August 2004 Security News

PRESS CONFERENCE BY CHAIR OF SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON AL-QAIDA SANCTIONS United Nations 30 Aug 2004
UN / AL-QAIDA / TALEBAN VOA 30 Aug 2004 -- A new U.N. report concludes that current international sanctions against the al-Qaida terrorist network are out of date and should be replaced. As we hear from Peter Heinlein at U.N. headquarters, the report warns that the nature of the al-Qaida threat has changed since the first sanctions were imposed five years ago.
Reporters Offered Look Inside Combatant Status Review Tribunals AFPS 29 Aug 2004 -- As the world's attention was focused on the first hearings in war-crimes trials against four enemy combatants here this week, another type of proceeding was going on elsewhere on the base that ultimately will involve all 585 detainees held here.
International Visitor Registration System Enters Second Year Washington File 29 Aug 2004 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) August 27 marked the start of the second year of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a nationwide registration program for international visitors.
NY / SUBWAY PLOT VOA 28 Aug 2004 -- New York City police say they have arrested two men on Friday (August 27) on suspicion of planning to bomb a New York City subway station. But officials say they do not believe the alleged plot is linked to international terrorist groups or to the Republican National Convention, which starts this week in New York.
Yemeni Court Sentences 1 to Death, 14 to Prison for Terrorism VOA 28 Aug 2004 -- A court in Yemen has sentenced one man to death and 14 others to prison terms for a series of attacks and terrorist plots, including one to assassinate the U.S. ambassador to Yemen. Five of the 15 defendants are reportedly members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network.
Fourth Military Commission Concludes Week of Trials 27 Aug 2004 -- The final of four military commissions convened today in the case of U.S. vs. Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al-Qosi, a Sudanese citizen accused of conspiracy to commit terrorism and murder by an unprivileged belligerent, among other charges.
Fact Sheet: President Issues New Orders to Reform Intelligence The White House 27 Aug 2004 -- Today, the President issued a series of new, far-reaching orders which strain the limits of his authority but are essential to America's security.
GUANTANAMO HEARINGS VOA 27 Aug 2004 -- A Sudanese man, who U.S. military prosecutors alleged was a close associate of Osama bin Laden, has appeared before a military commission set to try him on war crimes charges. Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al-Qosi is the last of four people accused of conspiring to attack the United States to face pre-trial hearings this week at a U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Commission Hearing Ends in Continuance at Defense Request AFPS 27 Aug 2004 -- The fourth hearing this week for an enemy combatant charged with war crimes ended after an hour in a continuance on the basis that the defense attorney had not had opportunity to prepare.
Many Issues Raised in First Week of Commissions Hearings AFPS 27 Aug 2004 -- As the first week of military commissions hearings here comes to a close, officials on all sides are working hard to resolve issues that came to light during the proceedings.
Al-Qaeda-related terrorism still poses as great a threat as ever UN News Centre 27 Aug 2004 -- Despite international efforts, the threat from al-Qaeda-related terrorism remains as great as ever but the nature of that threat has changed, according to the first report from the monitoring team dealing with United Nations sanctions against the group and Afghanistan's former Taliban regime that sheltered it.
ASIA/SECURITY VOA 27 Aug 2004 -- Singapore's security minister has warned against complacency in Asia's battle against terrorism, saying the recent lack of attacks should not be misread to mean that the fight has been won. Although dozens of militants have been arrested across the region, experts are warning there is a real threat, particularly in Indonesia.
Officials Working on Commissions Translation Issues AFPS 26 Aug 2004 -- Officials are resolving translation issues when they are raised, assured a senior official with the commissions today.
GUANTANAMO HEARINGS THURSDAY UPDATE VOA 26 Aug 2004 -- Yemeni man facing trial on war crimes charges has appeared in a U.S. military court confessing to be a member of al-Qaida and demanding to represent himself before what will be the first military commissions since World War Two. Correspondent Nick Simeone tells us the dramatic move came during pre-trial hearings for accused enemy combatants at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Third Military Commission Interrupted by Yemeni Detainee Request 26 Aug 2004 -- Yemeni enemy combatant Ali Hamza Ahmed Sulayman al-Bahlul caused an abrupt interruption to his military commission hearing today by asking to provide his own defense.
GUANTANAMO HEARINGS VOA 26 Aug 2004 -- A man from Yemen has been formally charged with conspiracy to commit war crimes by a U.S. military tribunal in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Correspondent Nick Simeone reports from Guantanamo that the suspect, who was captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2001, is demanding to represent himself.
Yemeni Detainee Asks to Represent Self, Admits to Being al Qaeda AFPS 26 Aug 2004 -- A Yemeni man accused of crafting terrorist propaganda appeared before a military commission here today and asked to represent himself.
Guantanamo Commissions Exceed International Standards AFPS 26 Aug 2004 -- The spirited arguments offered by defense lawyers at the military tribunals show the cases against detainees charged with crimes will exceed the international standard for such tribunals, the legal adviser to the appointing authority at the Defense Department's Office of Military Commissions said here today.
Better Dialogue Improves Maritime Security AFPS 26 Aug 2004 -- U.S. maritime security has improved since 9/11 because of better dialogue between government agencies and emergency first responders and heightened scrutiny of vessel shipments, the Coast Guard's chief of port security told a House committee Aug. 25.
Hearing Tackles Medical Preparedness for Mass Casualty Event AFPS 26 Aug 2004 -- The 9/11 Commission report failed to allow for immediate medical response in the event that the next attack on the homeland resulted in mass casualties, Rep. Christopher H. Smith, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, said during a hearing here today.
Australian Detainee Pleads Not Guilty, Meets With Family AFPS 26 Aug 2004 -- Australian detainee David Hicks, accused of fighting for the Taliban in Afghanistan, pleaded not guilty here Aug. 25 to war-crimes charges and met with his family for the first time in five years.
Transcript: Defense Department Briefing on Preliminary Hearing for Guantanamo Detainees 26 Aug 2004 -- Brigadier General Thomas Hemingway, Legal Advisor for the Office of Military Commissions
New Air Passenger Prescreening System Announced by U.S. Washington File 26 Aug 2004 -- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin testing a new passenger prescreening system after it shelved the previous version over privacy concerns.
Coast Guard Seeks Layered Protection of Marine Transport Washington File 26 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. Coast Guard, working with other agencies and international partners, is building a layered maritime defense system designed to counter terrorist risks long before ships reach a U.S. port, agency officials say.
U.S. Official Lauds Colombia's Fight Against Narcoterrorism Washington File 26 Aug 2004 -- The following column, "Colombia: Growing Strong Democracy Instead of Drug Crops," by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roger Noriega, appeared August 26 in The Miami Herald. There are no republication restrictions.
Defense Department Report, August 26: Guantanamo Hearings Proceed Washington File 26 Aug 2004 -- A senior military official who is familiar with the legal proceedings now underway for detainees being held in U.S. custody at Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba says the process "complies with international norms."
ATK Supplies Radiation Detection Devices to Law Enforcement Agencies Across the Country ATK 26 Aug 2004 -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) has received orders to supply numerous law enforcement agencies across the country with hand-held radiation detection devices.
BAE SYSTEMS Proceeds To Phase II For U.S. Commercial Airliner Protection BAE Systems 26 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced that BAE Systems has been selected to participate in Phase II of its Counter-MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) program to protect commercial aircraft against threats posed by infrared guided missiles.
GUANTANAMO HEARINGS VOA 25 Aug 2004 -- An Australian man accused of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit war crimes pleaded not guilty Wednesday before a U.S. military commission set to begin prosecuting accused enemy combatants. The hearings are underway at the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for four people accused of supporting al-Qaida or the Taleban.
Australian Citizen is the Second Commissions Case 25 Aug 2004 -- The second of four military commissions began today here at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for Australian David Hicks. An Australian citizen, Hicks is accused of conspiracy, attempted murder by an unprivileged belligerent, and aiding the enemy.
RNC / RIDGE VOA 25 Aug 2004 -- U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, Tom Ridge, says (Wednesday) local police and federal security officials are ready for the upcoming Republican National Convention in New York. The city has invested millions of dollars in new emergency vehicles and state-of-the-art surveillance equipment to protect against a possible al-Qaida - led terrorist attack.
First Military Commission Hearing Ends in Continuance for Defense AFPS 25 Aug 2004 -- The first military commission hearing for an enemy combatant held here ended Aug. 24 with the presiding officer granting a continuance for the defense.
U.S. Wants to Prescreen Most Cargo Containers from Overseas Washington File 25 Aug 2004 -- The Bush administration aims to have most shipping containers prescreened before coming to the United States as counter-terrorist security measures expand to more foreign seaports, the head of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) bureau says.
GUANTANAMO HEARINGS / WEDNESDAY VOA 25 Aug 2004 -- An Australian man accused of conspiracy to commit war crimes is having a preliminary hearing before a panel of U.S. military officers set to prosecute accused enemy combatants on war crimes charges. The hearings are under way at the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where 29 year old David Hicks is the second of four people accused of supporting al-Qaida to face what would be the first military commissions for alleged war crimes since World War Two.
PAKISTAN / TERROR VERDICT VOA 25 Aug 2004 -- An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced nine men to life in prison for an attack nearly two years ago on the Macedonian diplomatic mission in Karachi.
GUANTANAMO HEARINGS OPEN VOA 25 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. military has begun preliminary hearings at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to prosecute four accused enemy combatants on war crimes charges for allegedly conspiring with terrorists who threaten the United States. The Pentagon says the military commissions, the first since World War Two, will provide the same standard of due process as civilian courts. But legal and human rights groups have already denounced the process as fundamentally flawed. The first to be arraigned was a Yemeni man alleged to have worked for terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.
BASHIR INDICTMENT VOA 25 Aug 2004 -- Police in Indonesia have given prosecutors their file on the alleged leader of regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah. The move means militant Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir is one step closer to prosecution. But legal technicalities will make any case hard for the prosecutors to win.
Northrop Grumman Wins Commercial Aircraft Anti-Missile System Contract Northrop Grumman 25 Aug 2004 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Phase II of the Counter-Man Portable Air Defense Systems (Counter-MANPADS) program, which is designed to protect commercial aircraft from attack by ground-based, shoulder-fired missiles.
First Military Commission Convened at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba 24 Aug 2004 -- The first U.S. military commission in more than 50 years was convened here today in the case of U.S. vs. Salim Achmed Hamdan who is accused of conspiracy to commit violations of the law of war.
NY / MOSQUE RAID VOA 24 Aug 2004 -- A federal court has granted bail to two Muslim men who were detained earlier this month after an FBI-sting operation in Albany, New York, about 250 kilometers from New York City. New information that a significant part of the government's case was based on an incorrectly translated document caused the judge to change his earlier decision.
GUANTANAMO HEARINGS OPEN VOA 24 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. military has begun preliminary hearings at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to prosecute four accused enemy combatants on war crimes charges for allegedly conspiring with terrorists who threaten the United States. The Pentagon says the military commissions, the first since World War Two, will provide the same standard of due process as civilian courts. But legal and human rights groups have already denounced the process as fundamentally flawed. The first to be arraigned Tuesday was a Yemeni man alleged to have worked for Osama bin Laden.
US / BANKING / MONEY LAUNDERING VOA 24 Aug 2004 -- The United States is targeting two foreign banks for sanctions under anti-terrorism laws designed to crack down on money laundering.
U.S. Indicts Six Men For Exporting Arms to Terrorist Groups in Colombia Washington File 24 Aug 2004 -- A federal grand jury in Miami, Florida, has indicted six men on charges of conspiring to export arms via Venezuela to several terrorist groups in Colombia.
U.S. Treasury Targets Foreign Banks for Money Laundering Washington File 24 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. Treasury Department announced August 24 that, in order to protect the integrity of the U.S. financial system, it is designating First Merchant Bank of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" and Infobank of Belarus as financial institutions of "primary money laundering concern."
Pakistan: Western Diplomats Urge Islamabad To Rein In Taliban As Well As Al-Qaeda RFE/RL 24 Aug 2004 -- In Islamabad, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has promised visiting Afghan Transitional Administration Hamid Karzai that militants will not be allowed to use Pakistani territory to disrupt Afghanistan's 9 October election. But "The New York Times" newspaper is quoting Western diplomats in Kabul who say Pakistan's security forces are, in fact, turning a blind eye to Taliban fighters who have training camps in Pakistan's autonomous tribal regions. They also warn of intelligence reports saying the Taliban may be planning a series of major attacks in Afghanistan on election day.
INDONESIA / BOMBING SENTENCE VOA 24 Aug 2004 -- An Indonesian court has sentenced a Muslim militant to 10 years in prison for his involvement in the bombing of a Jakarta luxury hotel last year. The man, known as Idris, was also accused in the 2002 Bali bombing, which killed more than 200 people, but he was cleared on a technicality.
CONGRESS / TERROR FINANCING VOA 23 Aug 2004 -- The commission that probed the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks says the U.S. government still does not know where the al-Qaida terrorist network gets its funding or how much money it is raising. A congressional hearing on the matter was held Monday
NY/PROTESTERS RULING VOA 23 Aug 2004 -- A U.S. federal judge has ruled that two protest groups cannot force New York City to give them permits to stage large rallies on Central Park's Great Lawn, days before the Republican National Convention.
US DIPLOMACY / ISLAM VOA 23 Aug 2004 -- The commission that investigated the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States says, beyond defeating al-Qaida, the United States must defeat a radical strain of Islamist ideology that celebrates death and destruction. The chairman of the September 11th Commission called for an overhaul of U.S. public diplomacy while testifying on Capitol Hill.
U.S.: Hearings For Guantanamo Detainees Set To Begin RFE/RL 23 Aug 2004 -- Nearly three years after the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, the U.S. military is finally starting the process of trying detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Hearings begin tomorrow for four men charged with conspiracy to commit war crimes. The U.S. military says the four will be dealt with fairly, but critics say the tribunals fail to meet minimum standards of justice and the verdict may be a foregone conclusion.
U.S. Outlines Steps for Protecting Southern Border Against Terrorism Washington File 23 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, has issued a fact sheet outlining steps recently implemented to protect the United States' southern border against possible terrorist threats.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA/AFGHANISTAN VOA 23 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's military says it has killed at least four suspected foreign militants hiding in a semi-autonomous tribal region near the Afghan border.
Pakistan: Islamabad Says It Has Stopped Al-Qaeda Plot To Kill Hundreds RFE/RL 23 Aug 2004 -- Officials in Islamabad say the recent arrest of 10 Al-Qaeda suspects has prevented a series of terrorist attacks in Pakistani cities that could have killed hundreds of people. They say suicide-bomb attacks were planned against President Pervez Musharraf's residence, Pakistani government buildings, and the U.S. Embassy.
GUANTANAMO HEARINGS SCENESETTER VOA 23 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. military will begin pre-trial hearings Tuesday for enemy combatants captured in the war on terrorism. Four people among the nearly 600 detained at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba are set to appear before a military commission, all charged with conspiring to commit war crimes against the United States. The hearings are opening under extremely tight security as well as controversy over whether the trials will be fair.
PAKISTAN TERRORISM VOA 22 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan has arrested least ten suspected terrorists planning attacks on key government buildings as well as the U.S. Embassy.
Pakistan Says Militants Killed Near Afghan Border RFE/RL 21 Aug 2004 -- The Pakistani military says that its forces were hunting Al-Qaeda linked rebels in the South Waziristan tribal region near the border with Afghanistan today.
Three Hamas Terrorists Indicted For Racketeering Washington File 20 Aug 2004 -- A Hamas leader and two other men were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly running a U.S.-based terrorist recruiting and financing cell associated with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, Attorney General John Ashcroft said August 20.
US / TERRORIST FINANCING VOA 20 Aug 2004 -- Three men have been charged in the United States with financing terrorist activities of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Two of the men have been arrested, and a third remains at large.
GREECE / SECURITY VOA 20 Aug 2004 -- Greece's defense minister says his country's security preparations for the Athens Olympics have been so successful that it is now in a position to advise China, the host of the 2008 Summer Games, on how to avoid terrorist attacks. But, as VOA's Roger Wilkison reports from Athens, the minister says Greece has no intention of lowering its guard until the Games are over.
U.S.: Washington Pressing Public Diplomacy In Terrorism War RFE/RL 20 Aug 2004 -- The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush says it is trying to win the war on terrorism in part by reaching out to the Arab and Muslim worlds. Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, says Washington wants to go beyond military action to help foster a more positive view of the United States in the region.
PAKISTAN / AL-QAIDA VOA 20 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan has arrested two suspected al-Qaida members, following a shootout in the conservative western city of Peshawar.
Rice Discusses Political Strategy of War Against Terrorism Washington File 19 Aug 2004 -- National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice says that the Bush administration agrees with the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission) that the United States must have a strategy to combat Islamic extremism that is as much political as it is military.
Analysis: The Changing Face Of Al-Qaeda RFE/RL 19 Aug 2004 -- In a series of apparently well-coordinated raids, British and Pakistani security forces arrested a number of terrorism suspects in early August. Some of the men arrested in the United Kingdom were charged with "conspiring...to cause fear, panic, and disruption." These arrests have provided a wealth of new information on the current complex status of Al-Qaeda and its mode of operations. At the same time, this information contains many troubling indications that the war on terrorism is far from over.
Long History Behind Military Commissions AFPS 19 Aug 2004 -- The United States Army, and before that the British army, have used military commissions to try war crimes at several different points in their long history.
Battling Terrorism Requires a Global Response Washington File 19 Aug 2004 -- The United States is facing a global terrorist threat, which calls for a comprehensive diplomatic strategy and a global response, says the State Department's chief counterterrorism official.
Defense Department Report, August 19: Military Tribunals Readied Washington File 19 Aug 2004 -- Four individuals charged with war crimes as part of the global war on terrorism, are the first to be scheduled for preliminary hearings during the week of August 23-27, according to John Altenburg, who is the Defense Department's appointing authority for military commissions.
Guantanamo Detainee Processes US Dept. of Defense 18 Aug 2004 [MSWord]
Military Commissions to Begin at Guantanamo AFPS 18 Aug 2004 -- The first four enemy-combatant detainees held by the United States at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to be charged with war crimes will make their first appearance before a military commission when preliminary hearings begin there next week.
UN-backed maritime identification to go into force to fight terrorism UN News Centre 18 Aug 2004 -- In the ongoing battle against the threat of terrorism on the high seas and in the world's ports, a new and more rigorous biometric identity verification system which could potentially be used by 1.2 million global maritime workers has received the necessary ratifications to go into force by February, the United Nations labour agency has announced.
September, October Bring Changes in U.S. Border Procedures Washington File 18 Aug 2004 -- U.S. government officials reached out to the international traveling public August 17, issuing an advisory about forthcoming changes in U.S. border procedures.
Machine-readable Passport or U.S. Visa Required Beginning Oct. 26 Washington File 18 Aug 2004 -- Beginning on October 26, 2004, all travelers from the 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must present either a machine-readable passport or a valid U.S. visa upon entry to the United States. All VWP travelers will also be required beginning September 30, 2004, to enroll in US-VISIT, a program involving a digital photograph and fingerscans.
U.S. Continues Assistance for Colombian Aerial Interdiction Program Washington File 18 Aug 2004 -- President Bush has authorized the U.S. Department of State to continue assistance to Colombia in carrying out an Airbridge Denial Program against civil aircraft suspected of trafficking illicit drugs, according to an August 17 White House statement.
BRITAIN / TERROR TRIAL VOA 18 Aug 2004 -- Eight men facing terror charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, have made their first court appearance in London.
Transcript: Defense Department Briefing on Military Commission Hearings 17 Aug 2004 -- John Altenburg, Jr., Appointing Authority for the Office of Military Commissions
PAKISTAN: THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST AL-QAIDA US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 17 Aug 2004
BRITAIN-TERROR VOA 17 Aug 2004 -- British authorities have charged eight men with conspiracy to murder, in an anti-terrorist round-up spurred by information gathered from a computer expert arrested in Pakistan last month.
Malaysia, Thailand Join Container Security Initiative Washington File 17 Aug 2004 -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner has announced that CBP officers will be deployed to the ports of Laem Chabang in Thailand and Tanjung Pelegas in Malaysia, as part of CBP's Container Security Initiative (CSI).
CHINA/US/UIGHURS VOA 17 Aug 2004 -- China has expressed displeasure with a U.S. decision not to return to China a group of Chinese Muslims, known as Uighurs, who might soon be freed from detention in Guantanamo Bay.
Some Visitors to United States Need New Passports by October Washington File 16 Aug 2004 -- Visitors entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must have machine-readable passports by October 26, or the traveler must apply for a visa to enter the country, according to the U.S. Department of State.
PAKISTAN/MUSHARRAF/TERRORISM VOA 16 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, a key ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, says terrorists linked to the al-Qaida network are being forced to flee
U.K.: Civil Liberties Groups Upset Over Ruling Upholding Detentions RFE/RL 16 Aug 2004 -- Civil liberties groups and legal experts are upset over a recent decision by the British Court of Appeals that confirms the legality of the government's detention of 10 foreign terrorism suspects without charge.
Pakistan denies US magazine report on al-Qaeda meet IRNA 16 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan military spokesman has denied remarks attributed to President General Pervez Musharraf in the American Time magazine`s interview that al-Qaeda members had held a meeting in the country`s tribal region in March this year.
Al-Qaeda on run from Pakistan, says Musharraf IRNA 16 Aug 2004 -- President General Pervez Musharraf has said that al-Qaeda is on run from Pakistan because of his government campaign against the group.
MALAYSIA/US EMBASSY VOA 16 Aug 2004 -- An envelope containing a letter and an unidentified yellow powder has been found at the U.S. Embassy in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, prompting immediate precautions but no closing of the embassy. It was the second such incident at a U.S. embassy in Asia in a week.
Task Force Releases Report on Reducing Power Outage Risk Washington File 16 Aug 2004 -- A joint U.S.-Canadian task force set up to identify the causes of the power outage that affected eight U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario August 14, 2003, has released a report detailing actions that have been taken since to reduce the risk of another such blackout, the U.S. Department of Energy said in an August 13 press release.
INDIA/PAKISTAN/TERRORISM VOA 15 Aug 2004 -- In India, at least 12 people have been killed and several injured in a powerful bomb blast in the northeastern state of Assam. The explosion took place as India and Pakistan celebrated their independence from British rule with vows to crush terrorism and improve relations with each other.
US: Possible Attacks Delay Diplomats' Return to Saudi Arabia VOA News 14 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. State Department says it will keep non-emergency diplomatic personnel and their families out of Saudi Arabia indefinitely.
Middle East: Yemen, Saudis Working To Contain Islamic Extremism RFE/RL 13 Aug 2004 -- Saudi Arabia and Yemen have much in common historically, having basically the same tribal background. Today, they have something else in common as well -- namely, that they are both seen as under threat from Islamic militancy. Some experts see the Arabian Peninsula as one of the areas currently most vulnerable to destabilization by extremists. However, the Saudi and Yemeni governments have scored some victories in the past few days. But is this too little, too late?
GUANTANAMO DETAINEES VOA 13 Aug 2004 -- U.S. military hearings underway at a Naval detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have found that at least four people held there have correctly been classified as enemy combatants, meaning they could ultimately face terrorism related charges. Preliminary hearings for the first prosecutions in terrorism cases are set to open later this month.
Status-Review Tribunals Under Way at Guantanamo AFPS 13 Aug 2004 -- Cases have been opened for about 150 detainees to appear before status-review tribunals at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Four Guantanamo Detainees Determined to be Enemy Combatants Washington File 13 Aug 2004 -- Four detainees at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, U.S. Navy base, who have had their cases reviewed by a special military panel, are properly classified as enemy combatants and will not be released, Navy Secretary Gordon England says.
No-Risk Visitors to Be Excused for Visa-Waiver Overstays Washington File 13 Aug 2004 -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert Bonner announced August 12 that CBP officers have new discretion to grant a one-time parole to no-risk travelers who have committed a minor violation in the past.
U.S. Welcomes Conviction of Abu Sayyaf Terrorists in Philippines Washington File 13 Aug 2004 -- The State Department released a statement August 13 welcoming the conviction of 17 members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group by a Philippine court.
Transcript: Special Defense Department Briefing with Secretary of the Navy Gordon England on Combatant Status Review Tribunals 13 Aug 2004 -- Secretary of the Navy Gordon England
Pakistan says arrested five more `al-Qaeda` suspects IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan`s Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat has said that another five suspects have been arrested in two days, adding that it is far too soon to know if they are connected with al-Qaeda.
SRI LANKA / US EMBASSY VOA 13 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. Embassy in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo is to reopen Monday after it was shut for security reasons. The closure came after an envelope containing a white powder was found, raising fears of a possible
NATO Radar Planes Begin Security Overflights for Athens Olympics Washington File 11 Aug 2004 -- NATO has begun operational flights of several radar planes to provide surveillance and early warning of possible threats during the Summer Olympic Games that begin in Athens on August 13, according to an August 10 press release
DoD Helps Local, State, Federal Agencies in Disaster-Response Exercise AFPS 12 Aug 2004 -- It was a nightmare worst-case scenario. But that's what U.S. Northern Command officials had intended for "Determined Promise '04."
Nicaragua Destroys Another Batch of Air Defense Missiles Washington File 11 Aug 2004 -- Nicaragua has destroyed another portion of its missile stockpile in a move that the United States says will thwart terrorists from attempting to shoot down civilian aircraft.
NATO Experts Observe Anti-Terrorism Exercise in Russia Washington File 12 Aug 2004 -- Experts from 17 NATO countries and the organization's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, recently observed a Russian military exercise that focused on defending nuclear weapons convoys -- truck or rail -- from terrorist attacks
U.K.: Arrest Of Terror Suspects Puts Police In Delicate Position RFE/RL 12 Aug 2004 -- Britain's police have held 12 terrorist suspects since last week -- including, allegedly, Al-Qaeda's chief planner in the United Kingdom. Yet, the police faced uncomfortable choices. Should they arrest the suspects prematurely before gathering all the evidence or let them vanish? And what if the evidence does not prove sufficient for a trial?
EADS to provide an integrated homeland security system solution to Romania EADS 12 Aug 2004 -- EADS has signed a contract with the Romanian Ministry of Administration and Internal Affairs to provide an integrated solution for border surveillance and security. On the occasion of a state visit to Romania by German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder on Thursday, the Romanian government and EADS officially sealed the deal with a signing ceremony in Bucharest, which reiterated the importance of an integrated homeland security system for the Romanian state border security.
PAKISTAN AL-QAIDA VOA 12 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's interior minister says his country's aggressive pursuit of suspected al-Qaida operatives will continue, but warns that some news reports about the sweep are incorrect. The minister is also urging U.S. officials to keep information from the investigation secret.
DOD Official Rejects Drug Allegations Against Colombia's Uribe Washington File 11 Aug 2004 -- A counter-drug official with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has joined the U.S. State Department in rejecting allegations that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was possibly linked to Colombia's Medellin drug cartel and its late leader, Pablo Escobar.
WEST AFRICA / AL-QAIDA VOA 11 Aug 2004 -- More details emerged this week on the activities of al-Qaida in West Africa, especially in Liberia, where terrorists allegedly have been closely working with the government in the diamond trade.
DoD Assists CDC with Anthrax Plasma Project 11 Aug 2004 -- The Departments of Defense (DoD) and Health and Human Services (DHHS) today announced that the military will support a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) effort to create a new medication against anthrax. This new medication, anthrax immune globulin (AIG), is an antibody-based medication and could become a critical medical countermeasure for the nation in case of an anthrax attack.
Ex-CIA chief won`t testify in Motassadeq retrial: DPA IRNA 11 Aug 2004 -- Former CIA chief George Tenet will not testify in the retrial of Mounir al-Motassadeq who is accused of aiding the September 11 terror hijackers, DPA quoted Wednesday an American Justice Department letter as saying.
GUANTANAMO DETAINEES VOA 10 Aug 2004 -- U.S. Military authorities at the U.S. Navy Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba say hearings on the status of detainees there could last several more months. The tribunal hearings began recently to determine if nearly 600 detainees at the base should be considered enemy combatants. Separate military commissions, or war-crimes trials are scheduled to start within weeks. The tribunals, the planned commissions, and the continued detention of individuals is being criticized by human rights and lawyers groups, but military authorities say Guantanamo Bay is an important asset in the war on terror.
NY/ TERROR SUSPECTS VOA 10 Aug 2004 -- A federal judge has denied bail to two Albany men who were arrested last week for their alleged involvement in a fake plot to purchase a shoulder-fired missile. The charges include money-laundering and conspiracy.
Bill Expanding Coast Guard Authority Signed into Law Washington File 10 Aug 2004 -- A law that expands U.S. Coast Guard law-enforcement authority without subjecting foreign ships to new security requirements has been signed into law by President Bush.
The Rest of the Story, Securing U.S. Borders Post 9/11 Washington File 10 Aug 2004 -- This column by Robert C. Bonner, who is Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was published in The Washington Times August 10 and is in the public domain.
Biometric Passport Requirements Extended, State Department Says Washington File 10 Aug 2004 -- President Bush has signed a law that will give the United States and 27 other nations until October 2005 to incorporate biometric security measures into passports.
Philippines' New People's Army Redesignated as Terrorist Group Washington File 10 Aug 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell has renewed the designation of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
NATO assistance to Olympic security starts with deployment of Multinational Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Task Force NATO/JFC Naples 10 Aug 2004 -- NATO's operational activities nicknamed Distinguished Games started with the deployment of initial elements of the Multinational Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Task Force (MN CBRN TF).
Pak security agencies enter Al-Qaeda network, says minister IRNA 10 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan`s Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that security agencies have entered into Al-Qaeda`s network.
TURKEY / BLASTS VOA 10 Aug 2004 -- At least two people were killed and eight others injured after simultaneous bombs went off at two hotels in Istanbul. Istanbul's police chief said the explosions were mostly likely a terrorist attack.
SRI LANKA U.S. SECURITY VOA 10 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. Embassy in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo was closed Tuesday following an unspecified security threat.
National Institutes of Health Award Northrop Grumman Biodefense and Public Health Database Contract Northrop Grumman 10 Aug 2004 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a five-year, $16.9 million contract by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, to develop a database that will be used to centralize and integrate data for six pathogens that pose significant public health threats - and can potentially be used as bio-terrorism agents.
A Nation on Alert Washington File 09 Aug 2004 -- This column by Tom Ridge, who is Secretary of Homeland Security, was published in The Wall Street Journal August 9 and is in the public domain.
World: U.S., Pakistani Authorities Hail Antiterrorism 'Breakthroughs' RFE/RL 09 Aug 2004 -- Pakistani and U.S. authorities say they have opened a new front in the war on terrorism. In the latest development, authorities in the United Arab Emirates arrested Qari Saifullah Akhtar, a leader of the outlawed Pakistan militant group Harakat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami, and delivered him to Islamabad on 8 August. U.S. officials say they believe Al-Qaeda's plans to attack the United States have been undermined by the recent arrests.
PAK TERROR / US REACT VOA 08 Aug 2004 -- Bush administration officials are hailing the capture of a key al-Qaida suspect as further evidence of progress in the global war on terrorism. The suspect was apprehended in the United Arab Emirates and has been handed over to Pakistan.
US / TERROR ALERT VOA 08 Aug 2004 -- President Bush's adviser on homeland security, Frances Townsend, says the recent arrests of suspected al-Qaida terrorists and the seizure of information about the group's detailed surveillance of financial centers have disrupted some of al-Qaida's plans for attacks on the United States.
200 Al-Qaeda suspects arrested in two weeks in Pakistan IRNA 08 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan`s law-enforcement agencies have arrested as many as 200 Al-Qaeda suspects in two weeks, newspaper reports said on Sunday.
PAKISTAN/TERROR VOA 08 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan has taken custody of an alleged al-Qaida operative suspected of involvement in two assassination attempts on the country's president.
TERRORIST SAFE HAVENS VOA 06 Aug 2004 -- Two members of the commission that investigated the 2001 terrorist attacks say the United States and its allies must identify and eliminate terrorist havens. Commission memy of Homeland Security, was published in The Wall Street Journal August 9 and is in the public domain.
TERROR WRAP VOA 06 Aug 2004 -- Prosecutors here in the United States have detailed what they say was yet another plot linked to al-Qaida to attack an American target. This, in connection with the arrest of a British man in London who U.S. authorities are now asking to be extradited to the United States. Correspondent Nick Simeone tells us arrests this week have also netted what U.S. and British officials describe as a key al-Qaida leader involved in selecting new American targets for attack.
Bush Touts U.S. Leadership Role in Fighting Terrorism Washington File 06 Aug 2004 -- Acknowledging that America continues to face a "dangerous time," President Bush said he was confident that the United States could lead the world to a "more peaceful tomorrow" by "spreading hope and liberty in places that are desperate for freedom."
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 06 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's nationwide crackdown on suspected al-Qaida operatives continues, as authorities detain 18 more people in Punjab province. The move follows the arrest of several high-profile al-Qaida members.
BRITAIN/TERROR VOA 06 Aug 2004 -- A London court has ordered a British man held without bail after hearing details of a U.S. extradition warrant that links the suspect to Islamic terrorist movements in Chechnya and Afghanistan.
Terror Suspects Arrested In Saudi, Britain, U.S. RFE/RL 06 Aug 2004 -- Terrorist suspects have been reported arrested in Saudi Arabia, Britain, and the United States. Saudi authorities said one of the kingdom's most-wanted militants, Faris al-Zahrani, was arrested on the evening of 5 August.
COUNTER-TERORISM DRILL VOA 05 Aug 2004 -- A simulated counter-terrorism exercise is underway in the United States, as authorities test their readiness for a coordinated attack against the country. VOA's Mike O'Sullivan reports, the drill began with detonation of a simulated "dirty bomb" at the port of Los Angeles, to be followed by other attacks in California and Virginia.
US / MOSQUE RAID VOA 05 Aug 2004 -- Two leaders of an Albany mosque have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to purchase a missile for use in a terrorist attack.
Mosque Raid Sends Deterrent Message to Terrorists AFPS 05 Aug 2004 -- Justice Department officials said today they hope today's raid on a mosque in Albany, N.Y., will serve as a deterrent to terrorists planning attacks against U.S. citizens and targets.
Capital Region Joint Force Headquarters Readies for Battle AFPS 05 Aug 2004 -- A new command is taking its shakedown cruise this week in the National Capital Region. With spanking-new systems for protecting the seat of government, a new team of joint service members to work with and the mission of safeguarding the people and their institutions, the Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region is coming into its own.
SOUTH AFRICA: Government denies al-Qaeda threat IRIN 05 Aug 2004 -- Pakistani authorities are "processing" a South African government request to access two of its nationals who have reportedly confessed to planning terror attacks in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria.
Container Security Initiative Expands Operations in Japan Washington File 05 Aug 2004 -- Officers of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be deployed to the ports of Nagoya and Kobe in Japan starting August 6, according to an announcement from CBP commissioner Robert C. Bonner and the Japanese Customs and Tariff Bureau.
U.K.: British Prisoners Accuse U.S. Of 'Systematic Abuse' At Guantanamo Bay RFE/RL 05 Aug 2004 -- Three British Muslims captured in Afghanistan and released from a U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have accused their U.S. captors of systematic abuse -- including beatings, death threats, and being photographed naked. The U.S. administration, already facing an international scandal over abuse of detainees in Iraq, has responded to the latest allegations of mistreatment by cautioning that militants are waging a "war of words and propaganda" against America.
Pakistan: Islamabad Hoping Arrests Will Show It's Serious About Terrorism RFE/RL 05 Aug 2004 -- Recently, Pakistan has announced some major arrests in the international fight against terrorism, including some suspected Al-Qaeda members on the U.S. most-wanted list. Officials are reluctant to divulge all of the names, but the list includes a Tanzanian man said to be heavily involved in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa. Pakistan says the arrests highlight its commitment to fighting terrorism. But just this week, "The New York Times" reported that elements in Pakistan continue to aid remnants of the Taliban militia in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials deny those allegations, but the report raises suspicions that no matter how many terrorists it arrests, Pakistan's involvement in the war on terror is half-hearted at best.
Al-Qaeda plotting to cripple world trade, says UK navy chief IRNA 05 Aug 2004 -- Al-Qa`eda and other terrorist groups are plotting to launch attacks on merchant shipping that could threaten world trade, according to Britain`s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Alan West.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 05 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan says that, in recent weeks, it has captured a total of 20 suspected al-Qaida militants, including locals and foreigners, and officials say much important information has been obtained from them.
SOUTHEAST ASIA/TERROR VOA 05 Aug 2004 -- A year after the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah exploded a car bomb outside the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, terror experts across the region are warning that the militants, although weakened by arrests and disagreement, are planning new attacks.
INDIA/TERROR THREAT VOA 05 Aug 2004 -- The U. S. Embassy in the Indian capital New Delhi has shut three of its offices because of security concerns. Officials are not commenting on local media reports that link the closure to terrorist threats.
Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS) 04 Aug 2004 -- The United States has traditionally welcomed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and provided foreign investors fair, equitable and nondiscriminatory treatment with few limited exceptions designed to protect national security. The Exon-Florio provision is implemented within the context of this open investment policy.
STOCK EXCHANGE / TERROR VOA 04 Aug 2004 -- U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow toured the heavily guarded New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, just three days after the federal government issued a warning that terrorists planned to attack major financial institutions in Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and New York, including the New York Stock Exchange.
White House Report, August 4: Al Qaeda Washington File 04 Aug 2004 -- Al Qaeda operatives continue to plot against the American people and go through "meticulous planning before striking," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters August 4 on board Air Force One en route to Davenport, Iowa.
Congress Considers Panel's Intelligence Community Proposals Washington File 04 Aug 2004 -- U.S. congressional committees are contemplating the most significant transformation of the national intelligence community since its creation in 1947, but actual legislation to implement changes might not happen this year, according to members of Congress.
PAKISTAN / SOUTH AFRICA TERROR VOA 04 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan is questioning two suspected South African terrorists captured by local police last week, but says it is too early to confirm reports that the men were planning attacks in their home country.
U.S.: Terror Alert Seen As Lesson Drawn From 9/11 RFE/RL 04 Aug 2004 -- U.S. Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge is defending as "essential" the decision to raise the terror alert level for financial institutions in the New York and Washington, D.C., areas, despite the fact that some of the information the warning is based on is up to four years old. Officials say the age of the information is not relevant. They say Al-Qaeda is known to plan well ahead, and is thought to have recently updated the information. That could indicate such an attack is near.
CONGRESS / 9-11 VOA 04 Aug 2004 -- Experts have told a congressional committee there should be no rush to implement reforms called for by the commission that investigated the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. As VOA's Dan Robinson reports, the experts told committee members Wednesday that rushing into some changes could weaken the country's intelligence operations.
Pakistan Says Has Captured High-Value Al-Qaeda Suspect VOA 04 Aug 2004 -- Pakistani Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat says one of several suspected Al-Qaeda operatives arrested by security forces in recent days has "a multi-million dollar bounty on his head."
Northrop Grumman Wins Homeland Security Public Safety Interoperability And Data Integration Contract for Silicon Valley Northrop Grumman 04 Aug 2004 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract by all of the public safety agencies in Santa Clara County, Calif., to provide an integrated voice-data wireless system that will allow the agencies to communicate effectively while assisting one another during major emergencies.
US TERROR WARNING VOA 03 Aug 2004 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge says the terror intelligence that placed areas of the nation's capital, New York City and New Jersey on high alert was updated as recently as January. He was responding to reports that intelligence gathered about a potential al-Qaida attack against financial centers was three to four years old.
Ridge: U.S. Must Assume al Qaeda in Country, Waiting to Strike AFPS 03 Aug 2004 -- The United States must operate under the assumption that al Qaeda terrorists are already in the country, waiting to strike when they believe they can achieve success, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said today in New York City.
U.S.: New Yorkers Alert, But Calm, After New Specific Threats RFE/RL 03 Aug 2004 -- For two alleged terrorist targets in New York City -- the Citigroup skyscraper and the New York Stock Exchange -- business activities went on as usual yesterday despite a heavy new layer of security. Swarms of police cars, barricades, and heavily armed guards provided a dramatic image for TV crews covering the story. The overall mood, however, could be described as nervous but confident.
White House Report, August 3: Terror Alerts Washington File 03 Aug 2004 -- News reports criticizing the recent terror alerts for relying on out-of-date information are "wrong" and "irresponsible," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters August 3 while on board Air Force One en route to Dallas, Texas.
Biometric Exit Procedure Expanded, Says Homeland Security Washington File 03 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced August 3 the expansion of its automated US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) biometric exit procedure to additional U.S. airports and seaports.
Fact Sheet on Updated U.S.-UK Extradition Treaty Washington File 03 Aug 2004 -- In April, President Bush sent an updated U.S.-United Kingdom (UK) Extradition Treaty to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to begin the process of ratification.
CONGRESS / 9-11 VOA 03 Aug 2004 -- Members of the 9-11 Commission have told Congress a proposed new National Director of Intelligence must have sufficient authority to lead the nation's intelligence-gathering system. Lawmakers also heard an emotional appeal from family members of victims of the September 11th, 2001 attacks.
Pakistan arrests more al-Qaeda suspects IRNA 03 Aug 2004 -- Authorities in Pakistan said Tuesday that more al-Qaeda suspects have been arrested over the past couple of days in the eastern Punjab province.
BRITAIN / TERROR THREAT VOA 03 Aug 2004 -- British police have advised some U.S. companies to tighten security at their London offices following the discovery of terrorist attack plans in Pakistan.
PHILIPPINES/ BOMBER ARREST VOA 03 Aug 2004 -- The Philippines government has captured two suspected Islamic militants accused of executing a deadly bomb attack in Manila four years ago. The men are thought to be linked to the regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah.
ATK Wins $3.4 Million Contract to Supply New York City Police Department With Ammunition ATK 02 Aug 2004 -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) has received a $3.4 million, three-year contract to supply the 38,000-member New York City Police Department (NYPD) with 38 Special Gold Dot Hollow Point ammunition. With this new contract, ATK now provides the NYPD with nearly every round of ammunition it will use in pistols, rifles, and shotguns.
CONGRESS/9-11 OVERNIGHTER VOA 02 Aug 2004 -- Two congressional committees hold hearings Tuesday on the recommendations of the independent 9-11 Commission that investigated intelligence and security lapses leading to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Members of Congress have been driven by the attention given to the commission's report.
Transfer of Five Moroccan Detainees Completed 02 Aug 2004 -- The Department of Defense announced today that it transferred five detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the control of the government of Morocco. These detainees are Moroccan nationals.
Homeland Security Officials Selectively Raise Threat Level AFPS 01 Aug 2004 -- Homeland Security officials have raised the color- coded threat level to orange, or high, for parts of New York City, northern New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
TERROR ALERT VOA 02 Aug 2004 -- Police in Washington, New York and New Jersey have tightened security around key financial institutions after homeland security officials warned of a possible al-Qaida terror attack. Officials are urging residents to go about their daily routines despite the heightened concern.
U.S.: Washington Heightens Terror Alert For Financial Institutions RFE/RL 02 Aug 2004 -- The United States has raised to "high" its security alert level for major financial institutions in the New York and Washington areas. Tom Ridge, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said "unusually specific" intelligence information suggests that Al-Qaeda attacks may occur at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington, or at the New York Stock Exchange or several other financial institutions in or close to New York.
Details Provided on Raise in Threat Level for Financial Sectors Washington File 02 Aug 2004 -- Calling the new information "chilling" in scope, senior U.S. intelligence officials provided more details on the intelligence, which led the Department of Homeland Security to raise the threat level for the financial service sectors of New York City, Northern New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. to Code Orange.
U.S. Contributing $945,000 for Counter-Terrorism Programs in the Americas Washington File 02 Aug 2004 -- The United States is contributing $945,000 to an anti-terrorism unit of the Organization of American States (OAS) to help governments in the Western Hemisphere prevent terrorists from entering their countries, and to support an aviation security training program.
BUSH / TERRORISM VOA 02 Aug 2004 -- President Bush has endorsed the creation of a national intelligence director as part of an extensive reform of the intelligence community. It was one of the key recommendations of the commission that investigated the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.
Bush to Set Up Counterterrorism Center, Asks for Intel Adviser AFPS 02 Aug 2004 -- President Bush will establish a National Counterterrorism Center and will ask Congress to create the position of national intelligence director, he said during a White House news conference today.
Remarks by the President on Intelligence Reform The White House 02 Aug 2004 -- "Today I'm asking Congress to create the position of a National Intelligence Director. That person -- the person in that office will be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, and will serve at the pleasure of the President. The National Intelligence Director will serve as the President's principal intelligence advisor and will oversee and coordinate the foreign and domestic activities of the intelligence committee. (...) Today, I also announce that we will establish a National Counter-Terrorism Center. This new center will build on the analytical work, the really good analytical work of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center, and will become our government's knowledge bank for information about known and suspected terrorists. The new center will coordinate and monitor counter-terrorism plans and activities of all government agencies and departments to ensure effective joint action, and that our efforts are unified in priority and purpose. The center will also be responsible for preparing the daily terrorism threat report for the President and senior officials."
PAKISTAN / U-S TERROR VOA 02 Aug 2004 -- Security officials in Pakistan have uncovered valuable information from two senior members of the al-Qaida terror network.
TERROR ALERT VOA 01 Aug 2004 -- The Department of Homeland Security has raised the terror level threat in New York City, northern New Jersey and Washington, D.C., citing specific intelligence indicating that al-Qaida is planning attacks on key financial institutions.
US / TERROR THREAT REACT VOA 01 Aug 2004 -- U.S. legislators say raising America's terror threat warning is prudent and appropriate given intelligence reports about potential al-Qaida plots. Several senators spoke as the Bush Administration boosted the warning level for key financial institutions in Washington, New York City, and northern New Jersey.
Remarks for Secretary Tom Ridge Threat Level Statement Department of Homeland Security 01 Aug 2004 -- This afternoon, we do have new and unusually specific information about where al Qaida would like to attack. As a result, today, the United States Government is raising the threat level to Code Orange for the financial services sector in New York City, Northern New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

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August 2004 Security News