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"Every terrorist attack is preceded by an intelligence collection attack by the terrorists."

Intelligence & Counterterrorism News for the week of:

October 22-28, 2006

U.S. seen balking at challenge by Islamist Web

The Bush administration is failing to counter Islamist online propaganda that could propel militancy into the next generation, experts say. From the Middle East, Asia and Europe, Islamists have built an expansive Internet library of sophisticated texts on the ideology that underpins violence against the West and other enemies, analysts and intelligence officials said….(Reuters, 28 Oct 06)

Taking Terror Fight to N. Africa Leads U.S. to Unlikely Alliances

...Amari Saifi, 37, a former Algerian army paratrooper, was caught in 2004 after he and a band of rebel fighters kidnapped 32 European tourists in the Algerian Sahara and ransomed them for about $6 million.….(Washington Post, 28 Oct 06)

2 alleged bomb plotters get bail

A judge in London granted bail to two people charged in connection with an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound jetliners with liquid explosives. Nabeel Hussain, 22, and a 17-year-old male were granted bail. The judge denied bail to 24-year-old Cossor Ali, the only woman charged…(LA Times, 28 Oct 06)

This is Baghdad. What could be worse?

…Lawmakers debated whether legislation should be submitted to a committee to determine if it was compatible with Islam. Ideas were put forth, as well as criticism. Why not a committee to determine whether legislation endorses democratic principles?...(Washington Post, 28 Oct 06)

Gingerly, South Korea Imposes First Sanction on North

South Korea has taken a first step toward imposing United Nations sanctions against North Korea for conducting a nuclear test, banning visits by officials involved in the North’s nuclear weapons program….(New York Times, 28 Oct 06)

AP Interview: Chalabi Prods U.S. on Iran

Ahmad Chalabi, a former Pentagon favorite who was once Iraq's deputy prime minister, urged the United States to open talks with Iran, saying Saturday that it could help reduce sectarian violence in Iraq and allow U.S. forces to withdraw….(AP, 28 Oct 06)

Pro-Taliban Tribesmen Rally Against U.S.

About 5,000 pro-Taliban tribesmen held an anti-America rally in a remote tribal region near the Afghan border on Saturday, vowing to keep waging a holy war against "infidels."…(AP, 28 Oct 06)

U.N. OKs Study of Small-Arms Control

…The resolution said the lack of international standards in the arms trade "is a contributory factor to conflict, displacement of people, crime and terrorism." It asked Secretary-General Kofi Annan to authorize the establishment of a group of experts to look into "establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms."…(AP, 27 Oct 06)

Taliban accuse NATO of genocide

A bomb ripped through a bus in southern Afghanistan on Friday killing 14 civilians as the Taliban, accusing NATO forces of genocide, threatened to step up already rising suicide attacks….(Reuters, 27 Oct 06)

Media blamed for Islam bias

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty believes the media is fuelling a growing bias against Islamic Australians, warning that increased vilification of Muslims is fomenting home-grown terrorism….(The Australian, 27 Oct 06)

Islam and West: An Invitation to New Way of Thinking

…We Muslims thought at one time that the clashes were limited to the US and were a form of reaction to the 9/11 attacks….(Arab News, 27 Oct 06)

Iranian President Ahmadinejad: The West Should Pick Up the Zionist Regime 'By the Arms and Legs' and Remove It from the Region; U.N. Resolutions Are Illegitimate; America & England are Enemies of the Iranian Nation

The following are excerpts from an address delivered by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which aired on Jaam-e Jam 1 TV on October 20, 2006…(MEMRI, 27 Oct 06)

Islamist Website Monitor No. 15

...(MEMRI, 27 Oct 06)

Debate on veil shows how West is turning on Islam, scholar warns

…Tariq Ramadan, a visiting professor at Oxford University told an interfaith conference in London yesterday that the debate sparked by Jack Straw, who said the veil hampered integration, was part of a global phenomenon in which a "them versus us" attitude was being fostered between Muslims and non-Muslims….(Independent, 27 Oct 06)

Controversial Mozart Opera on in Berlin

A German opera company said Friday it would bring back a Mozart opera canceled because of security fears over a scene featuring the severed head of the Prophet Muhammad…(AP, 27 Oct 06)

Cleric Won't Step Down Over Rape Remark

Australia's most prominent Islamic cleric declared Friday that he would not resign for suggesting that women who don't wear head scarves invite rape, saying he would only leave his post "after we clean the world of the White House first." Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali apologized Thursday for comparing women who fail to wear scarves to "uncovered meat….(AP, 27 Oct 06)

Al-Qaeda at risk of splitting: Academic

Terrorist group al-Qaeda is at risk of splintering into separate, even more extremist organizations, an academic said today. Stuart Koschade, from the Queensland University of Technology's Centre for Social Change, said an inconsistency in values held by top al-Qaeda members risked even more violent groups emerging, as had happened in Iraq….(AAP, 27 Oct 06)

Pentagon expands war-funding push

The U.S. Defense Department is expanding the scope of what it deems war-related spending, a move that would make it easier to meet growing Army and other service requests for more funding overall….(Reuters, 27 Oct 06)

ACLU Drops Patriot Act Challenge

…The lawsuit, filed in July 2003 on behalf of the Muslim Community Association of Ann Arbor and five other nonprofit groups, was the first legal challenge to Section 215, the part of the Patriot Act that lets federal agents obtain such things as library records and medical information….(AP, 27 Oct 06)

Marine on Trial Tells of Killing Unarmed Iraqi

A 20-year-old marine testified on Thursday at his court-martial here that he participated in killing an unarmed Iraqi and knew that the plan for the killing was an illegal act of war….(New York Times, 27 Oct 06)

Padilla Jury to Come From Pool of 3,000

The jury selection process in the terrorism trial of alleged al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla will begin next month with an unusually large group of 3,000 Miami-area residents…(AP, 27 Oct 06)

Afghan blast kills 14, Taliban vow more attacks
A bomb ripped through a bus in southern Afghanistan on Friday, killing 14 civilians as the Taliban threatened to step up already rising suicide attacks….(Reuters, 27 Oct 06)

42 Iraqis Die as Insurgents Attack Police Near Baquba

Police officers acting on a tip about several kidnapped colleagues rode into deadly insurgent ambushes near here on Thursday, resulting in two intense battles that left at least 42 people dead, including 24 police officers…(New York Times, 27 Oct 06)

U.S. Deaths In Iraq Near Peak Months

Unrelenting daily attacks in Baghdad and the western province of Anbar have made October the deadliest month of the Iraq war for U.S. troops in combat since the all-out American offensives on Fallujah in April and November of 2004, according to U.S. military figures….(Washington Post, 27 Oct 06)

Moroccan Man Convicted of Bomb Plot

A Moroccan man accused of ties to two men involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks has been convicted for his role in a bomb plot on the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion….(AP, 27 Oct 06)

A Prisoner of Global Impact
...But the plight of an ailing 58-year-old Florida woman who has been held in a Vietnamese prison for more than a year on terrorism suspicions is threatening to derail the president's plans. The case against Thong Nguyen "Cuc" Foshee highlights both Vietnam's human rights record and the lingering passions of former refugees for the country they fled three decades ago…..(Washington Post 27 Oct 06)

Group warns of N. Korea refugees

…A crisis is occurring "almost invisibly" as the world focuses on North Korean's nuclear test, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a 46-page report published yesterday, "Perilous Journeys: The Plight of North Koreans in China and Beyond."…(Washington Times, 27 Oct 06)

Israel and U.S. to expand civil air defense cooperation

Israel and the United States will expand cooperation in securing passenger planes and airports from terror threats, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz and U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials agreed yesterday….(Haaretz, 27 Oct 06)

Afghan leader seeks Pakistani politicians' help

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has written to influential ethnic Pashtun politicians in Pakistan asking for their support to stem a growing Taliban insurgency….(Reuters, 27 Oct 06)

EU six agree to fight terrorism and illegal immigration

The EU's six largest countries have agreed to work together on fighting terrorism, organized crime and illegal immigration after a two-day informal meeting hosted by the UK….(EU Observer, 27 Oct 06)

UN expert sees US interrogation law setting standard

Washington's new law allowing tough interrogation techniques and military trials for terrorism suspects risks setting a dangerous standard for other countries to follow, a United Nations rights expert said on Friday….(Reuters, 27 Oct 06)

Indian, U.S. Navies to conduct counter-terrorism exercise

For the first time, the Indian and United States Navies will practice expeditionary maneuvers off the Konkan coast in the coming days. These will be followed by a simulated, joint semi-urban counter-terrorism exercise in Belgaum, Karnataka. …(Hindu Times, 27 Oct 06)

U.N. Report Says Somalia Deteriorating

There are thousands of foreign troops inside Somalia and their presence could lead to ''an all out war'' between Somalia's transitional government and an Islamic group that controls much of the country, according to a confidential U.N. report obtained by The Associated Press…(AP, 27 Oct 06)

Israel denies German ship clash

Israel has denied that shots were fired during an incident in which Israeli fighter jets were alleged to have buzzed a German naval vessel….(BBC, 27 Oct 06)

Iran 'steps up nuclear program'

Iran has reportedly taken another step in its uranium enrichment program, in defiance of international pressure….(BBC, 27 Oct 06)

'Al Qaeda' arrest man wins libel suit
A Bangladeshi man detained by Japanese police for 43 days on suspicion of being a member of an al-Qaeda terrorist cell has won a libel suit against Japan's state television network….(Aljazeera, 27 Oct 06)

No easy answer to 'Kurdish question'

…The fact that much of Iraq's rugged northern borderlands with Turkey and Iran are under the day-to-day control of a militant organization might come as a surprise to those who thought U.S. forces had handed over authority nationwide to a new Iraqi government. The PKK's guerrilla camps, ordered closed by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki last month, still dot some of the steep valleys and ravines near the group's makeshift headquarters here…..(LA Times, 27 Oct 06)

Deterring Kim Jong Il

… America's challenge is to prevent this act by convincing Kim that he will be held accountable for every nuclear weapon that originates in North Korea….(Washington Post, 27 Oct 06)

In ’97, U.S. Panel Predicted a North Korea Collapse in 5 Years

A team of government and outside experts convened by the Central Intelligence Agency concluded in 1997 that North Korea’s economy was deteriorating so rapidly that the government of Kim Jong-il was likely to collapse within five years…(New York Times, 27 Oct 06)

Regional Overview: South Asia
South Asia is increasingly becoming a geopolitical competition ground between China, India and the US….(Jane’s, 27 Oct 06)

Seoul dodges the dragon but feels the heat
The prospect of John Bolton, fiery US ambassador to the United Nations, careering through Seoul, making speeches denouncing North Korea, attempting to talk South Korean leaders into hard-nosed enforcement of the UN sanctions against the North, was more than South Korean officials could bear….(Asia Times, 27 Oct 06)

Is NATO Losing the Real Battle in Afghanistan?
This week's deadly civilian bombing has further eroded the support of locals, who want to see less guns and more butter from the international force…(Time Magazine, 26 Oct 06)

Terrorism in the Nuclear Age

Last year, 91 nations signed the U.N. International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism….(Voice of America, 26 Oct 06)

U.S., European Allies at Odds on Terms of Iran Resolution

The United States and its European allies split Wednesday over the terms of a U.N. resolution calling for a ban on Iranian trade in ballistic missiles and nuclear materials….(Washington Post, 26 Oct 06)

Iraqi Premier Denies U.S. Assertion He Agreed to Timelines

…"I affirm that this government represents the will of the people, and no one has the right to impose a timetable on it," Maliki said at a nationally televised news conference Wednesday. "The Americans have the right to review their policies, but we do not believe in a timetable.”…(Washington Post, 26 Oct 06)

Iraq’s Leader Jabs at U.S. on Timetables and Militias

…..(New York Times, 26 Oct 06)

Dutch Parliament orders investigation into what spy agency knew about film maker's killer

The Dutch parliament ordered an investigation Thursday into how much the country's top intelligence agency service knew about an Islamic extremist before he shot and stabbed film maker Theo van Gogh….(AP, 26 Oct 06)

Taliban militias take control

Taliban militias in Pakistan have set up offices, introduced taxes and taken control of justice in the tribal agency of North Waziristan, where last month the government signed a peace agreement with militants….(London Daily Telegraph, 26 Oct 06)

Gunmen refuse to disarm

Abu Zaineb, 56, is one of the most well known small arms dealers in Baghdad. He sells guns under the table in his upmarket shop in Mansour, one of the capital's most prestigious districts….(IRIN, 26 Oct 06)

Somalia's Islamists take key town

Fighters loyal to Somalia's Islamic courts have taken control of a key trading town from the transitional government without bloodshed….(BBC, 26 Oct 06)

In `America Alone,' Steyn Sees Europe Overrun by Radical Islam

America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It, by Mark Steyn

…Steyn is known in his humorous columns in the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere for stuffing clever asides into places where no giggles have gone before….(Bloomberg, 26 Oct 06)

Terrorism threat book withdrawn

Australian Jihad, by Martin Chulov,

FEARS of prejudicing terrorism trials have forced publishers to recall a controversial new book on the terrorist threat to Australia…..(Border Mail, 26 Oct 06)

Deadly attacks on police in Iraq

At least eight Iraqi police officers have been killed in clashes with gunmen in the Iraqi town of Baquba, north of Baghdad, Iraqi and US officials say….(BBC, 26 Oct 06)

Jail for al-Qaeda-linked plotter

A French court on Thursday convicted a Moroccan man on terror charges for his role in a thwarted bomb plot on the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion in 2003….(AP, 26 Oct 06)

Salvador Massacre Figure Found in U.S.

Federal agents, acting on a tip, arrested Gonzalo Guevara Cerritos, 43, on Oct. 18 at a motel near the University of California, Los Angeles. He illegally entered the country in January 2005, according to a statement from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement….(AP, 26 Oct 06)

Iranian Ex-Leader Sought in Argentina

Argentine prosecutors asked a federal judge on Wednesday to order the arrest of former Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and seven other people in the 1994 suicide bombing of a Jewish community center here that killed 85 people….(AP, 26 Oct 06)

Online Fatwas Incite Young Muslims to Jihad

In an article in the Saudi daily Al-Riyadh, columnist Fares bin Hazam reports that both preachers in mosques and online propaganda are inciting young Muslims to wage jihad….(MEMRI, 26 Oct 06)

Islamist Websites Monitor No. 14

…MEMRI, 26 Oct 06)

Australian cleric blasted over dress comments

A senior Muslim cleric touched off outrage in Australia on Thursday for likening women who dress immodestly to meat that is left out for prey — a comment critics said excused rape…..(AP, 26 Oct 06)

Liberian Muslims and the African Napoleon

The whole world has recently been preoccupied with Liberia and the bloody civil war there, but nobody referred to, or even hinted at, the political position of Liberian Muslims and their role in the war…(Kavkaz Center, 26 Oct 06)

Christianity and Islam:The Search for Peaceful Coexistence

There are essentially two viable alternatives between the world’s most powerful and aggressive religions: Confrontation or Co-existence….(Andrianopoulos, 26 Oct 06)

In Syria, Iraq's Fate Silences Rights Activists

Horror at the bloodshed accompanying the U.S. effort to bring democracy to Iraq has accomplished what human rights activists, analysts and others say Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had been unable to do by himself: silence public demands for democratic reforms here…..(Washington Post, 26 Oct 06)

What Osama Wants

…Vietnam often looms large in the debate over Iraq, but the better analogy is what happened in Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion….(New York Times, 26 Oct 06)

2 Soldiers Arraigned at Fort Campbell

Two soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division were arraigned Thursday on murder charges in the death of Iraqi detainees last summer…(AP, 26 Oct 06)

CIA Contractor Retains Conviction

In a decision issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle said the evidence supported the jury's verdict against David Passaro. Prosecutors had argued Passaro beat Abdul Wali during two days of interrogations in July 2003 at an Army base in northern Afghanistan….(AP, 26 Oct 06)

Entering the Era of Smart Card ID

The government begins issuing a new identification card tomorrow, the kickoff of a multiyear effort to provide all government workers and many contractors with a "smart card" that can be used to verify their identity when they enter a building or log onto computer networks….(Washington Post, 26 Oct 06)

Sept. 11 Plotter Asks Court for Lawyer, Trial
Ramzi Binalshibh, an admitted al-Qaeda planner of the Sept. 11 attacks, tried four times to join the terrorist hijackers who flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001 and has acknowledged his goal of killing as many Americans as possible….(Washington Post, 26 Oct 06)

NATO struggles in Afghanistan

…NATO spokesmen are making it clear that Poland's decision to send 1,000 troops to the country early next year - a few months earlier than planned - has nothing to do with the alliance's current military problems in the south of the country. NATO is still struggling to find up to 2,500 extra troops for southern Afghanistan and it needs them urgently…(BBC, 26 Oct 06)

Call to make study of Islam mainstream

Leading Muslim academics in Scotland yesterday described the study of Islam in Britain's higher education institutions as divisive and insular…..(The Herald, 26 Oct 06)

Pakistan says FO letterhead stolen for fake statement

…Newspapers and wire services in Islamabad on Wednesday received a press release with number and title of the foreign ministry saying that the U.S. authorities have confirmed that leading al- Qaeda operative Mohsin Musa Matwalli Atwah involved in the bombings at the U.S. embassy in Kenya and Tanzania has been killed in an encounter with Pakistani security forces in North Waziristan. …(Xinhua, 26 Oct 06)

Terrorism alert over theft of explosives ingredient

Police are investigating the theft of 400 kilograms of explosive material that went missing from a goods train outside Newcastle three weeks ago, the head of NSW Counter-Terrorism, Assistant Commissioner Nick Kaldas, has confirmed….(Sydney Morning Herald, 26 Oct 06)

Danish court rejects cartoon suit

A Danish court has rejected a civil lawsuit against a paper that published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad….(BBC, 26 Oct 06)

Ethnic Cleansing in a Baghdad Neighborhood?
U.S. soldiers have uncovered evidence that one Shi'ite militia is engaged in a systematic campaign of violence and intimidation to clear out Sunni residents…(Time Magazine, 25 Oct 06)

Doubts Grow Over Iraq's Prime Minister
His complaints about a U.S. raid renew questions about whether Maliki remains too politically beholden to militia leaders…(Time Magazine, 25 Oct 06)

The Wrong Partner in Israel

…Israel Beiteinu is the political vehicle of Avigdor Lieberman, who advocates annexing West Bank settlements and reassigning Arab Israeli citizens to a rump Palestinian state. Mr. Lieberman, who is set to become a deputy prime minister, has criticized other right-wing leaders, like Ariel Sharon, for evicting settlers from occupied regions..(New York Times, 25 Oct 06)

Court Again Rejects Part of Canada’s Antiterror Laws

…The decision, by Justice Douglas Rutherford of the Ontario Superior Court, is the second time in less than a week that a judge at the court has rejected parts of the nation’s new antiterrorism laws….(New York Times, 25 Oct 06)

Iraq PM: Govt. to Crack Down on Militias

Iraq's prime minister said Wednesday his government was determined to crack down on private militias blamed for the country's spiraling sectarian violence, warning he would "strike hard" against any group that challenges state authority….(AP, 25 Oct 06)

Book ties Johnston firm to CIA activity

Ghost Plane: The True Story of the CIA Torture Program, by Stephen Grey
Aero Contractors, a private air charter company based in Johnston County, became the "home of CIA aviation," moving suspected terrorists to countries where they could be more harshly interrogated, according to a new book by freelance journalist Stephen Grey. …(News Observer, 25 Oct 06)

What Drives Jihad?

…The three dominant beliefs encouraged in the prevailing, and popular, Sulafi Islamic teachings are killing the apostate, beating women, and declaring war on non-Muslims….(Front Page Magazine, 25 Oct 06)

Islamist Websites Monitor No. 13

...(MEMRI, 25 Oct 06)

Kurdistan – The Quest for Statehood

…After decades of struggle, the Iraqi Kurds appear to be finally in a position to live in peace and prosperity within the safe boundaries of Iraqi Kurdistan, whether it is a de facto state, a de jure state, or just simply a broadly autonomous "federated region" within the greater federation of Iraq….(MEMRI, 25 Oct 06)

Pentagon eyes major spending for Guantanamo trials

The Pentagon may need hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding from Congress to build courtrooms, housing and other infrastructure required to run military trials for terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay…(Reuters, 25 Oct 06)

Suspected Terrorists to Face Hearings

Fourteen high-profile suspected terrorists recently transferred to the Guantanamo detention center are expected to face hearings soon…(AP, 25 Oct 06)

ID Plan Sent Back to Drawing Board

Two anti-terrorism ID programs have been sent back to the drawing board and a third is being farmed out to private companies after costing hundreds of millions of dollars….(AP, 25 Oct 06)

Intelligence, homeland security agencies sharpen surveillance methods

…Guy Thomas, the Coast Guard's science and technology adviser, said improved surveillance techniques would help provide better protection against the possibility of attacks launched from boats offshore…(Gov Exec, 25 Oct 06)

Activists Allege Burundi Executions

Burundi's spy agency has executed 38 people and arbitrarily detained 200 others since the Central African nation's new government came to power, a rights group said Wednesday….(AP, 25 Oct)

U.S., Iraqi Forces Raid Sadr City

U.S. and Iraqi forces on Wednesday raided Sadr City, the stronghold of the feared Shiite militia led by radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, but Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki disavowed the operation, saying he had not been consulted and insisting "that it will not be repeated."….(AP, 25 Oct 06)

Saudi prisoner release gives U.S. pause

…The Saudis released the 29 men from jail for observance of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting and atonement, with instructions to return to custody by the end of this month. Saudi officials said that although the men were still under investigation for possible terrorist ties, they were not considered serious threats…(LA Times, 25 Oct 06)

Baghdad Raid and Air Strikes Target "Death Squads"

An overnight raid backed by U.S. air strikes killed four people and wounded 20 in a Shi'ite district of Baghdad, the government said, in a raid the U.S. military said was targeted at a death squad commander….(Reuters, 25 Oct 06)

One of FBI's 'Most Wanted Terrorists' confirmed dead

An al Qaeda operative wanted in connection with the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings was killed in April in Pakistan, American officials have confirmed. Pakistani officials had said that Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah was killed in North Waziristan during an air strike by Pakistani forces near the border with Afghanistan….(CNN, 25 Oct 06)

War on West shifts back to Afghanistan

...Until Sept. 11, 2001, Afghanistan was the land of jihad: hallowed ground where fighters from across the Muslim world helped vanquish the Soviet Union in 1980s, fought alongside the Taliban in the 1990s and filled training camps overseen by Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden….(LA Times, 25 Oct 06)

Iran to start 2nd nuclear centrifuge in days-agency

Iran has installed a second cascade for uranium enrichment and will start injecting uranium gas into it within days, Iran's student news agency ISNA reported on Wednesday….(Reuters, 25 Oct 06)

Pre-emptive attack on Hamas eyed

Applying a lesson from the recent war against Hezbollah, Israeli leaders are increasingly talking about staging a pre-emptive military offensive in the Gaza Strip in order to avert a Hamas buildup of improved missiles….(Washington Times, 25 Oct 06)

Sudan 'is arming rebels' in Chad

Sudan's government is arming rebels in Chad, the government has alleged amid reports that rebels are moving towards the Chadian capital, N'Djamena…(BBC, 25 Oct 06)

'Don't squeeze N Korea' - Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said North Korea should not be driven into a corner if the world wants to rein in its nuclear weapons program…(BBC, 25 Oct 06)

What's Missing From the New Timeline for Iraq

The U.S. has finally had enough. In a press conference in Baghdad today, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and General George Casey announced that the Iraqi government has agreed to a timeline to take over security responsibilities, quell sectarian violence, split oil revenues and negotiate a truce with the Sunni insurgents….(Time Magazine, 24 Oct 06)

Trying to Contain the Iraq Disaster

…The only question is whether the United States can extricate itself without leaving behind an unending civil war that will spread more chaos and suffering throughout the Middle East, while spawning terrorism across the globe….(New York Times, 24 Oct 06)

U.S. blames Iran, Syria for Iraq violence

America's civilian and military leaders in Iraq linked Iran and Syria with al Qaeda on Tuesday as forces trying to tear the country apart and prevent the United States from establishing a stable democracy…..(Reuters, 24 Oct 06)

Kidnapped AP Photographer Freed in Gaza

An Associated Press photographer was freed unharmed Tuesday after a harrowing day in the hands of Palestinians who abducted him at gunpoint and dressed him in women's clothes to spirit him from one secret location to another….(AP, 24 Oct 06)

Army Translator Missing in Baghdad

A U.S. military spokesman said Tuesday there had been no word on the fate of a U.S. Army solider reported missing in Baghdad, as troops continued door-to-door searches in the central Karradah district….(AP, 24 Oct 06)

Algerian militants ambush Malian rebels, kill 9

…The attack came a month after Tuareg fighters killed a leader of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), an Algerian rebel movement that has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda….(Reuters, 24 Oct 06)

Spanish journalist seized in Gaza

A Spanish photographer working for the Associated Press news agency has been kidnapped by gunmen in the Gaza Strip….(BBC, 24 Oct 06)

Bloodletting continues in southern Iraq

A militia chief's brother, kidnapped last week in an apparent act of vengeance that sparked a two-day battle over control of a southern Iraqi city, was found dead Monday amid signs of simmering unrest between rival Shiite Muslim groups that is undermining security in the relatively stable south….(LA Times, 24 Oct 06)

2 Militants in 2002 Bali Bombing Freed

Two Islamic militants jailed for the Bali bombings that killed 202 people were freed Tuesday, and nine others had their sentences reduced to mark the end of the Islamic fasting month….(AP, 24 Oct 06)

Part of Canada Anti-Terrorism Law Tossed

The first person charged under Canada's anti-terrorism act won a partial victory Tuesday when a judge struck down a key portion of the law, ruling that the clause dealing with the definition of the law violates the country's bill of rights….(AP, 24 Oct 06)

EU, U.S., to Share Criminal Investigation Information

The European Union endorsed an agreement with the United States to facilitate the exchange of information between EU and U.S. prosecutors on terrorism and cross-border criminal cases…(Reuters, 24 Oct 06)

India, Russia discuss cooperation against terror

Sharing concerns over expanding web of global terrorism, India and Russia today discussed ways to increase cooperation to fight the menace more effectively….(Zee News, 24 Oct 06)

Iraq Agrees to New Security Timetable, U.S. Officials Say

America’s top military and civilian officials in Iraq said today that the Baghdad government has agreed to a timetable for a series of milestones to be pursued in the coming year, including cracking down on Shiite militias, completing a “national compact” between competing political groups, persuading Sunni insurgents to lay down their arms and settling contentious issues like the division of oil revenues….(New York Times, 24 Oct 06)

Northern Ireland holds Iraq lessons

Some of the Army's brightest minds gathered Oct. 16 in an auditorium in the Pentagon to hear a British general explain how Britain won in Northern Ireland after 37 years of fighting insurgents and how those lessons might be applied in Iraq…..(Washington Times, 24 Oct 06)

Russia, NATO to Hold Anti-Terrorism Exercises Near Rome

Rescue workers from several NATO countries, Russia and other European nations teamed up Tuesday in the countryside near Rome for anti-terrorism drills, the Associated Press news agency reports….(MosNews, 24 Oct 06)

China: N. Korea Has Not Apologized
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il did not apologize for testing a nuclear weapon earlier this month but told a Chinese special envoy that he does not plan to order a second test, although he could take unspecified further action if North Korea comes under more pressure, a Chinese government spokesman said in Beijing today…..(Washington Post, 24 Oct 06)

Iran condemns US Gulf exercises

...Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted an unnamed foreign ministry official as describing the military maneuvers as dangerous and suspicious. Reports say the US is to hold naval exercises at the end of October with Bahrain, Kuwait, France and Britain….(BBC, 24 Oct 06)

IAEA Head: Iran Close To Enriching Uranium

Iran has taken another step in its ability to enrich uranium…(Washington Post, 24 Oct 06)

Iraqi Prime Minister Acts to Rein In Militias

Iraq has ordered its security forces to crack down on unlawful acts by armed factions, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Monday in a rare public rebuke to the Shiite militias allied with his government. Although the statement was bolder than usual for Maliki, it fell short of directing that the illegal militias be disbanded, a move that American officials are increasingly urging as sectarian bloodletting and other violence soar….(Washington Post, 24 Oct 06)

U.N. Says Human Rights Violators Cite U.S.

Several governments around the world have tried to rebut criticism of how they handle detainees by claiming they are only following the U.S. example in fighting terrorism, the U.N. special rapporteur on torture said Monday….(AP, 24 Oct 06)

China Denies Reports of N. Korea Apology

North Korea is not planning a second nuclear test and is willing to return to six-party talks under certain conditions but warned that it would take action if it feels pressured…(AP, 24 Oct 06)

DHS officials to submit plan soon for visitor tracking system

A senior Homeland Security Department official said Tuesday a comprehensive plan for tracking foreign visitors will be completed by the end of this month in an effort to free up $200 million for the program that Congress is withholding….(Congress Daily, 24 Oct 06)

Gonzales Says U.S. Image Hurt by Actions

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday he believes some of the U.S. actions in its war on terror have done damage to the image of the United States abroad, particularly its commitment to the rule of law…..(AP, 24 Oct 06)

Rumsfeld urged to alter Afghan drug trade policy

A leading House Republican is urging Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to revamp the U.S. strategy against heroin production in Afghanistan, saying record opium poppy harvests show efforts to target farmers are not working….(USA Today, 24 Oct 06)

Debt Keeping Troops From Duty
Thousands of U.S. troops are being barred from overseas duty because they are so deep in debt they are considered security risks, according to an Associated Press review of military records….(AP, 24 Oct 06)

Former terrorist explains how extremists twist Islam

…Tawfik Hamid, a former member of an al-Qaida affiliated organization, spoke on the causes and dangers of Islamic fundamentalism and the mentality of terrorists…..(Olean Times Herald, 24 Oct 06)

Commentary: Jihad in cyberspace

Below the radar screen of Western intelligence and security services, there is a global re-education process on the Internet to proselytize on the true meaning of an Islamic state. This "cyberwar" is transforming the political landscape of the Middle East….(UPI, 24 Oct 06)

Ethiopia says technically at war with Somali Islamists

Ethiopia is "technically" at war with Somalia's Islamists after their declarations of jihad against Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on Tuesday….(Reuters, 24 Oct 06)

Iran Warns Muslims About U.S., Israeli "Plots"

Iran's supreme leader on Tuesday urged Arab and Muslim nations to be vigilant and stay united to stave off what he described as the “treacherous plots” of the United States and Israel….(Reuters, 24 Oct 06)

Islamist Holiday Video Calls for Jihad and Slaughter of "Crusaders"

This ten-minute video, titled "Rise Up," was posted on Islamist websites on October 22, 2006, and was described as "a gift for 'Eid Al-Fitr."….(MEMRI, 24 Oct 06)

Saudi cleric says West fearful of spread of Islam

A prominent Saudi cleric said on Monday that Pope Benedict's controversial remarks on Islam came from vexation at the spread of the Muslim faith….(Reuters, 23 Oct 06)

Taliban leader warns of fierce fighting to come

Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has used the holiest Muslim holiday of the year to warn that his men will intensify their fighting in Afghanistan to "surprising" levels to drive out foreign forces….(Reuters, 23 Oct 06)

Al-Hayat Op-Ed Contrasts Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus with Osama Bin Laden

In an op-ed titled "Between the Owner of Grameen [Bank] and Bin Laden," published October 16, 2006 in the London daily Al-Hayat, Bangladeshi journalist Jamil Ziabi wrote that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, represents the true face of Islam – "a religion of peace and security" – in contrast to Osama bin Laden, who commits atrocities in the name of Islam and spreads war, poverty and disease…(MEMRI, 23 Oct 06)

Pakistan Tries to Shed Khan Proliferation Stigma

Pakistan wants to put the “sordid chapter” of proliferation by nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan behind it and build civilian nuclear ties with the United States…(Reuters, 23 Oct 06)

Indian Officials Split on Pakistan Role in Bombings

Three weeks after the police in India accused Pakistan’s intelligence agency of colluding in serial bombings on the commuter train line in Mumbai, the commercial capital, a senior Indian official said in an interview broadcast Sunday that the evidence was short of “clinching.”…(New York Times, 23 Oct 06)

Iraq's Allawi Says $1.2 Billion in Army Funds Stolen and Wasted

Iraq's former finance minister said as much as $800 million was stolen from a $1.2 billion fund intended to equip the Iraqi army to control a growing insurgency….(Bloomberg, 23 Oct 06)

Iraqi officials 'stole millions'

A former Iraqi minister has said that officials in the former interim government stole about $800m (£425m) meant for buying military equipment....(BBC, 23 Oct 06)

Kosovo Islamic leaders join call for independence

…Marking the Eid al-Fitr feast in the capital, Pristina, the head of the Kosovo Islamic community, Mufti Naim Ternava, said independence for the breakaway Serbian province was the only acceptable outcome to talks expected to end within months….(Reuters, 23 Oct 06)

Court's biosafety ruling requires terrorism analysis

A decision this week by a California Court of Appeals will delay the opening of a biological facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, calling attention to a similar project at Los Alamos that has been bogged down for years…(LA Monitor, 23 Oct 06)

India shares 7/11 intelligence with CIA

…Sources said two senior CIA officials, currently in India, met Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and discussed counter-terrorism and related issues….(IBN, 23 Oct 06)