Hamas calls for talks with Abbas's Fatah

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, prime minister of the Palestinian government dismissed by President Mahmoud Abbas, called for power-sharing talks on Saturday with Fatah rivals routed from the Gaza Strip. "There will be no dialogue with Hamas," responded Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior Fatah official in the West Bank…..(Reuters, 23 Jun 07)

Commission to Report to Congress on Iraqi Security Forces

An independent commission, headed by retired Gen. James L. Jones, and including former D.C. police chief Charles H. Ramsey, will assess the capabilities of the Iraqi military and police forces for Congress and offer a report in October, a statement by the newly formed group said yesterday. The commission, funded in last month's war appropriation, will "examine the training, equipping, command, control and intelligence capabilities and the logistic capacity" of the Iraqi forces….(Washington Post, 23 Jun 07)

An Ex-Member Calls Detainee Panels Unfair

… Stephen Abraham, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and a lawyer, said the military placed too much weight on unsubstantiated statements by intelligence agencies in deciding that the detainees were enemy combatants, according to his affidavit. That conclusion meant that the detainees could be kept in a prison in Guantanamo as long as the U.S. military wished…..(Washington Post, 23 Jun 07)

Reserve Officer Criticizes Process of Identifying ‘Enemy Combatants’ at Guantánamo

The military hearings used to decide whether to hold Guantánamo detainees relied on incomplete and outdated information, screened by officers who were under intense pressure from their commanders to conclude that the detainees should be held, a reserve military intelligence officer and lawyer who had a role in the process said in an affidavit filed yesterday in a federal appeals court…..(New York Times, 23 Jun 07)

U.S. Makes Improbable Sunni Ally in Iraq

Two months ago, a dozen Sunni insurgents _ haggard, hungry and in handcuffs _ stepped tentatively into a U.S.-Iraqi combat outpost near Baqouba and asked to speak to the commander: "We're out of ammunition, but we want to help you fight al-Qaida."….(AP, 23 Jun 07)

Defense and AFP help snare alleged terrorists

Australian defense and police personnel used a sophisticated US spy satellite network to track the phone calls of two alleged terrorist leaders in Indonesian and gave Jakarta authorities the information they needed to capture the men. While the role of Australian intelligence facilities in the region is usually a closely guarded secret, a senior Indonesian official has confirmed the Federal Police involvement. A man known as Zarkasih, said to be the head of the group Jemaah Islamiah, and Abu Dujana, said to be the movement's military commander, were arrested in Indonesia on June 9 along with six other JI members. Dujana was allegedly involved in the 2004 Australian embassy bombing and the 2003 Marriott hotel blast in Jakarta. Police also say he had a role in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians…..(Age, 22 Jun 07)

London LTTE chief arrested

The long standing chief of the LTTE in London A C Shanthan alias A Krishanthakumar was arrested by New Scotland Yard at approximately 3.45pm on Thursday evening under the British Terrorism Act 2000. His arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 is significant in that he can be held for up to 28 days. He is spending the nights these days in a cell at the Paddington Green Police station in central London where all the high profile terrorists including the ones from the IRA were held. Shanthan was scheduled to be arrested next week, but another arrest led to the date being brought forward. This second character is known as Golden Lambert (Sri Lankan Tamil) who is a key figure in LTTE front, the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO)…..(Asia Tribune, 22 Jun 07)

US to Send Some at Gitmo to Afghanistan

The U.S. is helping expand a prison in Afghanistan to take some detainees from Guantanamo Bay, while administration officials argue about whether to bring the most dangerous to the U.S. when the Cuban facility shuts down. President Bush has made closing the prison in Cuba a priority, though the Afghan site is not meant to be a substitute….(AP, 22 Jun 07)

Ex-Professor's Contempt Citation Prolonged

…Sami al-Arian will remain jailed until at least October under Wednesday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee in Alexandria…Nahla al-Arian said her husband, who was acquitted in one of the nation's highest-profile terrorism cases and then pleaded guilty to a single charge, will never break his silence. "My husband is a man of principle, and he will never turn into an informant. We admire him and are proud of him," she said. "In our culture, as Palestinians, if a person becomes an informant for the government, this is very shameful."….(Washington Post, 22 Jun 07)

Judge Allows Video in Padilla Case

A federal judge agreed on Thursday to allow prosecutors to play an edited television interview of Osama bin Laden in the Jose Padilla terrorism support case, rejecting defense claims that images of the man blamed for the 2001 terror attacks would result in an unfair trial…..(AP, 22 Jun 07)

A U.S. View of Islam in 1946

23 years before the Iranian Revolution and 55 years before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a section (pages 24-34) of the very first of the intelligence reviews published by the Military Intelligence Division of the U.S. War Department identified Islam as a threat to world stability… According to its authors, Islamic countries were “full of discontent and frustration” and were aware of their “inferiority.” These feelings manifested themselves in “killings and terrorism,” which were reported in “daily news accounts.”…..(Moderate Voice, 22 Jun 07)

Document: 1946 Intelligence Review

ANALYSIS-Sunni jihadis lose Lebanon battle but won't vanish

The Lebanese army has declared victory over Fatah al-Islam militants in a Palestinian refugee camp, but that alone will not wipe out al Qaeda-inspired jihadis who are exploiting Lebanon's security gaps and sectarian splits…..(Reuters, 22 Jun 07)

Egypt threatened by Iranian support for Hamas

The crisis in the Palestinian territories threatened to spill across the Middle East last night after Egypt accused Iran of sponsoring Hamas in its takeover of Gaza and said that Teheran now posed a threat to its own national security…..(Telegraph, 22 Jun 07)

A Visit to Fatah's Torture Chamber

A building formerly occupied by Fatah's intelligence service in Gaza was long notorious for torture and execution. Now Hamas is in control -- and is letting former inmates visit the chamber of horrors…..(Spiegel, 22 Jun 07)

'We Will Try to Form an Islamic Society'

INTERVIEW WITH HAMAS CO-FOUNDER MAHMOUD ZAHAR:

Mahmoud Zahar -- a founder of Hamas, and one of its most militant hardliners -- has called for an Islamic state in the Gaza Strip. After the Hamas takeover of the territory last week, he's also threatened Fatah with more violence in the West Bank…..(Spiegel, 22 Jun 07)

Seventh terror suspect disappears in UK

Tony McNulty, minister for security, counter terrorism and police at the Home Office, told members of parliament in a written statement that the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, disappeared on Monday night. McNulty said the suspect had since November 2005 been on a control order, a loose form of house arrest that the government introduced in 2005 over strong political opposition. He is the seventh to disappear under such circumstances in the last year….(Khaleej Times, 22 Jun 07)

"Taliban executed civilians"

Taliban fighters executed Afghan civilians, including women, who refused to join them during a recent fierce battle against NATO and Afghan government forces in the south, the Dutch military chief said Friday….(AP, 22 Jun 07)

Fighting in Somali port city of Kismayo kills at least 7, wounds 11
Clans using anti-aircraft missiles and machine guns battled for control of this strategic port city Friday, killing at least seven people and wounding 11. The fighting between the Majerten and Marehan clans broke out about 19 kilometers (10 miles) north of Kismayo, the third largest city in Somalia. Both clans have fought for Somalia's government in the past, but their long-standing clan disputes have taken precedence over their loyalty to the administration in recent months…..(AP, 22 Jun 07)

Russian spymaster: terror attacks at international summits thwarted
Russia's top intelligence and counterterrorism agency prevented terror attacks during several international summits hosted by Russia….(AP, 22 Jun 07)

Germany: Terror Threat Is on the Rise

The threat of a terrorist attack against Germans in Afghanistan _ or even suicide bombings in Germany itself _ appears to be on the rise in recent days, officials said Friday. German officials compared the current situation to that before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, citing a "mosaic" of clues and previous attacks….(AP, 22 Jun 07)

Norton to Offer Bill Barring Felons From Running Security Firms

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton said yesterday that she would introduce a bill to prevent felons from running government security contractors after one such company failed to pay its guards at federal buildings in the Washington area for several weeks…..(Washington Post, 22 Jun 07)

Pentagon Cyber Attack Forces 1,500 PCs Off Line

As many as 1,500 computers in the Defense Department were taken off line because of a cyber attack, Pentagon officials said…Gates said the Pentagon sees hundreds of attacks a day, and this one had no adverse impact on department operations. Employees whose computers were affected could still use their handheld BlackBerries…..(AP, 22 Jun 07)

Justice Department Appoints National Export Control Coordinator as Part of Enhanced Counter-Proliferation Effort

The Justice Department has appointed Steven W. Pelak, an 18-year veteran federal prosecutor, to serve as the Justice Department�s first-ever National Export Control Coordinator to improve the investigation and prosecution of illegal exports of U.S. arms and sensitive technology, Kenneth L. Wainstein, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, announced today…..(Press Release, 22 Jun 07)

Mahmoud Abbas: No to Dialogue with the Murderers; This is Not a Struggle Between Fatah and Hamas, but Between the National Project and the Emirate of Darkness and Backwardness

In a scathing speech to the PLO Central Council on June 20, 2007, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas harshly condemned the brutal actions of Hamas during its takeover of Gaza, and accused the Hamas leadership of plotting to assassinate him. Ruling out any dialogue with Hamas, he called to restore the situation that had existed before the coup…..(MEMRI, 22 Jun 07)

Iraqi Political Talks Boost Al-Maliki

Iraq's politicians are trying to stitch together a new majority alliance in parliament that would leave Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in power and freeze out backers of a powerful Shiite cleric who is leading a political standoff, officials said Thursday. The apparent dealmaking comes amid increasing pressure from Washington for Iraqi lawmakers to end their impasses and move ahead with reforms….(AP, 22 Jun 07)

New Photos Show Secret Pakistan Plutonium Plant; Fear of More Weapons Being Made

A satellite photograph obtained by ABC News reveals Pakistan is nearing completion of a third, previously unknown plutonium production reactor, suggesting Pakistan may be planning to expand its nuclear weapons arsenal…..(ABC Blotter, 22 Jun 07)

20 killed in new Kenyan violence

At least 20 people — including two found beheaded — were killed overnight in Nairobi, and police said Friday they were looking into whether a banned sect that has terrorized the Kenyan capital was involved…..(AP, 22 Jun 07)

Muslim man partially beheaded

Separatist militants in southern Thailand shot a Muslim man and then partially severed his head, while the nation's junta leader was visiting the region, police said today….(Reuters, 22 Jun 07)

Afghan air raid kills 25 civilians, 20 Taliban

An air strike by foreign-led forces killed 25 civilians, including 12 members of a family, and 20 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, the provincial police chief said on Friday….(Reuters, 22 Jun 07)

The west has created fertile ground for al-Qaida's growth

It seems that al-Qaida's dream is on its way to turning into reality. At last it has found a foothold on the Palestinian scene. Witness the kidnapping of BBC reporter Alan Johnston in Gaza by the al-Qaida affiliated Jaish al-Islam 100 days ago yesterday, and the heated battles in Nahr al-Barid refugee camp between the Lebanese army and al-Qaida sympathisers Fatah al-Islam over the past month. And with Gaza and the West Bank sliding further into anarchy, with Hamas and Fatah turning on each other after a year of crushing siege, this new presence can only grow stronger….(Guardian, 21 Jun 07)

Can DHS Protect Its Networks?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's CIO was on the hot seat Wednesday on Capitol Hill after an independent audit found that a database that screens U.S. visitors lacked security controls. The chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee called on DHS CIO Scott Charbo to explain why he should keep his job after persistent cybersecurity problems at the agency….(PC World, 21 Jun 07)

Oil dependency is fueling Islamic terrorism: ex-CIA head

Every time an American fills up his gas tank, he is helping to send an eight-year-old boy to an Islamic religious school in the West Bank or Pakistan where he will learn to grow up to be a suicide bomber, said former Central Intelligence Agency director James Woolsey…..(Canadian Jewish News, 21 Jun 07)

Suicide truck bomber kills 18 in N.Iraq

A suicide bomber killed at least 18 people when he rammed a truck into a government building in northern Iraq on Thursday, partially knocking it down and demolishing nearby homes….(Reuters, 21 Jun 07)

Dozens of Insurgents Killed in Iraq Offensive

U.S. and Iraqi forces continued targeting Sunni insurgents in the city of Baqubah north of Baghdad on Wednesday, the second day of a major new offensive aimed at stamping out the Sunni extremist group al-Qaeda in Iraq….(Washington Post, 21 Jun 07)

Explosions Strike Baghdad's Green Zone

A series of mortars or rockets slammed into the U.S.-controlled Green Zone on Thursday, and an official said at least one round struck a parking lot used by the Iraqi prime minister and his security detail. The barrage occurred a day after the U.S. military acknowledged "an increasing pattern of attacks" against the sprawling complex on the west bank of the Tigris River despite a security crackdown now in its fifth month…..(AP, 21 Jun 07)

As FBI fights terrorism, other prosecutions drop

Since 9/11, the number of criminal prosecutions the US Justice Department credits to the Federal Bureau of Investigation has dropped by more than 30 percent. Among the steepest declines: white-collar crime, drug prosecutions, and organized crime. The data reflect a fundamental shift in the mission of the FBI, from primarily a law-enforcement agency dedicated to investigating crime to an intelligence and counterterrorism one dedicated to preventing attacks on the US…..(Christian Science Monitor, 21 Jun 07)

Plan to Cut Federal Security Unit Decried

The Bush administration wants to overhaul the troubled agency in charge of security at most federal buildings, cutting personnel and giving a bigger role to local police…With the sharp rise in terrorist threats, the contract guard force has ballooned from a few thousand before the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing to 15,000 armed and unarmed guards. The number of federal police officers and staffers in the service has been shrinking, however, from about 1,400 to 1,150 over the past four years….(Washington Post, 21 Jun 07)

UN Halts Afghan Food Deliveries

The U.N. World Food Program has halted deliveries in Afghanistan's most volatile provinces after 85 of its trucks were attacked, set ablaze or looted this past year by Taliban insurgents and thieves, its director said Thursday. The world body suspended shipments from Pakistan through the violence-plagued south and west about four weeks ago…..(AP, 21 Jun 07)

U.S. Refuses to Free 5 Captured Iranians Until at Least October

The United States will not release five Iranians detained in a U.S. military raid in northern Iraq until at least October, despite entreaties from the Iraqi government and pressure from Iran, U.S. officials said. The delay is as much due to a communication and procedural foul-up within the U.S. government as a policy decision, they added…During his Washington visit this week, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari appealed to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to free the Iranians, who were arrested in Irbil in January…..(Washington Post, 21 Jun 07)

U.S. Holds Direct Talks in North Korea

The United States’ chief nuclear negotiator began a surprise two-day visit to North Korea today, saying he wanted to speed up six-nation talks aimed at dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program…..(New York Times, 21 Jun 07)

Cracks appear in Pakistan's pro-Musharraf coalition

Some political allies of Pakistan's military president, Pervez Musharraf, are urging him to drop plans to be re-elected by the sitting parliament and instead call early polls and seek a mandate from new assemblies. They also say General Musharraf, who is facing a growing crisis over his attempt to dismiss Pakistan's top judge, should quit as army chief before his re-election, as he is supposed to give up the post by the end of 2007 under the constitution…..(Reuters, 21 Jun 07)

Top Iraqi Officials Growing Restless
Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, a senior Shiite politician often mentioned as a potential prime minister, tendered his resignation last week in a move that reflects deepening frustration inside the Iraqi government with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Other senior Iraqi officials have considered resigning in recent weeks over the failures of their government to make progress after more than a year in power...Abdul Mahdi's attempted resignation, which has been held at bay by promises of action, is also a sign of growing disarray among the Shiites who lead the government. As the U.S. military attempts to show the success this summer of a security plan to pacify the capital and other parts of the country, Iraq's prime minister has also entered what many officials say is a crucial test period for his government. A growing number of Iraqi leaders, including several fellow Shiites, are expressing discontent with Maliki's ability to stanch the bloodshed, contain civil war, make progress on economic fronts and share power with the minority Sunnis…..(Washington Post, 21 Jun 07)

Troops Pushing South Through Insurgent Area

… As in other parts of the country, the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq has conducted a repressive campaign of killing and kidnapping among the roughly 3,000 residents of Arab Jubour. Many people have told commanders they fear cooperating with Americans only to be left to the mercy of al-Qaeda in Iraq when the Americans leave. "They truly are scared to death,"….(Washington Post, 22 Jun 07)

NATO head asks Canada to prolong Afghan mission

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer urged Canada on Thursday to keep its military mission in Afghanistan beyond the scheduled February 2009 date for withdrawal…..(Reuters, 21 Jun 07)

US military's new Iraq strategy: religious conciliation

A fledgling group of Sunni and Shiite religious leaders met for the first time in Baghdad last week to condemn sectarian violence in their country, a move US military officials framed as a first of its kind and a small step toward broader political reconciliation. The group of 55 delegates composed of Sunni, Shiite, Kurdish, and other religious representatives from around the country signed an accord June 12 during a two-day meeting that denounced Al Qaeda and vowed to protect holy sites….(Christian Science Monitor, 21 Jun 07)

Iran dismisses charges it is arming Taliban

Iran on Thursday rejected U.S. accusations it is arming the Taliban in Afghanistan, saying an attack on its consulate there showed the hostility of the Sunni militant group towards Shi'ite Iran. U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns on June 9 accused Tehran of supporting the Taliban and fuelling insurrection around the Middle East. "These accusations are baseless and illogical,"….(Reuters, 21 Jun 07)

Iraqi tactics come to Afghanistan

…Instead of confronting America's firepower head on, the Taleban are attacking more exposed targets, like unarmored vehicles belonging to the Afghan army, police stations, government buildings…..(BBC, 21 Jun 07)

BP: Cyber terrorism threat is growing

A cyber terrorism attack on the UK infrastructure will happen in the next five years, according to the Digital Security Services Manager at BP. The British energy giant will develop technology to protect the organization and the national infrastructure against a cyber terrorism attack over the next few years, said Rob Martin at the opening of Symantec’s Security Operations Centre (SOC) yesterday….(SC Magazine, 21 Jun 07)

Fears in Arab World Following Gaza Coup: Hamas Is Threatening Entire Arab World

The Arab world as a whole has not yet formulated a clear position on the events in Gaza. While the Arab countries fully backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his struggle against Hamas, spokesmen and senior officials have refrained from burning bridges with Hamas. The same trend is evident in the Arab media. Most articles avoided siding clearly with either Fatah or Hamas, calling on both sides to reach an understanding through negotiations. However, some op-eds in the press have harshly condemned Hamas's violent takeover of the Gaza Strip…..(MEMRI, 21 Jun 07)

Canadian Police arrest suspected ETA member

The detainee is suspected of carrying out a car bombing in Madrid in 2000, the first attack after the group had called off a cease-fire in 1999, which killed Colonel Pedro Antonio Blanco…Ivan Apaolaza Sancho, 35, is suspected of carrying out a car bombing in Madrid in 2000, the first attack after the group had called off a 18-month cease-fire in 1999, which killed Colonel Pedro Antonio Blanco….(EITB24, 21 Jun 07)

Islamist Terrorism and Energy Sector Security in Algeria

Despite the fact that its oil production is leveling off and serious questions surround projected increases in gas production, exogenous developments and domestic efforts are serving to make Algeria an increasingly important oil and gas supplier to European and U.S. markets. Simultaneously, the risks posed by Islamist terrorism seem to be escalating and reversing the diminishing trend that characterized the last four years….(Global Terrorism Analysis, 21 Jun 07)

‘We Are Not Pursuing Adventurism’

In an exclusive interview with NEWSWEEK, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator discusses his country’s nuke program, its support for Hamas and American allegations that Tehran is arming insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan…..(Newsweek, 21 Jun 07)

UK: Brown Should Adopt New Approach Against Terrorism

…"The Blair government's counterterrorism policies have breached human rights, damaged relations with the country's Muslims, and tarnished Britain's standing abroad," said Benjamin Ward, Europe and Central Asia associate director at Human Rights Watch. "A change of course is urgently needed." Human Rights Watch's 22-page briefing paper, "Hearts and Minds: Putting Human Rights at the Center of United Kingdom Counterterrorism Policy," …..(Alter Net/Reuters, 21 Jun 07)     Briefing Paper

Lebanon army complicates camp fight mediation: source

The Lebanese army's insistence on the surrender of the leaders of a militant group holed up at a Palestinian camp is complicating efforts to mediate an end to fighting there….(Reuters, 21 Jun 07)

Pakistan expanding nuclear program, U.S. group says

Satellite images show that Pakistan is building a new nuclear reactor that can produce weapons-grade plutonium, an American watchdog group said Thursday, warning that it could contribute to an atomic arms race with archrival India. A picture taken June 3 shows work progressing rapidly on the reactor at the Khushab nuclear site, 170 kilometers (105 miles) southwest of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, the Institute of Science for International Security said. The development of the reactor and other nuclear-related activities "imply" that Pakistan has decided to "increase significantly its production of plutonium for nuclear weapons," ….(AP, 21 Jun 07)

Battleground Somalia: America's Uncertain Front in the War on Terror

On June 14, Somalia's National Reconciliation Conference (NRC) was postponed for the second time. It is now possible that the conference will never be held. The NRC has been long viewed by the United States, the European Union and others as Somalia's last chance for peace and security, but the postponement will compel the United States to re-examine its long-term policy in Somalia….(Global Terrorism Analysis, 21 Jun 07)

US Gen: Militia Kidnapped 5 Britons

Five Britons who were kidnapped in Baghdad last month are being held by a secret cell of the Mahdi Army militia that was armed, trained and funded by Iran….(AP, 21 Jun 07)

Trafficking and the Role of the Sinai Bedouin

…While narco-terrorism has been well documented in counter-terrorism and intelligence circles, not enough progress has been made in finding the nexus between terrorism and the many other forms of illegal activity practiced today. An increasingly popular illegal activity that uses the same delivery methods as narcotics, terrorism and weapons smuggling is that of human trafficking. In Israel and Egypt, the Bedouin have played a key role in these smuggling activities as well….(Global Terrorism Analysis, 21 Jun 07)

New Taliban Military Commander Mansour Dadallah: Bin Laden Is Alive and Well

The following are excerpts from an interview with the new Taliban military commander, Mansour Dadallah, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on June 17, 2007. “Allah Willing, You Will Be Hearing A Lot About Martyrdom-Seeking Operations, Which Will Continue”….(MEMRI, 21 Jun 07)

House Votes to Reopen Civil Rights Cases

…The bill, which is also moving swiftly through the Senate, would authorize $10 million a year over the next decade to build on the Justice Department's recent successes in reopening racially motivated crimes that had sat cold for decades. It also would earmark $2 million per year in grants for state and local law enforcement agencies to investigate cases in which federal prosecution isn't practical, and an additional $1.5 million to improve coordination among investigating agencies…..(AP, 20 Jun 07)

Homemade explosions land man in jail

A Colorado man who set off explosions in his garage was freed on bail Tuesday while police try to determine if he is an eccentric scientist or a dangerous man. Ronald Swerlein posted $50,000 bail after spending the weekend in jail, the Longmont Daily Times-Call reported…..(UPI, 20 Jun 07)

DHS Acknowledges Own Computer Break-Ins

The Homeland Security Department, the lead U.S. agency for fighting cyber threats, suffered more than 800 hacker break-ins, virus outbreaks and other computer security problems over two years, senior officials acknowledged to Congress…All the problems involved the department's unclassified computer networks, although DHS officials also have acknowledged to lawmakers dozens of incidents they described as "classified spillage," in which secret information was improperly transmitted or discussed over nonsecure e-mail systems……(AP, 20 Jun 07)

Bin Laden may have arranged family's US exit: FBI docs

Osama bin Laden may have chartered a plane that carried his family members and Saudi nationals out of the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks, said FBI documents released Wednesday…One FBI document referred to a Ryan Air 727 airplane that departed Los Angeles International Airport on September 19, 2001, and was said to have carried Saudi nationals out of the United States. "The plane was chartered either by the Saudi Arabian royal family or Osama bin Laden," according to the document, which was among 224 pages posted online…..(Agence France-Presse, 20 Jun 07)    Document

Trashed maps spur TSA damage control

Homeland Security officials are being warned not to toss secret documents that could compromise transportation security into the ordinary trash after hundreds of such papers marked "sensitive" reportedly were found in a city trash container near the Orlando International Airport in Florida. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) used its most recent newsletter to tell employees not to throw away outdated materials stamped as "Sensitive Security Information" (SSI)…..(Washington Times, 20 Jun 07)

Swiss Internet Terror Trial Opens

Two people accused of running al-Qaida-linked Web sites that showed the slaying of hostages and gave details of how to make bombs and carry out attacks went on trial Wednesday. The two suspects _ Moez Garsallaoui, a Tunisian based in Switzerland, and Malika El Aroud, the Belgian-born widow of an al-Qaida suicide bomber _ appeared in the high-security court room on Wednesday morning. They were detained in February 2005 during anti-terror raids in two Swiss cantons, or states….(AP, 20 Jun 07)

The Pakistan Connection

The little-noticed arrests of three men allegedly planning U.S. attacks renews questions about the country’s tolerance of terrorists. The international media barely noticed when Pakistani authorities recently picked up three foreign jihadis, including two German passport holders, in the remote town of Taftan near the Iranian border. But the arrests are being taken seriously by Western intelligence agencies…..(Newsweek, 20 Jun 07)

US fears ‘N-armed mullah’ takeover in Pakistan

It is the American fear of “nuclear-armed mullahs” taking over in Pakistan that has played a motivating role in its policy towards Pakistan since September 11, a report in the Christian Science Monitor quotes experts as saying. It has also “led the Bush administration to back a military ruler seen to be strong and supportive of American interests, despite the fact that he overthrew a democratically elected government.”…(Daily Times, 20 Jun 07)

Pakistan: New Strategy to Fight Terrorism

The Pakistan government has evolved a new anti-terrorism strategy with special focus on containing militancy in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), which borders Afghanistan. "The new strategy was finalised by President Gen Pervez Musharraf in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting held on June 4,"….(AKI, 20 Jun 07)

EU, U.S. reach preliminary deal on SWIFT data: EU

The EU and the United States have reached a preliminary deal on how U.S. authorities can consult data from the international banking network SWIFT in anti-terror probes, an EU spokesman said on Wednesday. "We have a draft agreement,"….(Reuters, 20 Jun 07)

16 Companies May Violate U.S. Ban on Trade With Terror States

Royal Dutch Shell, Nokia and Credit Suisse are among 16 companies publicly traded in the United States that may be violating a U.S. ban on doing business with Sudan, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)… The SEC compiled a list of the companies in a new effort to publicly identify multinational corporations that report business dealings with countries identified by the U.S. as "state sponsors of terrorism." In addition to Sudan, trade with Iran, Syria, North Korea and Cuba is also banned….(ABC Blotter, 20 Jun 07)

U.S. lawmakers pressuring EU on Hezbollah terrorism designation

U.S. lawmakers are stepping up pressure on the European Union to declare the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah a terrorist organization.A House of Representatives' panel is to highlight Wednesday the importance of Europe as a fundraising base for the group, long held responsible by the United States for anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli attacks.Some European countries have resisted an EU designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, arguing that it is better to engage the group given its large role in Lebanese politics…..(AP, 20 Jun 07)

Tribes help U.S. against al-Qaeda

More than 10 Iraqi tribes in the Baghdad area have reached agreements with U.S. and Iraqi forces for the first time to oppose al-Qaeda, raising the U.S. military's hopes that a trend started in western Iraq is spreading here…..(USA Today, 20 Jun 07)

Syrian Efforts to Deny Fath Al-Islam Affiliation With Syrian Intelligence
Following the exposure of an affiliation between Fath Al-Islam and Syrian intelligence during the interrogation of Fath Al-Islam members, Syrian and pro-Syrian elements and media have been making efforts to deny this affiliation. Fath Al-Islam leaders with connections to Syria have suddenly disappeared, to be replaced by new leaders, claimed to be connected to Al-Qaeda…..(MEMRI, 20 Jun 07)

Hamas lists seized U.S. weapons
Hamas members today provided WND a preliminary list of what they claimed were hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. weaponry and equipment seized during last week's coup against the U.S.-backed Fatah security organizations of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.  Hamas vowed to obtain emergency U.S. aid slated for Fatah. Last week, Hamas took complete control of all Fatah positions and U.S.-backed security compounds in the Gaza Strip, including Fatah's major Ansar complex – where American-provided weapons were delivered and stored….(World Net Daily, 20 Jun 07)