003 -- The United Nations Security Council will seek to boost the global fight against terrorism this week at a special meeting of its Counter-terrorism Committee (CTC) expected to be attended by more than 50 international, regional and sub-regional organizations.
  • 'Hope' May Be Weapon in War on Terrorism AFPS 04 March 2003 -- "Sometimes we don't shoot bullets," said Kuwaiti Army Lt. Col. Fahed Al-Shelaimi. "We 'shoot' medical supplies. We 'shoot' hopes. We 'shoot' school supplies."
  • Top U.S. Law Enforcers Agree Mohammed's Capture Damages Terrorist Network AFPS 04 March 2003 -- The capture of alleged terrorist mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in Pakistan is a huge loss to al Qaeda, the top U.S. law enforcement official said today.
  • Ridge Calls Public Response to DHS Preparedness Campaign 'Overwhelming" AFPS 04 March 2003 -- Millions of Americans have responded to the Department of Homeland Security's preparedness program for possible acts of terrorism, DHS Secretary Tom Ridge told a U.S. Senate committee today.
  • Bush: Terrorist's Arrest 'A Serious Blow to al Qaeda' AFPS 04 March 2003 -- The arrest in Pakistan of a senior al Qaeda leader "struck a serious blow" to the terrorist group, President Bush said today.
  • THAILAND DRUG WAR VOA 04 March 2003 -- Thailand's Army is claiming success in the government's war on drugs and reports a sharp drop in the flow of illegal drugs across its borders. United Nations drug officials say an effective public awareness campaign is needed to sustain the gains.
  • ANTI-TERRORIST SUCCESS VOA 04 March 2003 -- Both government and independent anti-terrorism experts say the arrest of the reported al-Qaida operations manager is a major triumph. Analysis in several U-S papers say Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was in a position to know all current and future al-Qaida targets worldwide.
  • EDITORIAL: CHECHEN GROUPS NAMED TERRORISTS VOA 04 March 2003 -- The U.S. has designated three Chechen groups as terrorists: the Islamic International Brigade, the Special Purpose Islamic Regiment, and the Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs. U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said these groups are "responsible for committing numerous acts of terrorism in Russia, including hostage-taking and assassination, that have threatened the safety of U.S. citizens and U.S. national security or foreign policy interests."
  • WILLIAM ROSENAU/TERRORISM VOA 04 March 2003 -- Pakistan says the suspected planner of the 2001 terror attacks on the United States -- Khalid Shaikh Mohammed -- has been turned over to U-S custody and flown out of the country. Since his arrest in Pakistan Saturday, the suspected senior al-Qaida member had been interrogated by U-S and Pakistani authorities. Authorities hope he will divulge details about al-Qaida's funding, future targets, and possibly the whereabouts of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.
  • PAKISTAN AL-QAIDA ARREST VOA 04 March 2003 -- Pakistan says the suspected mastermind of the September 11th terrorist attacks has been handed over to the United States (Tuesday) for further interrogation.
  • U-S/TERROR WAR VOA 04 March 2003 -- A top Bush administration official says the recent arrest of a suspected terrorist in Pakistan could destabilize the al-Qaida terrorist network.
  • PHILIPPINES BLAST VOA 04 March 2003 -- A powerful explosion has killed at least 15 people and injured more than 100 others at the main airport in the southern Philippine city of Davao. Another explosion occurred at a city bus terminal. No one has claimed responsibility.
  • RUSSIA/IRAQ VOA 04 March 2003 -- President Putin has hailed Turkey's unwillingness to allow the United States to use Turkish soil in the event of an attack on Iraq.
  • White House Report, March 3: Turkey, Pakistan/Al Qaeda, Iraq Washington File 03 March 2003 -- Asked about the vote by Turkey's parliament over the weekend that would keep U.S. ground forces from using its bases for an invasion of Iraq, White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer said March 3 that the outcome was a surprise but that there are other options and alternatives available to the United States.
  • Officers of a Dozen Countries Thanked for Anti-Terror Activities Washington File 03 March 2003 -- Military officers from a dozen countries stood side-by-side on the Pentagon dais -- blending the colors of khaki, blue, olive and red, black and white, plus military camouflage -- as a symbol of international unity against terrorism.
  • U.S. Says Colombia Remains World's Leading Producer of Cocaine Washington File 03 March 2003 -- With cocaine continuing as the greatest drug threat to the United States, the Bush Administration's central focus in counter-drug activities in 2002 was again the Andean region, and especially Colombia, according to an annual report by the U.S. State Department on illicit drug-related activities in the Americas and around the world.
  • Drug Counter-Trafficking Efforts Achieve Progress in 2002 Washington File 03 March 2003 -- The United States and its allies against drug trafficking made "progress in critical areas" in 2002 according to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) issued by the U.S. State Department March 1.
  • FBI Director Meets with Muslim, Sikh, Arab-American Leaders Washington File 03 March 2003 -- The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert Mueller, met with leaders of Arab American, Muslim and Sikh organizations in Washington February 28 and said the F.B.I. stands ready to take "strong and immediate action against hate crimes in the event of any anti-Arab American backlash to world events," according to an F.B.I. press release.
  • U.S. Charges Two Yemeni Citizens with Aiding Terrorists Washington File 03 March 2003 -- The U.S. Justice Department announced March 4 that two Yemeni citizens have been charged with conspiring to provide material support to the al-Qaeda and HAMAS terrorist groups.
  • Having a blast! 03 March 2003 -- The FBI came here to finish their class with a blast and that's exactly what they got. About 500 pounds of ammonium nitrate ripped a 2.5-ton truck to nothing more than a frame on a remote corner of the base Feb. 11 as a final exam for an FBI class in explosive scene investigations.
  • TERROR ARREST IMPACT VOA 03 March 2003 -- Intelligence experts say the arrest of alleged terrorist Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is a major victory in the U-S led war on terrorism and a significant setback for al-Qaida.
  • BIDEN/FOREIGN POLICY VOA 03 March 2003 -- The top ranking Democrat on the U-S Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joseph Biden of Delaware, says the Bush administration is alienating allies needed to help fight the war on terrorism. Mr. Biden says the United States will remain vulnerable to terrorist threats until the president defines long-term foreign policy and national security strategies that include international cooperation.
  • KENYA/EMBASSY VOA 03 March 2003 -- Kenyan Authorities say they are making progress in capturing the terrorists who bombed a hotel at the Kenyan coastal resort of Mombasa last November.
  • EDITORIAL: ANSAR AL-ISLAM VOA 03 March 2003 -- On February 27th, a suicide bomber killed himself, two soldiers of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, or P-U-K, and a Kurdish civilian at a military checkpoint outside Halabja, in northern Iraq. The bomber was reportedly a member of the Ansar [ahn-sahr] al-Islam terrorist group.
  • KEY AL QAIDA CAPTURED VOA 03 March 2003 -- The American press is reacting with relief to the news that a man described by western law enforcement as the operations chief of al-Qaida has been captured in Pakistan.
  • PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA ARREST VOA 03 March 2003 -- Pakistan says the suspected mastermind of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and the two people captured with him are being interrogated in Pakistan. The arrest of one al-Qaida's top operatives is being described as the biggest catch in the global war on terrorism.
  • PHILIPPINES/U-S TROOPS VOA 03 March 2003 -- The Philippines defense secretary says plans for a large scale U-S military deployment in the southern Philippines may have to be altered.
  • GREECE/TERROR TRIAL VOA 03 March 2003 -- The long-awaited trial of 19 alleged members of the Greek terror group November 17 got underway in Athens Monday, amid unprecedented security measures.
  • BUSH/PAKISTAN/ARREST VOA 03 March 2003 -- The White House says the arrest of a top al-Qaida operative is a very serious development, and a blow to the terrorist network. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11th, 2001, attack on the United States, was captured Saturday in Pakistan.
  • BRITAIN/TERRORISM VOA 03 March 2003 -- Britain says it soon plans to carry out a full-scale exercise in London to test its preparation for a terror attack.
  • PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA ARREST VOA 03 March 2003 -- Pakistan says the suspected mastermind of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and the two people captured with him are being interrogated in Pakistan. The arrest of one al-Qaida's top operatives is being described as the biggest catch in the global war on terrorism.
  • U-S/AL-QAIDA ARRESTS VOA 02 March 2003 -- U-S lawmakers are praising the capture in Pakistan of an alleged top al-Qaida leader as a major coup. The American officials say the suspect could reveal information about terrorists and terrorist plots.
  • PAKISTAN/ARRESTS VOA 02 March 2003 -- An alleged senior member of the al-Qaida terrorist network captured Saturday in Pakistan is being interrogated by intelligence officials. The arrest of Kuwaiti-born Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is being described as a major success in the U-S-led global war on terrorism.
  • PAKISTAN/ARRESTS VOA 02 March 2003 -- U-S authorities have taken custody of an alleged senior member of the al-Qaida terrorist network captured Saturday in Pakistan. The arrest of Kuwaiti-born Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is being described as a major success in the U-S-led global war on terrorism.
  • Transcript: U.S. Wants to Help Philippine Fight Against Terrorism Washington File 01 March 2003 -- Following a February 28 meeting with Philippine Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers both said the United States wants "to be helpful" to Manila's ongoing effort to combat terrorism within its borders.
  • Drug Control Programs a Key to Fighting Global Terrorism, U.S. Says Washington File 01 March 2003 -- The U.S. campaign against global terrorism in 2002 highlighted the importance of international drug control programs, says the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) of 2002 issued by the U.S. State Department March 1.
  • Text: U.S. Commends Detention of Mastermind Behind Sept. 11 Attacks Washington File 01 March 2003 -- The White House issued a statement March 1 commending Pakistani and U.S. authorities on the completion of a successful joint operation that has resulted in the detention of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks, and several other Al Qaida operatives.
  • Pakistan Captures Terror Chief, Turkey Holds Off U.S. Troops, Iraq Starts Missiles Destruction AFPS 01 March 2003 -- Pakistan reported today the arrest of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed - a top al Qaeda lieutenant - during a raid in Rawalpindi.
  • PAKISTAN/ARRESTS VOA 01 March 2003 -- Authorities in Pakistan say they have arrested one of America's most wanted al-Qaida leaders.
  • THAILAND DRUGS VOA 01 March 2003 -- Thailand's foreign ministry will brief diplomats Monday over the government's current war on drugs as international concern grows over allegations of extra-judicial killings. But Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says the campaign will continue even as the death toll climbs above one thousand. Ron Corben has a report from Bangkok.
  • BUSH/AL-QAIDA ARREST VOA 01 March 2003 -- The Bush Administration Saturday thanked Pakistan for its cooperation in capturing a senior member of the al-Qaida terrorist group. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was on the F-B-I's list of most wanted terrorists.



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