American Jihadists?

By Bill West

Over this Memorial Day weekend, two US citizens were arrested by Federal authorities for conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaeda. The suspects, Tarik Ibn Osman Shah, a martial arts expert, and Rafiq Sabir, a medical doctor, were arrested in New York and Boca Raton, Florida, respectively.

Contributing Experts in the Media This Week

By Andrew Cochran

CT Blog Contributing Experts will be all over the airwaves this week on a variety of subjects, including the new case against two al Qaeda suspects and the status of the al Zarqawi network. Steven Emerson will be on Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends" Wednesday morning at 8:20 am. Walid Phares was interviewed on MSNBC today (link to text and webcast) about the al-Zarqawi audio message, and will be on interviewed on TV and radio from Boca Raton about the new al Qaeda case. Two Contributing Experts are scheduled to be on John Batchelor's Show on ABC Radio this week - Victor Comras tonight and Michael Kraft tomorrow night. Michael Cutler will be on George Putnam's radio show on KCAA this afternoon at 4:05. (All times are Eastern Daylight.)

Some Encouraging CT Appointments

By Douglas Farah

If recent the recent Washington Post story on filling key counter-terrorism posts is accurate, the best news (besides the fact that the posts are actually being filled) is that Air Force Gen. Charles Wald is slated to take over the National Counterterrorism Center. The Center is supposed to be a clearinghouse for terrorism-related intelligence, but has not been really operational yet.

Wald, currently deputy commander of the U.S. European Command, is one of the few leaders I have dealt with who understands the threat posed by the failing states and nonstate armed groups that are growing across the broad areas EUCOM is responsible for. Wald has been particularly outspoken on the terrorist threat in West Africa, and was one of the first senior officials with access to intelligence to publicly confirm my findings on al Qaeda's diamond operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone. He has spoken eloquently about the terrorist threats in a region that is largely off the radar of counter-terror discussions, despite the long record of al Qaeda in sub-Saharan Africa, both East and West.

At a time when the counter-terrorism efforts seem to often be sinking into the swamp of bureaucratic infighting and leaderless drift, the Wald appointment is heartening. It is amazing that senior counter-terrorism positions at the CTC, State, Treasury and elsewhere are still vacant when no new administration was elected. It seems from the outside like a lack of interest and political will to really do what necessary to keep the counter-terrorism efforts from the same fate as the war on drugs and countless other efforts that fall off the policy radar screen and languish with little real impact. For my full blog, go here.

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross Joins Us as Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We're very happy to welcome Daveed Gartenstein-Ross back to the CT Blog as an individual Contributing Expert. Daveed first posted here when he worked at The Investigative Project on Terrorism. He is now an associate at the Armonk, NY office of Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP. Daveed posted here on the possible use of the PalTalk site by terrorists and Saddam Hussein's ties to al-Jazeera. He is also an expert on Islamic extremists' infiltration of American mosques and prisons and on terrorist financing issues. He has written on terrorism issues for Commentary, The Weekly Standard, The New York Sun, and The Washington Times and frequently appears as a guest on the Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Fox News Radio, and Radio America. Daveed is a magna cum laude graduate of the New York University School of Law (J.D. 2002) and Wake Forest University (B.A. 1998).

Sunday Times of London scores with second al Zarqawi scoop - UPDATED

By Andrew Cochran

We believe that great reporting in counterterrorism deserves special mention - it's a tough business, with often shaky sources and dangerous assignments overseas for those who pursue field research. So kudos to the Sunday Times of London, which nailed its second big scoop on al Zarqawi yesterday. The Times was the first standard media site in the world to report al Zarqawi's injuries, back on May 15. Yesterday's Times followed up with the report that al Zarqawi has fled Iraq for emergency chest surgery, with the most detailed reporting yet of his injuries and escape. UPDATE: Thanks and congrats to Bill Roggio for sending me an e-mail that "Adnkronos International" actually reported a quote from an Iraqi general about it on May 11, while the Sunday Times added many original details for its story on May 15. Bill posted the early notice from Adnkronos on The Fourth Rail on May 11.

Sending Mixed Signals Re Saudi Arabia?s Contribution to the War on Terrorism

By Victor Comras

The Bush Administration seems of late to be alternating criticism and compliments when it comes to Saudi Arabia�s actions in the war on terrorism. Two days ago Secretary of State Condolezza Rice told an Audience at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club that:

�We really applaud what Saudi Arabia has done in terms of the fight against terrorism, particularly since the events of May of last year in Riyadh. The Saudis have been very aggressive in hunting down the terrorist cells that are in Saudi Arabia and we've had a good deal of success also on the terrorist financing front. You may know that some of the financing for terrorism was coming from non-governmental organizations that had very nice titles about what it was they supposedly did in the world, the relief effort for this group or that group and many of them were kind of fronts for terrorist financing. And that was true, by the way, of some in the United States. It was true of many in Saudi Arabia. And we've worked very hard with the Saudis to shut down some of that terrorist financing. So the Kingdom is working very hard on these issues.�

Compare this with what US Treasury UnderSecretary Stuart Levey told AIPAC just four days earlier on May 23, 2005

� For too long, wealthy donors and multinational charities in Saudi Arabia were underwriting terrorism of all kinds, without any meaningful controls. Since 9/11, our government has worked aggressively to press the Saudis to take action against these financiers and to clean up their charitable sector. It is true that the Saudis have come a long way to improve their efforts against terrorist financing. It is also true that they probably had the furthest to go. Some progress has been made�. Of course, much remains for the Saudis to do. We impatiently await the creation of a commission to monitor the charitable sector, and continue to insist that this commission regulate all Saudi charities, without exception of such groups as the Muslim World League and the International Islamic Relief Organization, or "IIRO." Also, in addition to the export of terrorist funds, we are extremely concerned about the export of terrorist ideologies. These teachings are as indispensable to terrorists as money, and possibly even more dangerous. We must do all we can to ensure that extremist, violent ideologies are not disseminated under the cover of religious organizations, charities, or schools.�

More on Bolton Nomination and the UN

By Mike Chandler

Andrew Cochran's posting on 26 May says that Bolton's nomination is "...About Changing the UN." As some one who has spent a number of very rewarding years working for the UN, I agree that change is necessary and that it is long overdue. There are also a number of friends and colleagues in the organisation, the 'modernists' or 'reformers', who agree with such sentiments. But it won't be done with a sledgehammer or a "size 9 boot". One also must also be clear on what one means by "...the UN!" There is both the organisation made up of the member states and there is the UN Secretariat which services the needs and supports the work of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the office of the Secretary- General, to say nothing of the many other elements. i.e. WHO, WFP, UNHCR, etc.. If change is to be achieved and the changes effective, it will require leadership and teamwork - of the highest possible quality and standard. Is John Bolton the man for such a task - that surely is the question?

Steven Emerson on al Zarqawi's status

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Expert Steven Emerson discussed al Zarqawi's possible injury and the status of his network in Iraq on two Fox News Channel programs on May 26 (downloadable Word file). Highlights: The impact on the al Zarqawi organization and the overall insurgency if he dies: "My feeling is that his operation is really a very top-town command and control...I think the organization has the good chance of falling apart...Not that I don't think U.S. And Iraqi forces are doing a good job, but the insurgency is still very strong and time will tell now whether the reputed death of Zarqawi, at least his wounding, will have an effect." On the temporary replacement named on a website, Abu Hafs al-Qarni: "I had not heard of him before. It's interesting that they would put a Saudi in charge. The question is whether he is actually on the wanted list by the Saudis." On the al Zarqawi network in Iraq: "(I)t comes from Syria. It comes from Saudi Arabia. There are some people transiting through Jordan. The Syrians, in particular, have a lot of blood on their hands...We've got to basically take away their weapons. Really go hand -- you know, city to city, village to village, house to house, remove the weapons and also stop, plug up those borders coming in from Syria, where there is so many hundreds of fighters and insurgents coming in via Syria -- from Syria as well as Saudi Arabia."

NPT Review Conference Characterized As a Flop!

By Victor Comras

The 2005 NPT Review Conference at the United Nations in New York concluded May 27, 2005 with few accomplishments and even less momentum for the future. The Financial Times called it "A wasted month of nuclear negotiations."Conference President Sergio de Queiroz Duarte (Brazil) bluntly told reporters at his concluding press conference that "substantively �- in terms of results and agreements - very little had been accomplished." In his view the Conference had not helped the process of Nuclear disarmament that began so hopefully in 1995 and continued in 2000. Asked if the Conference had, in fact, undermined the Treaty, he hedged that �Today, we have to see the way in which the results of the Conference will impact upon the Treaty, but I don�t think we can immediately decree here that they will undermine it�, he said. But there clearly was, he said, a "lack of understanding and convergence among States Parties on the best ways to achieve the purposes and objectives of the Treaty."

The next review conference is scheduled to take place in 2010. That's some time away. In the interim there will be preparatory meetings and bilateral and multilateral negotiations. The IAEA will continue its work and the Security Council may well be called into action to deal with North Korea's expanding nuclear weapons program and Iran's progression in that direction. Eyes will now turn to the six party talks on North Korea and on the EU attempts to bring Iran in line. Neither looks very promising at this moment. As for the terrorists, they will continue to look to see if they can find and acquire some of the missing Russian nuclear material. The world is certainly no safer because 188 countries sat down in New York for a month and failed to re-enforce non-proliferation. (See my earlier blog).

Michael Cutler: Don't Privatize Border Patrol Agent Training

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments on the hearing I saw a bit of the May 24 hearing conducted by the Subcommittee on Management of the House Committee on Homeland Security about the possibility of "privatizing" the training of new Border Patrol Agents:

"Let me tell you from the outset that I am opposed to such privatization. I could not imagine the FBI or Secret Service doing this, nor could I imagine the United States Marine Corps privatizing their training. Training new agents is a critical aspect of the Border Patrol or any law enforcement agency because the training is not only is designed to teach critical skills but to also indoctrinate the new recruits into the culture of the agency. With all of the "stuff" that has been happening where the security of our nation's borders are concerned we should be focused on morale as well as training. Privatization of the academy is absolutely not the way to get the job done properly!"

Counterpoint on Bolton Nomination: It's About Changing the U.N.

By Andrew Cochran

I cannot debate Larry Johnson on the particulars of the "intel intimidation and politicization" debate. I was an original contributor to ConfirmBolton.com, where Daveed Gartenstein-Ross has posted frequently on that issue, and I recommend that interested readers read the material there, along with Larry's detailed post, to get a full picture. But I think it is important that we have someone who will forcefully push needed reforms at the U.N. in the wake of the Oil-for-Food scandal, and John Bolton will do that. As I said early on this site and as Stephen Hayes and Claudia Rosett have discussed, the OFF investigations in the U.S. Congress are aiming towards Saddam's use of OFF funds to support terrorist entities, and the U.N. did nothing to prevent or stop it. The entire program was filled with highly questionable or corrupted actions by U.N. officials. Congress will pass new legislation to instill more transparent and independent governance and full financial disclosure in exchange for the U.N.'s use of precious tax dollars, and we need a U.N. Ambassador who will never back down from asserting those new policies.

BOLTON AND THE ART OF COOKING INTELLIGENCE

By Larry Johnson

by
Larry C. Johnson

The nomination of John Bolton as Ambassador to the UN is another body blow to the intelligence community and sends a clear message to analysts that speaking up about political pressure will only damage your career. Despite the whitewash reports provided by the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Silbermann Robb Commission, which insisted there was no "politicization" of the intelligence on Iraq, we now have a documented record of blatant efforts by Bolton and Otto Reich, two senior political appointees, who tried to shape intelligence conclusions and punish intelligence professionals who worked on Cuba. (Let there be no doubt, there was pressure applied on Iraq). The pressure applied to the INR analyst and the NIO for Latin America is one way that intelligence gets politicized. What is truly amazing is the failure of Republican leaders to be outraged by this conduct. The defense of John Bolton by most Republican Senators is sending a chilling message to the analytical community.

Evil Plus Evil

By Bill West

The Chief Prosecutor and Chief Investigator for the UN�backed special war crimes court in Sierra Leone have declared they have evidence that former Liberian dictator Charles Ghankay Taylor, who is wanted by that tribunal for crimes against humanity, has been and continues to be involved with al-Qaeda. That in itself is cause for alarm, but past and current immigration enforcement projects have demonstrated that foreign war criminals and persecutors have made their way to the US. If this "special" class of international criminal is now finding alliance with terrorists, we need to pay special attention.

Matthew Levitt on Hezbollah's Using Criminal Enterprises and Counterfeiting (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Expert Matthew Expert testified today at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Hezbollah's use of criminal enterprises and counterfeiting. In his testimony, Matthew first discussed Hezbollah's record of terror and its ties to Iran, al Qaeda, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. He described Hezbollah's activities in a Charlotte cell which was broken up in 2002 by federal agents, and in South America, where Hezbollah's enterprises include "mafia-style shakedowns of local Arab communities, sophisticated import-export scams involving traders from India and Hong Kong, and small-scale businesses that engage in a few thousand dollars worth of business but transfer tens of thousands of dollars around the globe." Matthew also discussed Hezbollah's longtime use of "conflict diamonds," also a subject of Contributing Expert Doug Farah's recently released study on ex-Liberian dictator Charles Taylor and his terrorist ties for the Coalition for International Justice. The AP story on the hearing adds that a witness from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that their counterfeiting investigations had encountered "suspects who have shown great affinity for Hezbollah and its leadership." HERE is the LA Times article on the same hearing.

Terrorist Group Designation by U.S. State Department (UPDATED 5-26)

By Andrew Cochran

The State Department, acting under President Bush's Executive Order 13224 issued after the 9-11 attacks,, has announced the designation of Islamic Jihad Group (a.k.a. Jama'at al-Jihad; Libyan Society; Kazakh Jama'at; Jamaat Mojahedin Jamiyat; Jamiat al-Jihad al-Islami; Dzhamaat Modzhakhedov; Islamic Jihad Group of Uzbekistan; or al-Djihad al-Islami) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

UPDATE 5-26: The State Department's press release issued today has more details on the groups. "On July 30, 2004, the Islamic Jihad Group conducted coordinated bombing attacks in Tashkent against the U.S. and Israeli Embassies, and the office of the Uzbek Prosecutor General, killing at least two people and wounding nine...IJG suicide bombers attacked a popular bazaar and other locations in Tashkent in March and April 2004, resulting in the deaths of more than a dozen police officers and innocent bystanders and dozens of injuries. The attackers in the March and April 2004 attacks, some of whom were female suicide bombers, targeted the local government offices of the Uzbekistani and Bukharo police, killing approximately 47 people, including 33 terrorists. These attacks marked the first use of female suicide bombers in Central Asia. Those arrested in connection with the attacks in Bukharo have testified to the close ties between the IJG leaders and Usama bin Laden and Mullah Omar." The AP reported on the designation today, over a day after I posted it here.

Syria: Where are the Europeans?

By Michael Kraft

By Michael B. Kraft

The claims by the Syrian Ambassador to the U.S. that Damascus has halted military and intelligence cooperation with the U.S. sound like a bad joke, except that the situation
along the Syria-Iraq border is serious.

Syria is again trying to have it both ways � pretending it has been cooperative with the United States while also showing the Muslim world that it will not be pushed around by the Americans. Ambassador Imad Moustafpha complained in interviews with the New York Times and CNN this week that Washington is demanding too much from the Syrians in the U.S.-led effort to staunch the flow of suicide bombers, gunmen and cash across the Syrian border into Iraq. The ambassador claimed Syria has provided the U.S. with important assistance but no longer wants to cooperate because it is still being criticized for not doing more.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher suggested that the Syrians overstated the cooperation. He told the daily State Department news briefing that �we�ve seen all too often that when we try to address serious issues with the Syrian government, that Syria has expended minimal effort, at best and halfhearted efforts on things like the use of Syrian territory by groups that are �terrorists and others who are fighting us Iraq�.�

"Patriot Debates" Blog Has Newest USA Patriot Act Draft

By Andrew Cochran

I've endorsed "Patriot Debates" again and again as the best source for a truly fair and balanced debate on the USA Patriot Act. As the U.S. Congress considers reauthorizing those provisions which will expire at the end of the year, PD has posted the latest draft of the Act (large Acrobat file) and "a committee summary" (don't know which committee), both courtesy of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Earlier, PD also posted a 70-page Justice Department analysis in support of reauthorization. Thanks to PD founder & editor Stewart Baker for this excellent site.

Michael Cutler on the US-VISIT Program & Contract: How Long & How Much?

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments for him:

Some time ago I saw a bumper sticker on a car that caused me to laugh. It said, "If government ran crime, crime wouldn't pay!" After reading this article in yesterday's Washington Post, I think that the bumper sticker that should have appeared on the car is, "The way government does business is a crime!"

I have been a long-time advocate for an effective tracking system that would help the United States keep track of the comings and goings of aliens entering and leaving the United States. In May of 1997 when a former colleague, Bill West, and I testified before the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims about the issue of visa fraud and immigration benefit fraud, we raised the issue of the need for biometrics. That was back in 1997 and some 4 years before the attacks of September 11, 2001. Bill sent me this article earlier today and expressed his outrage at the contents of this article. I agree with him and I am consequently recommending this article to you.

NPT Review Conference Can't Get Its Act Together

By Victor Comras

The 2005 NPT Review Conference at the United Nations in New York is now in its final week. The session ends May 27th. There was a great deal of expectation at the opening of this important conference that the international community would support concerted action to re-invigorate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to condemn those countries that have drifted away from it. The Conference was supposed to evaluate the treaty, the "Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament" adopted at the 1995 Conference and the progress made on implementing the "13 practical steps" towards nuclear disarmament. It was also hoped that special attention would be given to expanding the IAEA�s role in securing and controlling nuclear related dual use equipment and technology (See Statement by the Carnegie Institute Campaign to Strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty). Since the NPT was designed to deal with states, it has limited capacity to deal with new threats coming from non-state actors or with regard to material and technology that could be used to develop improvised nuclear explosive devices. IAEA Director General Mohammad el-Baradei provided some dramatic proposals at the opening of the conference and underscored the fearful risks that further proliferation could result in terrorist possession of nuclear weapon devices. He proposed, among other things, that nuclear fuel production, including in Iran and North Korea, be placed under multilateral control by regional or international bodies. But, the Conference will leave most of these expectations unfulfilled.

Wrangling over the agenda, the division of responsibilities between its various committees, and the commitment of nuclear states to further disarm, took center stage. And with less than a week left there are few signs that the 188 signatories will reach a consensus on any of the new proposals or key issues. And even North Korea and Iran seem to have gotten off without the condemnations they deserve for violating their NPT obligations. As for the risk of nuclear materials and technology falling into the hands of terrorist � I guess we will have to live with those risks for some time to come.

Text of Affidavit by FBI in Arrest of Man Over Al-Qaida Bomb-Building Claim

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Attorney in Houston today announced the arrest of Ronald Allen Grecula for attempting to provide material support to Al-Qaida, specifically in attempting to build and sell an explosive device to an undercover officer who was posing as a member of Al-Qaida. According to the official affidavit filed by the FBI (Acrobat file), Grecula became friends with a fellow inmate while in prison in Malta, where Grecula was held on parental kidnaping charges until extradition to Pennsylvania. The "friend" became a confidential source ("CS" in the affidavit), to whom Grecula allegedly entrusted his knowledge of bombmaking and desire to build a bomb for Al-Qaida and other groups. The affidavit further alleges that Grecula wanted the CS to help kill Grecula's wife. Grecula allegedly told an undercover agent that he could build a powerful bomb using a kind of fusion technology, and the affidavit recounts specific details of the conversations from the tapes.

Small Plane Violates Washington Airspace - U.S. Capitol Evacuated

By Andrew Cochran

Now all clear and Capitol reoccupied after plane "escorted" out. Sent via BlackBerry Handheld. MORE: The FAA revoked the license of the private pilot from Pennsylvania who caused the mass evacuation in Washington on May 11.

Congressional Hearing Schedule This Week (Updated 5-23)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATED, 5-23: Contributing Experts Dennis Lormel's and Matthew Levitt's scheduled appearance before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on money laundering and terror finance issues in the Middle East has been postponed, apparently due to the probable vote to change Senate rules over federal judges. The schedule of open terrorism-related hearings in the U.S. Congress this week also includes USA Patriot Act hearings by the U.S. Senate Select Intelligence Committee and the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, and hearings on nuclear terrorism, container security, and agro-terrorism. FURTHER UPDATE 5-23: Matthew Levitt is scheduled to testify at a Wednesday hearing of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee on how Hezbollah and other terrorists fund their operations through counterfeit goods.

Sinn Fein Lobbyist Denied Entry into US

By Bill West

The Washington Times/AP has reported that Rita O�Hare, who has been Sinn Fein�s senior lobbyist in the US since 1998, was denied her �special� visa to reenter the United States after a recent trip to Ireland. O�Hare, who is reported to be a fugitive from British authorities because she jumped bail in Northern Ireland there more than 30 years ago while awaiting trial for attempted murder of British soldiers, should require what would be a waiver of inadmissibility to enter the US under the US Immigration and Nationality Act. It appears the Department of Homeland Security has decided to not grant that waiver again, at least for the moment. (The propriety of O�Hare, arguably a fugitive suspect terrorist alien, ever being granted such a waiver of inadmissibility in the first place won�t be discussed here.)

Federal Judge Dismisses 15 Convictions in Important Lazarenko Money Laundering Case

By Andrew Cochran

Yesterday, a federal judge threw out 15 of the 29 convictions in the case against former Ukraine Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko. The judge reaffirmed 14 of the convictions, mostly for money laundering and interstate transportation of stolen property. The same judge threw out 24 charges of the original 53-count indictment during the trial last year. The case, an extremely complex matter also involving Lazarenko's claims of assassination attempts against him and his claims for political asylum, is important for two reasons. First, Lazarenko was the first former head of state tried and convicted in the U.S. since Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega's conviction in 1992, and thus the case strained U.S-Ukraine relations. Second, and more importantly in the terrorism context, this was the first money laundering conviction in the U.S. in which the alleged crimes took place outside the U.S., with the proceeds then deposited in San Francisco financial institutions, thereby supporting money laundering charges in the eyes of federal prosecutors. As one excellent article worth reading states, "If Lazarenko was convicted, it would give U.S. attorneys the authority to judge whether anyone anywhere had committed fraud or extortion under their own nation's legal code, and then to hold them accountable in U.S. courts, as long as their money had moved through ubiquitous dollar accounts." The convictions caused officials of foreign financial institutions to voice concern over extraterritoriality of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA Patriot Act. One other interesting point about this case: the U.S. Attorney who gave the final go-ahead to indict Lazarenko was Robert Mueller, now the FBI Director. This continues to be an interesting case to follow as Lazarenko's attorney prepares an appeal for the federal appeals court, where he will certainly challenge the theory underlying the money laundering convictions.

No Solace Likely for Terrorism Financiers in US Courts -- But That's Not Always the Case Abroad

By Victor Comras

Al Haramain's ex Director General Aqeel Abdulaziz Al-Aqil is the latest terrorist financier to bring suit to challenge their designation by the US Treasury and UN Al Qaeda Committee as al Qaeda financial supporters. Al-Aqil announced his intention earlier this week to file a lawsuit in DC Federal Court against Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Treasury Secretary John Snow, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Juan Zarate, the U.S. Treasury's assistant secretary for terrorism financing for having him put on the UN terrorist designation list. He would have been better advised to try his case in foreign courts where the record established by known terrorist financiers is certainly much better. Previous suits filed in foreign courts, including in Britain, Turkey and Switzerland have had more success -- certainly more than they deserve. Fellow Saudi Financier Yasin Al Qadi (aka al Kadi), who headed the Saudi-based Muwafaq charity foundation implicated in the Al Qaeda US Embassy Bombings, for example, sought and received supposed vindication in Turkish courts earlier this year. Turkey's Chief Public Prosecutor ruled in March 2005 that there was no evidence to suggest that al-Qadi has been involved in any funding for Al Qaeda and no grounds for the Turkish authorities to bring further proceedings against him( See my earlier Blog on the Al Qadi Case). And earlier this month Al Taqwa Bank Director Youssef Nada won a Swiss Court Decision requiring the Swiss Prosecutor's Office to either present its case to the court for prosecution by May 31 or drop it (See my recent Blog on the Nada Case).

Germany acting against Turkish radical group

By Lorenzo Vidino

For years German authorities have tolerated the activities of Milli Gorus (National Vision), a Turkish Islamist group that operates throughout Europe but receives its strongest support from Germany's large Turkish population. Apparently, things are changing. The 2004 annual report released by Germany's Interiors Ministry revealed that, of the 31,800 suspected radicals living in the country, 26,500 are members of Milli Gorus. More significantly, yesterday, a court in Wiesbaden revoked the German citizenship of three Turkish men because of their failure to disclose their affiliation with Milli Gorus.

?More on Posada

By Bill West

On the heels of the ICE announcement today that Luis Posada Carriles was formally charged in deportation proceedings and is being held without bond, a few follow up points should be noted.

Update on Posada Case

By Bill West

ICE issued a press release today concerning the further action they have taken in the case of suspected terrorist alien Luis Posada Carriles, who was arrested by ICE agents in Miami, Florida yesterday after he left a "semi-clandestine" news conference there. Posada has now been formally charged in removal proceedings and is being initially held without bond. He is scheduled for a hearing before an Immigration Judge on June 13. The text of the ICE press statement is posted below.

Contributing Experts' Media Appearances

By Andrew Cochran

I've changed the "Events" box on the left sidebar to include links to media appearances, although those are subject to last-minute change. I post transcripts whenever they are available.

Doug Farah's Major Study on Charles Taylor Released

By Andrew Cochran

The Coalition for International Justice has released a major study "tracking Charles Taylor's money and how Taylor is using that money from his exile in Nigeria to interfere in Liberian politics and destabilize the region has just been put up on our website." Contributing Expert Douglas Farah and CIJ consultant, who has posted here on this issue, is the principal author, with assistance by the CIJ staff. The report is in three parts, available here (Acrobat files) and on the CIJ website:

1. Following Taylor's Money: A Path of War and Destruction
2. WAMCO and ATDI Flow Chart
3. Appendices: Following the Money: A Path of War and Destruction

Excerpt (page 18 of "Path of War and Destruction"): "As president, Taylor controlled access to the country, allowing him to host a variety of international criminal syndicates and terrorist organizations, ranging from Israeli, Lebanese, Russian and Ukrainian organized crime groups, to al Qaeda and Hezbollah. Each of these groups, as well as scores of businessmen seeking to enter the diamond or timber business, were obligated to pay Taylor directly, in cash, ?advance taxes? on their future earnings. Usually, getting access to the diamond business required a payment of $100,000, plus a share of one third of the diamonds mined. Timber payments from large companies like the Chinese-based Oriental Timber Corporation, were up to $1 million."

Problematic Posada

By Bill West

Cuban exile and naturalized Venezuelan citizen Luis Posada Carriles, who is a fugitive from Venezuela, that country seeking to extradite him in connection with the case of a 1976 bombing of a Cubana airliner for which Posada was twice acquitted but wherein the Venezuelan government had appealed the findings, and Posada escaped custody in 1985 before the appeal was finalized, has now been arrested by agents of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Reporters from the Miami Herald clandestinely interviewed Posada at a Key Biscayne condo over the weekend. Posada, who had filed a political asylum application with the US Government through his Miami attorney, was essentially "hiding in plain sight" from Federal Homeland Security authorities that, at least until yesterday, were not aggressively seeking to locate and arrest him.

Walid Phares: Newsweek's "infidels" trigger prepared Jihad (UPDATED 5-19)

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Expert Dr. Walid Phares asked me to post his comments on the matter (UPDATE 5-19: Dr Phares wrote an extended version for FrontPage Magazine):

With one sentence, "Newsweek" triggered a series of violent intifadas in countries as remote as Pakistan, Afghanistan and soon to be beyond. That's at least how mainstream media, Governments and most of the public sees it. Is that true? Yes and no would be the right answer. True that the short piece by Michael Isikoff and John Barry which attempted to unveil a "new scandal," became in fact the trigger for mass violence led by Islamists across the world. But it is also true that the Jihadists had mobilized previously for a counter offensive against the "infidels". Ironically, somewhat the two developments, even though separate in space, have something in common: undermining the credibility of the US supported ascending democracy movements in the region. The essence of this short Newsweek article targeted the management of the "War against Terror." It aimed at discrediting the US Government in this regards, projecting that it would be perceived just as wished by the authors in the Arab world. But that wasn't the case.

Steven Emerson on the Sami al-Arian case, the status of al-Qaeda, and the "Newsweek" matter

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Expert Steven Emerson appeared on Fox News's "O'Reilly Factor" last night and on Fox's "Dayside" this afternoon, and he asked me to post the transcripts of the two appearances (Word file) and highlights. As Bill O'Reilly pointed out, Steven Emerson was the first "to pinpoint that Al-Arian was helping terrorist groups, Islamic jihad primarily, kill people, by raising money and propaganda efforts." Steve pointed out that the "St. Petersburg Times" favored al-Arian in its stories and "consistently downplayed, denigrated, and actually tried to neutralize the government's case, I think, Bill, by a pattern of such overwhelming intellectual dishonesty that it really, I think, now requires some type of internal investigation." He described the government's case as "pretty overwhelming," and "the wire taps are absolutely incontrovertible." About the recent capture by Pakistan of 2 top al-Qaeda operatives, Steve said that "people who were number 15, or number 20, or number 25, are suddenly becoming number five. Reality is that these are victories, there is no doubt about that." But he added, "bin Laden still remains at large and so does Ayman Al-Zawahiri as well as five other members of the top 20 leaders of the Al-Qaeda network." With respect to "Newsweek," Steve cited Andrew McCarthy's column today and added, "I don't think the problem is "Newsweek," I think the problem is the militant Islamic conspiratorial culture that is pervasive that believes anything and anything said anytime about the evil intent of the Crusaders or the Americans or Christian world or Jews."

Douglas Farah on New Africa Counterterrorism Initiative

By Andrew Cochran

Doug Farah is on travel and asked me to post the following:

"After months of haggling, lobbying and negotiations, the U.S. European Command finally got what it wants and needs: A sustained, funded program to initiate counter-terror training in the Sahel region of Africa. Since 9-11, most of the Africa efforts have been ad hoc, year-to-year funding, making it almost impossible to plan for the future. Gen. Charles Wald, deputy EUCOM commander, often lamented the lack of flexibility and continuity this approach gave him. Now, the Trans Saharan Counterterrorism Initiative will help remedy that. It fundsa multi-agency approach for the region at $100 million a year. Special Forces will provide military training at the battallion level in eight countries (Mali, Chad, Niger, Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal and Nigeria), along and other aspects of military work. At the same time, USAID will fund educational initiatives, the State Department will fund airport security improvements, and the Treasury Department will help with financial crimes." For more, read the rest of his post here.

Training Imams in Europe: Italy Chooses the Wrong Partner

By Lorenzo Vidino

Over the last few months, determined to fight the radicalization of their burgeoning Muslim populations, various European governments have explored the possibility of training local imams in order to educate them to Western values and to indirectly control what is preached inside Europe's mosques. Following similar initiatives in Holland, Britain, and Spain, the Italian government today announced its intention to finance the creation of an institute that will train Italian imams. While the initiative is laudable and necessary, it is perplexing to see that the organization that will co-finance the institute is the Muslim World League, a Saudi charity that has spent millions of dollars to spread Wahhabism worldwide and is currently under investigations in the United States for its suspected terrorism-financing activities.

US Capitol Grounds Open Again

By Andrew Cochran

Crowds walking near Capitol again.

Andy Cochran Sent via BlackBerry Handheld

"Unattended Bag" near U.S. Capitol

By Andrew Cochran

U.S. Capitol Police have closed off the area west of the Capitol after finding an "unattended bag" and will not let visitors approach the west front (I am nearby). Bomb squad on the way. No evacuations to my knowledge yet - more as news available.

Andy Cochran Sent via BlackBerry Handheld

Council of Europe Summit Issues Two New European Anti-Terrorism Conventions

By Victor Comras

The Council of Europe convened a two-day summit meeting in Warsaw May 16th to consider its future role in light of European Union Enlargement. The organization's 46 members also opened for signature three new European Wide Conventions including a new Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism and a Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds From Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism.

EU Adopts Five Year Action Plan to Combat Terrorism, Illegal Immigration and Organized Crime

By Victor Comras

The Commission of the European Union has just issued its new 5 year implementation plan related to securing enhanced �Freedom, Justice and Security" for all its citizens and member states. A large part of the program deals with combating terrorism, illegal immigration and organized crime. It also provides a roadmap for implementing enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation as pledged in last November's "The Hague Program." High on the list of priorities is a �reduction of access to financial and economic resources by terrorists�� The action plan envisages new measures to be adopted by member states and the EU to enhance �transparency of legal entities and information exchange among relevant actors at national, EU and international levels.� No information is yet available on what these new measures will include, but there is some speculation that they will contain expanded requirements on financial institutions to report Suspicious Transactions (So-called STRs -- Suspicous Transaction Reports). There may also be some movement to faciliate information exchanges regarding such STRs.

The EU will also put in place a new �Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network (CTWIN). The center will be charged with assisting the exchange of information between EU member states on shared threats, areas of vulnerability and appropriate measures and strategies to mitigate risks.

Contributing Experts in the Media Today

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson will be on Bill O'Reilly's show on the Fox News Channel tonight to discuss the Sami al-Arian case. Walid Phares has been on MSNBC today to discuss the impact of the Newsweek story and retraction. Michael Cutler will be on WIBA-AM radio's Vicki McKenna show (webcast available) at 5:30 pm Eastern time to discuss immigration enforcement issues. Steven Emerson was on "Heartland" with John Kasich last Saturday (Word file) about the "Newsweek" story and Canadian Islamic extremists training for jihad against the U.S. He commented that, "Nothing we did here except for having a report in Newsweek, which was again unsubstantiated and which the United States government said it would investigate, justifies any type of mass pan-Muslim rioting like this. Every week, John, there are stories of Christians arrested, of churches that are attacked in the Muslim world."

Capture of Zarqawi Bombmaker Reported in Mosul

By Evan Kohlmann

This news from the Government Communications Directorate of the Republic of Iraq:

"Security Forces conducted a raid in Mosul May 13 resulting in the capture of Salim Yussef Ghafif Huseyn, aka Abu Daoud. Abu Daoud is the chief facilitator of the majority of terrorist suicide car bombings in Mosul, for the terrorist group of Abu Talha associated with Zarqawi terrorist network.  Intelligence sources have placed Abu Daoud as a very close confidant and terrorist cell leader of Abu Talha [Zarqawi's lieutenant in charge of Mosul - see Al-Qaida leadership chart]; together they are directly responsible for numerous attacks against innocent Iraqi citizens. Abu Daoud was responsible for obtaining vehicles and converting them into car bombs by packing them full of explosives. In previous incident, Security Forces have captured in April Abu Fateh, a financier for Abu Talha. With the capture of Abu Daoud, Multi-National forces continue to make considerable progress against terrorists in the Mosul area."

Two Oil-for-Food Hearings In Congress This Week (UPDATED 5-16)

By Andrew Cochran

A relatively quiet week for terrorism hearings in the U.S. Congress coming up, dominated by two Oil-for-Food hearings. The long-scheduled hearing at the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has gathered the headlines with its focus on Saddam's use of OFF money to reward politicans and terrorist entities, with British MP George Galloway testifying. Claudia Rosett's latest column on that hearing says it all. (UPDATE 5-16: Monday Washington Post article on PSI documents (free registration): "Top Kremlin operatives and a flamboyant Russian politician reaped millions of dollars in profits under the U.N. oil-for-food program by selling oil that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein allowed them to buy at a deep discount, a Senate investigation has concluded." The WP website has a good graphic of the deals released by the subcommittee. The subcommittee's reports are here - scroll down to "Related Files."

The House Energy & Commerce Committee's oversight subcommittee is holding an OFF hearing on Monday. John Fawcett, one of the leading counterterrorism investigators in the U.S., who has written a report on the OFF matter, will testify at that one. That subcommittee's press release on the hearing makes it clear that they are also pursuing Saddam's efforts to influence French and Russian politicians, and names targets from Saddam's intel reports.

Colin Powell Undercuts Efforts to Extradite Charles Taylor

By Andrew Cochran

Before leaving on travel, Doug Farah posted an update on his blog on the efforts to extradite former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor from Nigeria to Sierra Leone for trial. I was amazed at Doug's news that last week, Colin Powell undercut the Bush Administration and Congress in their efforts to extradite a war criminal and terrorist facilitator. Here is Doug's paragraph on Powell's maneuver:

"Last week Nigerian president Obasanjo visited Washington and received mixed messages on the urgency of turning the indicted war criminal and aider of both al Qaeda and Hezbollah, over to face justice. While Secretary of State Rice was forceful in her presentation of the U.S. case and other administration officials weighed in in favor of Obasanjo expelling Taylor for violating the rules of his asylum (see my previous posts), all of that was undercut by former Secretary of state Colin Powell. At a dinner in Washington honoring Powell, the former secretary took time out to essentially tell Obsanjo not to worry about getting rid of Taylor, that it was all part of an agreement that should not be disturbed."

The U.S. Senate unanimously joined the House this week in passing a resolution to turn Taylor to the Special Court for Sierra Leone to stand trial for crimes against humanity. Surely they will not be pleased with a former Secretary of State giving Charles Taylor a pass and ignoring clearly expressed Congressional intent.

Michael Cutler on The MS-13 Threat (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler is on travel and asked me to post the following for him, referring to an article in yesterday's Washington Times titled, "ICE Lists Gangster on 'Most Wanted":

I have often made the point that when someone is killed it doesn't matter to the victim if he or she was killed by a common criminal or a terrorist, nor does it matter to the victim's friends or family; dead is dead. MS-13 is a major threat to our safety and the individual being sought by ICE is a major player in the MS-13 gang, now thought to number some 20,000 in our country. ("David Rivera, also known as Gerber Alfaro Bonilla and Herbert Alfaro, is being sought by ICE agents on charges of re-entering the United States after deportation. The violation carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He also is wanted for questioning in several Los Angeles murders.")

The member of MS-13 who has been posted on ICE's most wanted list of fugitives utilizes numerous identities (I wonder how many driver's licenses he has in different names) and is an alien who has been previously deported as an aggravated felon and is also a murder suspect. The ability to have immigration law enforcement work in conjunction with local and other federal law enforcement agencies to achieve common goals has a synergistic effect where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This is an example of why we desperately need many new special agents to enforce the immigration laws from within the interior of the United States.

As the article points out, there is growing concern that MS-13 will continue to grow within our borders, victimizing more decent people living in the United States. There is also a growing concern that MS-13 may help to smuggle terrorists into the United States. My only question is, what will it take for the administration and members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to finally "get it?" (UPDATE: Today's "Washington Times" reports that "U.S. Border Patrol agents have been ordered not to arrest illegal aliens along the section of the Arizona border where protesters patrolled last month because an increase in apprehensions there would prove the effectiveness of Minuteman volunteers." Michael Cutler will appear on Fox News on May 15 at 12:15 pm to discuss this article.)

Chart: The Network of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq

By Evan Kohlmann

A new leadership chart is available for download focusing on the Iraq-based network of known operatives loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Al-Qaida's Committee in Mesopotamia.  Though much more expansive than previous efforts, this chart is based upon similar products distributed in recent months by the Iraqi government and U.S. military.  Bill Roggio at The Fourth Rail offers his initial review and comments here.

Click to download c/o Globalterroralert.com

Its Time For Switzerland "to Fish or Cut Bait" in the Nada/Al Taqwa Case (SPECIAL UPDATE 5-13)

By Victor Comras

The Swiss Federal Court in Bellinzona has ordered Federal Prosecutors Valentin Roschbacher and Claude Nicati to either move forward with their prosecution of Youssef Nada and his Al Taqwa organization or drop the charges (see SwissInfo). The court responded May 4, 2005 to an appeal filed by Nada, complaining that no action had been taken on the pending prosecution for over two years. The court found no good reason to support such a delay. The Federal court has given the Swiss Prosecutors office until May 31 to either refer the case to a criminal tribunal for prosecution or to withdraw it. It also awarded Nada SFr3,000 ($2,514) in court costs.

According to the prosecutor�s office, Al Taqwa and its directors, Youssef Nada and Ali Ghaleb Himmit provided financial support to al Qaeda and associated individuals and entities. The investation against Nada followed a search of Nada's home conducted in conjunction with Italian police authorities, and Nada's and Himmit's designation by the U.S. Treasury Department and the UN Al Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee. The Swiss government also froze 24 Nada-related bank accounts. But, the Swiss government was counting also on the United States to provide additional information to back up US allegations against al Taqwa and Nada contained in a January 2002 letter from US Treasury Deputy General Counsel George B. Wolfe to the Swiss Prosecutor's Office (see my Earlier Blog on this Topic). Swiss Justice Minister Christoph Blocher visited Washington last month where he met with new US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to follow up on the case. Blocher reportedly was quite satisfied with the cooperation he received giving rise to expectations that the Swiss government would move ahead quickly with the al Taqwa case. Nada's getting off the hook now would be a major setback for US and other Countries efforts to demonstrate their ability to hold identified al Qaeda financial faciliators accountable. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. (UPDATE 5-13 to include the January 2002 letter from Wolfe to the Swiss, along with letters by Nada and Nasreddin.)

Department of the Treasury Designates 3 Members of JI

By Zachary Abuza

Today, the US Department of the Treasury designated three leaders of Jemaah Islamiyah for their role in perpetrating terrorist acts in Southeast Asia. link They were designated under Executive Order 13224 that will be jointly submitted to the UN�s 1267 Committee for terrorist financing with Australia. This was the third round of JI designations sponsored by the United States, since January 2003. On 24 January 2003, two JI leaders were designated, followed by the 5 September 2003 designation of ten more individuals. That same day, the Malaysian government directly submitted the names of ten Malaysian nationals to the UN�s 1267 Committee.

Today�s designations include three Indonesians, Zulkanaen, Dulmatin and Abu Rusdan.

Larry Johnson's Testimony on Terrorism Statistics Controversy

By Andrew Cochran

Here is Larry Johnson's testimony (Word file) delivered today at the U.S. House International Relations terrorism subcommittee hearing on the subject (statements and testimonies available at that site), chaired by Rep. Ed Royce.

New Statements from Al-Qaida in Iraq/Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

By Evan Kohlmann

Al-Qaida's Committee in Iraq--led by wanted Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi--has released numerous communiques since May 1, 2005, including the following:

Click to view English translations c/o Globalterroralert.com:
- May 1 Al-Qaida statement titled "A Dialogue of Bullets"
- May 1 declaration of the Battles of Mohammed al-Issawi
- May 1 claim for battles with foreign fighters in Al-Qaim
- May 1 claim for various Battles of Mohammed al-Issawi
- May 1 declaration of the end of the al-Issawi Battles
- May 5 response to acquittal of Fallujah mosque shooting
- May 7 claim for car bombing in Tahrir Square in Baghdad
- May 8 claim for attack on "CIA vehicles" in Baghdad
- May 9 response to alleged arrest of an aide to Zarqawi
- May 9 response to alleged killing of 75 militants in Al-Qaim
- May 10 response to claims about foreign fighters in Iraq

See also: "The Jihad in Iraq: An Engine for International Terrorism"

Iraqi Gov't Press Release on Arrest of Zarqawi Aide "Abul Abbas" (a.k.a. Ammar Adnan al-Zubaydi)

By Evan Kohlmann

This from the Government Communications Directorate of the Republic of Iraq:

"The Iraqi security forces in Iraq have arrested the terrorist Ammar Adnan Mohammed Hamza Al-Zubaydi, also known as "Abul-Abbas," and he is considered one of the closest people to [Abu Musab] al-Zarqawi.  The arrest took place during a raid on an area of Baghdad on May 5, 2005.  Abul-Abbas was involved in planning the terrorist attacks that were executed last month on in the area of Abu Ghraib.  In addition, he has been involved in a number of car bomb attacks that took place on April 29 in different areas of Baghdad.  Additionally, the Zarqawi network... has previously taken responsibility for the attacks that took place on the listed dates, attacks which led to the deaths of dozens of innocent civilians."

"Moreover, Abul-Abbas has been involved in planning several assassination operations and he directly supervised the terrorist attacks that have taken place in the last few weeks.  Abul-Abbas supported the terrorists by [providing] explosive devices, in choosing the targets, in arranging the tasks among the suicide [bombers], and in facilitating the entrance of foreign mujahideen into Iraq.  Security forces found several documents in the house of Abul-Abbas during his arrest.  These documents included some intelligence materials and a plot to assassinate a known figure in the Iraqi government.  He also confessed that he had stolen approximately 400 rockets and 720 boxes containing explosive materials from a storage facility in Al-Yousifiya at the beginning of 2003.  He claimed that he had buried some of that ammunition in his field located in Al-Yousifiya.  He mentioned that there was no ammunition left after part of it was used to build car bombs and explosive devices, and the other part was destroyed by security forces.  Among the confession he made was that he supplied the terrorist Abu Omar al-Kurdi (an individual who has been involved in more than 75% of the car bombs in Iraq) with ammunition.  Abu Omar was also arrested on a different occasion while trying to hide a number of explosives in his field.  It is important to mention that the arrests of the terrorists Abul-Abbas and Ghassan Ameen (Ameer Rawah) have given the Iraqi security forces much information about the [Zarqawi] network in Iraq and about their logistical support for suicide [bombers], foreign [fighters], and Iraqis."

Iraqi Security Forces Capture Alleged Zarqawi Network Financier in Mosul

By Evan Kohlmann

This from the Government Communications Directorate of the Republic of Iraq:

"Security Forces captured Amar Farid Abd-al Qadir 'Ashur al-Jaburi, aka Abu Fateh, a financier for the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi associated terrorist network in Mosul April 15th.  Security Forces continue to capture or kill many of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's trusted lieutenants and other high-ranking network members.  Abu Talha and his network are responsible for the murders of hundreds of innocent Iraqi civilians.  Abu Fateh claims Abu Talha is involved in car theft and kidnapping for ransom to finance his terrorist network."

New Book Ties Extreme Islamic Law to Terrorism, While Moderate Muslims Sponsor March in Washington

By Andrew Cochran

We often hear debates over how to eliminate "the root causes of terrorism." Into this debate steps Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom and its new book, "Radical Islam's Rules: The Worldwide Spread of Extreme Shari'a," which examines the impacts on human rights of the implementation of extreme forms of Islamic law, or shari'a. The book includes studies of the extent of implementation in numerous Islamic states. The book's editor, Paul Marshall, makes the direct link between extreme shari'a and terrorism in the introduction: "While there are terrorist-supporting states, such as Syria, that do not have extreme shari'a, all the states where such laws have been imposed produce terrorism...Extreme shari'a lies at the heart of the extremists ideology. It is both a goal and incubator of their violence." The center previously produced a terrific study of Saudi-sponsored anti-American propaganda distributed to American mosques, a subject of several posts here.

Meanwhile, the moderate "Free Muslims Against Terrorism" are sponsoring a March Against Terror this Saturday in Washington, with the endorsement of numerous Muslim and non-Muslim groups. Ironically, according to "Free Muslims" President Kamal Nawash, four of the leading Muslim organizations won't join in the march in any way. Mr. Nawash won't name them, but it won't be difficult to identify them. These groups shouldn't be taken seriously when they claim to stand against Islamic extremism.

Washington all clear (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Washington situation a Cessna in airspace - all clear now per AP source and overheard on Capitol Police radio (UPDATE at 2:30 pm: I commend the Capitol Police for their outstanding guidance to evacuees - it proceeded smoothly and quickly. Law enforcement is now certainly investigating every aspect of the pilot's life as they hold him in custody. UPDATE at 4:30: Thanks to CNN's "Inside Politics" for covering the realtime blogging here and on other blogs. We'll post the transcript from the segment as soon as it's available.)

Andy Cochran Sent via BlackBerry Handheld

WH, Congress evacuated

By Andrew Cochran

Possible airspace violations - rumors of military jets over Washington - I am among evacuees - more as news available.

Andy Cochran Sent via BlackBerry Handheld

Getting Ready for the June US-EU Summit in Washington

By Victor Comras

The EU hosted a senior US level delegation May 10th to review US-EU cooperation on terrorism financing during the past year and prepare for the upcoming June 25-26 US-EU Summit in Washington DC. Both sides had agreed last June at the US-EU summit at Dromoland Castle, Ireland that they would work closer on terrorism financing issues. This was to include broader cooperation and information sharing to assist the investigation and prosecution of terrorist financing cases. They also agreed to explore ways to cooperate further in providing technical assistance to countries lacking the capacity to deal with terrorism issues. While cooperation between the two sides still leaves much to be desired, some progress has been made in carrying out these summit directives. Special meetings were organized that brought together prosecutors and investigators from both sides to share experiences on dealing with complex terrorism financing cases. A special meeting was also held to exchange ideas on how to better implement financial sanctions against identified terrorism financiers. And US and EU experts also discussed ideas on how to better deal with charities and other NGO Groups that might serve as channels for terrorism related transactions. A special joint mission to Tanzania was also organized to review that country's technical assistance requirements.

The May 10 meeting also served to finalize a common terrorism financing agenda for the June US-EU summit. According to EU sources, the US has now come around, despite earlier reticience, to expanding the summit's terrorism agenda to include discussions on the need to address the "root causes" of terrorism. The European side also pushed for the development of new international standards for transportation security.

COUNTERTERRORISM REPORTS?HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE

By Michael Kraft

By Michael B. Kraft

Should Lebanon be a candidate for being placed on the U.S. government�s list of countries that�s support international terrorism? Is Congress getting an accurate description of how individual countries are dealing with the terrorist threat? These and other issues have been overlooked in the controversy over whether the U.S. Government�s annual reports on international terrorism accurately reflect the number of terrorist attacks and whether numbers are being tilted one way or another for political purposes.

The controversy is continuing with a House of Representatives International Relations Committee hearing this Thursday, following various commentaries and State Department and National Counterterrorism Center explanations. These followed Larry Johnson�s breaking of the story on this blog site that the 2004 terrorist attack numbers tripled those of the previous year. The NCTC report listed 651 attacks listed. The methodology had changed since previous years and there are other issues in dispute. But there is more to the annual reports than numbers.

By way of offering a little historic perspective, the controversy that emerged publicly last year over whether the State Department�s annual report to Congress provides an accurate picture of terrorism is not exactly new. The numbers controversy -- and I am not attempting to downplay it--has obscured the original intention of the Congressional report.

New Videos from Al-Qaida's Committee in Iraq/Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

By Evan Kohlmann

Al-Qaida's Committee in Iraq--led by wanted Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi--has released the following video footage since April 27, 2005, featuring ongoing insurgent operations targeting coalition military and Iraqi security forces:

Click to view video c/o Globalterroralert.com
- Apr. 27 video of suicide bombing in western Baghdad
- May 4 video of rocket attack on Taji Base north of Baghdad
- May 7 video of mortar and rocket attacks in central Iraq
- May 8 video of 82mm mortar attack on Bakr Air Base
- May 10 video of roadside bomb attack on U.S. Humvee

See also: "The Jihad in Iraq: An Engine for International Terrorism"

Larry Johnson Added to Hearing on Terrorism Report Controversy

By Andrew Cochran

Rep. Ed Royce, Chairman of the House International Relations terrorism subcommittee, has invited Contributing Expert Larry Johnson to testify this Thursday at the subcommittee hearing on the controversy surrounding the change in reporting terrorism statistics. Mr. Raphael F. Perl, terrorism policy specialist for the Congressional Research Service, will join Larry on the second panel, after senior State Department officials Philip Zelikow and John Brennan.

Sunday Times on al-Libbi Capture: Wrong Man or Wrong Story?

By Andrew Cochran

The Christian Science Monitor has posted a story titled, "The big catch that wasn't?" quoting a Sunday Times of London story that claimed that "According to European intelligence experts, however, Abu Faraj al-Libbi was not the terrorists� third in command, as claimed, but a middle-ranker derided by one source as 'among the flotsam and jetsam' of the organisation." The CSM and the New York Daily News (yesterday) are apparently the first American media outlets to run with the Sunday Times piece. But we knew about it here 36 hours before the Times posted it. We heard about the possible Sunday Times story last Friday, and some of the Contributing Experts and I started to chase this down with contacts in the counterterrorism community. By Friday night, we had been told that the captured al-Libbi is, indeed, "the right guy," although clearly there was confusion over some of the details, as the Sunday Times story discusses (e.g., the FBI apparently gave them details on the wrong al-Liby, and ransom offer amounts were confused).

On Saturday night U.S. time, when the Sunday Times ran the story on the web, I made the same editorial decision that I make with respect to all counterterrorism stories that I find around the world - if it seems pretty outlandish in its claims, and it isn't supported, I won't link to it on this blog, no matter how reputable the original outlet. I make that decision every day on about 150 stories. The Sunday Times story had one named source for a story of major impact, and all other sources at our disposal disagreed with that one. So I didn't post it and waited to see who would research it further and add better evidence. Nobody has done that - the CSM and NYDN stories don't include a single new named source. But after seeing the assertion cited on some blogs, I thought I should tell the story of the story and our involvement in it, and let readers decide. UPDATE: The NYDN ran a story on May 5 that cited "disagreement" over al-Libbi's importance and quoted "an official at another intelligence agency" as doubting that al-Libbi was "#3." So they did original reporting before the Sunday Times article and deserve credit for it.

The Jihad in Iraq: An Engine for International Terrorism

By Evan Kohlmann

Following the relative success of the January 30, 2005 national elections in Baghdad, many Western observers looked forward optimistically to a future Iraq marked by democracy and freedom--rather than televised executions and horrific suicide bombings.  As Iraqi voters triumphantly waved their ink stained fingers before media cameras, it seemed for a moment that there was finally some light at the end of the tunnel in America's prolonged and costly military campaign in Iraq.  The failure of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and allied Islamic militants to significantly disrupt national elections--despite endless threats to do so--was heralded in many circles as the beginning of the end of their troubling dominance over Iraq's restive Sunni Triangle.  Yet, three months later, that optimistic attitude is fading fast in the wake of renewed suicide bombing attacks across the country, dramatically increased signs of insurgent coordination and strategic planning, and mounting evidence that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi seeks to attack his American enemies directly in their own homeland.

Volcker Hits Back on Confidentiality Breach (Updated May 10th) (Second Update May 16th)

By Victor Comras

At IIC Chairman Paul Volcker's request, the United Nations filed papers in US District Court to restrain access to the documents provided to the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations by ex IIC investigator Robert Parton. Fox News reports May 10th that US District Court (Washington DC) Judge Ricardo Urbina issued a temporary restraining order which will freeze access to the documents for ten days to permit the parties to work to resolve the matter. Volcker has also written to House National Security Subcommittee Chairman Christopher Shays about his concerns that breach of IIC confidentiality would hamper his continuing investigation and put his investigators at potential risk. His May 5 letter to Shays states that "what is at stake is the ability of the IIC to go about its work effectively, maintaining the confidentiality and staff protection essential to investigatory activity." Volcker was also critical of Robert Parton for breaching his obligation to respect this confidentiality. "In the present case," Volcker wrote, "all IIC staff members have willingly agreed to srict confidentiality obligations....Moreover, staff members have the further protection of the privileges and immunities inherent in theUnited Nations itself.... Staff members who have voluntarily assumed the privileges and responsibilities associated with work with the IIC cannot, in my judgment, reasonably and honorably unilaterally violate those pledges of confidentiality and acceptance of immunity at the expense of their former colleagues and the investigation itself." (UPDATE MAY 16TH -- The US District Court May 16th ordered Robert Parton to provide to the Volcker committee "the opportunity to inspect and copy all materials that {Parton} allegedly copied, removed or otherwise ... obtained from the IIC."

PC Interference Stalls a Little Progress with Immigration Police Work in LA

By Bill West

By now everyone should know that Los Angeles has a huge criminal alien problem. Many of those foreign hoods are gang members from Mexico and other Latin American countries, as well as Asian and other Pacific Rim nations, but also from countries as diverse as those in East Europe and the Middle East. At any given moment, thousands of these criminal aliens are in the criminal justice system of Los Angeles County, many as repeat offenders. Lately, there is mixed intelligence about some of these gangs being linked to Middle East terrorist organizations.

Charles Taylor, Al Qaeda & Diamonds: Debate Rages On

By Andrew Cochran

This week's "U.S. News & World Report" has an excellent article on Charles Taylor, the former Liberian dictator sought for crimes against humanity, and his links to al Qaeda and possible diamond trades. The article quotes Contributing Experts Doug Farah and Dennis Lormel, who represent the opposing sides of the al Qaeda-diamonds issue. Doug posted here and here about Taylor and the now-designated Victor Bout, and added more on his own blog. We expect to have more on the al Qaeda-diamonds issue on the CT Blog.

How Saddam Hussein Bought Arab Journalists (more)

By Andrew Cochran

Back on January 6, we posted a story about the cozy relationship between the Al-Jazeera network and Saddam Hussein's murderous son, Uday, and how another pro-Saddam Arab journalist received Oil-for-Food vouchers. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, who wrote the January 6 post here, has co-authored an article with Eric Stakelbeck in this week's "Weekly Standard" that adds details (downloadable Word file with permission). The Arab journalist, Hamida Naanaa, was captured on tape gushing to Uday, "Hello to you, the dear son of the dear and the precious son of the precious. Hello, is kissing allowed?" So Al Jazeera, the same network which "objectively" reported that the Arab world opposed the U.S. liberation of Iraq from Saddam's grip, was actually Saddam's paid mouthpiece for years.

Congressional Hearings Include Review of Terrorism Report Controversy Initiated Here

By Andrew Cochran

HERE is the list of open terrorism-related hearings in the U.S. Congress this week (downloadable Word file). Among them is the first hearing on the controversy surrounding the change in reporting terrorism statistics, as initiated on The Counterterrorism Blog by Larry Johnson on April 14 (and updated on April 19, April 21, April 26, April 27, and April 28). The U.S. House International Relations terrorism subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Ed Royce, will hold the hearing this Thursday at 10:30 in 2172 Rayburn Building, with State Department officials Philip Zelikow (former 9-11 Commission Chief Counsel) and John Brennan as witnesses.

Larry Johnson: "SPY VS. SPY" U.S. Style

By Andrew Cochran

Larry Johnson is on travel and asked me to post the following:

An untold story behind the recent capture in Pakistan of a man alleged to be a senior Al Qaeda operative is the split that exists between the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense over who is and is not a High Value Target. Simply stated, the CIA has one list and the Department of Defense has a separate list. While there are certain associates of Bin Laden on both lists, the lists diverge. This is one more symptom of a far deeper problem--no single organization or entity is in charge of the hunt for Bin Laden and his cronies. As has been publically reported, the Special Operations Command was designated as the supported commander in the Global War on Terrorism. This is military speak that means SOCOM is in charge of hunting down groups of Islamic extremists that engage in terrorism. While SOCOM has representatives of the CIA and the FBI assigned to its headquarters this does not mean that SOCOM is in charge of CIA and FBI operations in this area. In fact, both the CIA and the FBI, while making enormous strides in sharing information and trying to coordinate with each other, continue to pursue independent operations to locate and apprehend or kill Al Qaeda operatives and other radical Islamic jihadists.

A Conspiracy of Silence: Who is Behind the Escalating Insurgency in Southern Thailand?

By Zachary Abuza

On January 4 2004, militants conducted simultaneous raids on police and military posts across three provinces in Thailand's Muslim majority south. The raids were well coordinated and displayed considerable planning and professionalism. Though described as the start of the new insurgency, the same type of attacks had been conducted by groups since 2001-02 on a smaller and more sporadic basis. The seizure of 300 M-16s caused the Thai government to impose martial law and deploy additional troops. The heavy-handed military response has, in turn, led to a cycle of violence. There are currently more than 20,000 troops, police and intelligence officials deployed across 10,000 square kilometers. Yet, the violence has steadily escalated. Since January 2004, roughly 700 people have been killed. Only in Iraq were more Muslims killed in 2004.

For the full article click here link to go to the Jamestown Foundation's Website.

A Profile of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) - Pakistan

By Evan Kohlmann

The United Nations has finally announced the designation of the Pakistani terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba [LET] (a.k.a. "The Army of Medina", "The Army of the Pure and Righteous") under UN resolution 1267 for connections to Al-Qaida, the Taliban, and Usama Bin Laden.  Over the past two decades, the virulently anti-American founders of LET--including a well-known Saudi Al-Qaida member--have allowed their organization to serve as a recruiting and training mechanism for foreign terrorists based in Bosnia, Chechnya, Afghanistan, and Kashmir--including several American, British, and Australian Muslim converts.

Click to view Globalterroralert.com dossier on LET

Death of Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) Member Reported in the Caucasus

By Evan Kohlmann

Reliable sources close to Dr. Ayman al-Zawahri's Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) Movement in London have reported the death of senior EIJ commander Mahmud Hisham al-Hennawi (a.k.a. Abu Sahl) during combat operations against the Russian army in Chechnya, south Caucasus.  Al-Hennawi, a veteran of the Arab mujahideen in both Chechnya and Afghanistan, is famed as having personally accompanied Ayman al-Zawahri on a botched 1996 mission to establish a training camp in Chechnya that ended in near disaster when Zawahri, Hennawi, and another militant were unexpectedly taken captive by Russian security forces.

Click to view English translation c/o Globalterroralert.com

Contributing Experts Walid Phares & Michael Cutler Testify Before Congress

By Andrew Cochran

Dr. Walid Phares testified today before the United States Helsinki Commission, chaired by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), on the developments and prospects in Lebanon. Dr. Phares testified that the UN must work quickly to deploy and protect an independent Lebanese Army and allow Lebanese from around the world to participate in upcoming legislative elections. Michael Cutler testified before a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee that the Office of Immigrations & Customs Enforcement ("ICE") is focused on conducting non-immigration investigations and suffers from deficiencies in immigration enforcement leadership, effective training, and a lack of resources.

NYC Arrest Shows Feds Getting it Right

By Bill West

The New York Post Online Edition today reported that Tariq Javid, a suspected ringleader of a Pakistani-based terror organization named Sipah-e-Sahaba, was arrested in New York yesterday on a Federal criminal complaint that he allegedly lied on his immigration forms about his terrorist connections.

Treasury Designates PIJ Charity

By Matthew Levitt

Treasury Designates PIJ Charity

The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated the Elehssan Society as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity yesterday, revealing that the society served as a charitable front for Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). "Elehssan masquerades as a charity, while actually helping to finance Palestinian Islamic Jihad's acts of terror against the Israeli people and other innocents," said Stuart Levey, Treasury's Under Secretary for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI). PIJ has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S. Government and is also named on the European Union and Australian lists of terrorist entities.

PIJ recently claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack in Tel-Aviv that killed five and wounded over 50. Evidence available to the U.S. Government corroborates that PIJ, based in Damascus, Syria, was implicated in planning the attacks. PIJ leadership there controls all PIJ officials, activists and terrorists in the West Bank and Gaza, according to a significant volume of information available to the U.S. Government.

In addition to its use as a financial conduit, Elehssan is used by PIJ to recruit for its operational cadre. In early 2003, Elehssan planned to open a youth center to recruit and train PIJ operatives and support PIJ terrorist activity. United States government analysts believe that the absence of a PIJ youth center in certain locations was regarded as one reason behind the lack of PIJ activity in those areas. Elehssan also solicitied funds through Internet websites featuring PIJ information on PIJ leaders and claims of responsibility for terrorist acts.

This action marks the 400th individual or entity designated under Executive Order 13224, President Bush's Order aimed at freezing the assets of terrorists and their support networks.

For more on PIJ see "Sponsoring Terrorism: Syria and Islamic Jihad" or �Hamas and Islamic Jihad Clash over �Media Jihad�."

Contributing Experts Comment on Capture of Abu Faraj al-Libbi, Senior Al Qaeda Leader

By Andrew Cochran

Our Contributing Experts have been asked by various media for their reactions to the al-Libbi capture. Steven Emerson and Lorenzo Vidino of the Investigative Project on Terrorism have been interviewed on MSNBC and Fox News (Word file), and Matthew Levitt authored a piece in the "National Post" (Word file distributed with permission), and Matthew and Evan Kohlmann were cited in numerous articles and interviews.

Getting Around Diplomatic Immunity is Easy: Just Ignore It: (Update May 6th)

By Victor Comras

One can argue quite a while and a bit about the nuances and effects of Diplomatic Immunity. But it really doesn't matter if the parties involved choose to ignore it. At least that's what appears to have happened last night when (according to Fox News) Ex Volcker Commission investigator Robert Parton simply went ahead and provided a box full of documents to Sen. Coleman's subcommittee concerning aspects of the IIC's Kofi Annan investigation. IIC Chairman Paul Volcker has offered to authorize Parton to provide a statement to the Coleman Subcommittee on Investigations provided that the Committee returns all the documents provided by Parton. But there is no such deal yet. It will be very interesting to see where this whole affair goes from here.

Does the Volcker Commission Have Diplomatic Immunity? The Answer is Unclear. (Updated May 6th)

By Victor Comras

It looks like we are headed for a major confrontation between Senator Norm Coleman, R-Minn., the chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and Paul Volcker as to whether the Senate can compel two ex Volcker Commission investigators, Robert Parton and Miranda Duncan to testify before Coleman�s Subcommittee. The question revolves around whether Parton and Duncan are cloaked in �diplomatic immunity,� and, if so, who can waive it. There may not be any real clear answer to these questions. On the one hand, the members of the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) were appointed by Kofi Annan and given special status by UN Security Council Resolution 1538 (2004). If viewed as �officials� of the United Nations, or as �Experts on Missions for the United Nations", they possess �diplomatic immunity" under the provisions of the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations to which the United States is a party.

The problem is that it is not clear whether the Secretary General�s letter of appointment specified in any way that the group would enjoy the immunities granted by the United Nations Charter or by the 1946 Convention. And, according to the IIC website, the IIC has always viewed itself as separate from the United Nations. �Although the Committee members were appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan,� their official website states, �the IIC is an independent body. The Committee�s employees are not UN staff. The recruitment of investigators and other staff has been undertaken outside the UN personnel structure. No UN personnel work at the IIC with the exception of 3 support staff on loan from the UN, who deal exclusively with administrative issues.� UN Spokesperson St�phane Dujarric told journalists at the UN's May 6th Press Briefing that Volcker and the members of the Commission had all been granted "functional immunity" and that their work product was covered by the standard UN's confidentiality agreement.

Article V of the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations deals with United Nations �Officials.� And Article VI covers �Experts on Missions for the United Nations.� The Secretary General is empowered to �specify� the categories of �officials� and �Experts on Missions� who are entitled to �UN privileges and immunities.� Once specified, such officials and experts are �immune from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and all acts performed by them in their official capacity;� And according to the Convention �this immunity from legal process shall continue to be accorded notwithstanding that the persons concerned are no longer employed on missions for the United Nations.� But, there is also another proviso which states that these �privileges and immunities are granted �in the interests of the United Nations. The Secretary-General has the �right and the duty� to waive them, if, in his opinion �immunity would impede the course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the United Nations.� The convention also calls on the United Nations to �cooperate at all times with the appropriate authorities of Members to facilitate the proper administration of justice, secure the observance of police regulations and prevent the occurrence of any abuse in connection with the privileges, immunities and facilities mentioned in this Article.�

The Secretary General is reportedly now reviewing whether or not it would be appropriate to waive diplomatic immunity in this matter. According to UN Spokesperson, St�phane Dujarric. the Secretary General will consult closely with Volcker on this issue to determine Volcker's wishes in the matter.

Abu Faraj al-Libbi Captured

By Matthew Levitt

Today, Pakistani authorities announced the capture of the third-ranking leader of al-Qaeda, a native Libyan named Abu Faraj al-Libbi (alias Dr. Taufeeq). Al-Libbi, along with five other foreign al-Qaeda operatives, was captured following a shootout in the village of Fatami in northwestern Pakistan. Authorities had long been searching for al-Libbi-- Pakistan had posted a reward of 20 million rupees (approximately $333,333) for his arrest and the United States also offered a 5 million dollar reward.

Al-Libbi is commonly described as the third in command of the al-Qaeda network, following Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. Al-Libbi took over al-Qaeda operations in Pakistan and assumed the position of his leadership rank in al-Qaeda after the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in March 2003. Al-Libbi is considered the mastermind behind the two failed attempts to assassinate Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in December 2003. Schooled in the Afgahn terrorist training camps in Afghanistan, al-Libbi was said to have been in touch with a network of militants across Pakistan, and is believed to have been receiving instructions directly from bin Laden.

Al-Libbi was among six suspects identified as Pakistan's "Most Wanted Terrorists" in a poster campaign in 2004. One of the other six �Most Wanted Terrorists� was Amjad Hussain Farooqi, an al-Qaeda operative and recruiter who was killed by Pakistani forces last September. Farooqi was an associate of al-Libbi�s who had been involved in the plots to kill Musharraf as well as the 2002 abduction and beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

U.S. Efforts to Get Taylor Extradited Go Belly Up

By Douglas Farah

There was a brief feeling of optimism in recent days over shifting the U.S. position on having Charles Taylor stand trial for crimes against humanity. Now it seems that a senior Bush administration official has assured Nigerian president Obasanjo that the issue of Taylor will not even be raised during Obasanjo's brief visit with Bush on Thursday.

But let me back up.

After years of silence and inactivity, it seemed that the Bush administration was going to be proactive in presenting Obasanjo with evidence of Taylor's violation of his asylum agreement. Taylor was granted asylum in Nigeria in August 2003, when his criminal empire in Liberia was overrun by other warlords and gangs. Taylor, in return, promised not to meddle in Liberia's internal affairs or destabilize the region. Taylor, remember, aided and abetted both Hezbollah and al Qaeda in their diamond purchases for many years. For more information, see my recent Washington Post op-ed here or my book. For my complete blog on how this fell apart, go here.

Text of Letter to Zarqawi Allegedly Intercepted by U.S. Military in Iraq

By Evan Kohlmann

The U.S. military has announced the alleged interception of a private letter intended for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Al-Qaida's leader in Iraq.  According to the American government, the letter was sent by a man calling himself "Abu Asim al-Yemeni al-Qusaymi", a purported representative of Al-Qaida's Committee in Iraq (whose name suggests that his likely origin was from Yemen).  The document is thought to have been written on April 27 and was intercepted within 24 hours of its creation.  Text as follows below:

Sectarian Conflict and Terrorism in Indonesia

By Zachary Abuza

In early April 2005, Indonesian police announced that they had captured a letter written by a Sumatran-based JI cell to one of the organization�s leader�s and top bomb-maker, Dr. Azahari bin Husin. The author of the 7-page letter written in a mix of Bahasa and pidgin Arabic, not only mentioned that bomb-making materiel was being stockpiled, but that there was a 12-man cell preparing to become shaheeds (martyrs). The letter explained to the leader that in both materiel and mental preparation the �plans were well advanced.� JI is down, but it certainly is not out. Though they aspire to increase their rate of attack, which now occur on a roughly one-year timetable, there is little evidence to suggest that they are capable of speeding up that timetable in the near future.

While they attempt to build more bombs, they need to also focus on regrouping and recruiting new members to fill their depleted ranks. JI�s primary strategy to do this is to foment sectarian conflict. Unfortunately further evidence has emerged in the past few days.

Palestinian Authority Backs Down Over Hamas Terrorists (and Egypt Should Be Questioned)

By Andrew Cochran

The Palestinian Authority must prove that it can credibly police its land against criminals and home-grown terrorists, or it cannot be trusted in any way. So it is maddening when, in the space of just a few hours, the PA arrests, then releases, two clear and open Hamas terrorists (corrected). First, the arrest, from a Reuters story: "Palestinian police, under orders to use an 'iron fist' to preserve a truce with Israel, fought a gun battle with a Hamas rocket squad in the Gaza Strip and arrested two militants, the Palestinian Authority said on Tuesday...'The three were in a car, en route to fire rockets, when police waved for them to stop. Gunmen opened fire at the police, forcing policemen to fire back,' said Interior Ministry spokesman Toufiq Abu Khoussa. Policemen controlled the situation, took away the car, arrested the gunmen and took away their arms,' he said." Then the release, from the Scotsman online site: "Palestinian police released a member of a Hamas rocket squad today, despite a pledge to get tough with those who break a ceasefire with Israel. The release came after intervention by outraged Hamas leaders and Egyptian diplomats. The suspect was set free even though he and two other Hamas militants had fired at officers during Monday night�s arrest, and a rocket launcher and firearms were found in their car." (CORRECTED: The PA released two terrorists, not just one.) This represents the height of cowardice by the Palestinian Authority, and the U.S. should question the Egyptian government over the possible involvement of its diplomats in the terrorist's release.

Cracks in the Cement Around the BSA and Patriot Act? Or Going Nowhere Fast?

By Andrew Cochran

Last week, in response to a question at a conference on the Bank Secrecy Act, a U.S. Senator said that he thinks there is little chance of changes in the anti-money laundering regime in the Bank Secrecey Act, as supplemented in the USA Patriot Act in 2001. That has been my assumption, based on discussions with counsels at the congressional committees of jurisdiction this year and the schedule of Patriot Act-related hearings to date. But there are cracks in that cement related to industry complaints that BSA compliance examinations lack clarity and consistency, a subject I've addressed here several times. The question is whether the recent cracks are meaningful or just "noise" with no future.

Michael Cutler: Gang Heists Show Need for Strong, Funded Immigration Enforcement

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his views the relationship between a story in today's New York Daily News, a similar case that he worked when he was a senior Immigration & Naturalization Service agent, and this week's hearing on the merger of federal immigration enforcement agencies, at which he will testify. The NYDN article (appropriately titled "Jewels of the Vile") is about South American gangs who are touring NYC and targeting diamond dealers for robbery. Michael's comments:

The article brought back memories that I would like to share with you. I recall attempting to initiate an investigation into South American baggage robbers with the cooperation of the Port Authority Police many years ago. My partner and I responded to a radio call from our bosses to respond to Kennedy Airport to question an individual who was identified by the Port Authority Police as being a baggage thief who was claiming to be from Puerto Rico.

Dispute Looms With Europe On Biometric Passports

By Victor Comras

The United States appears intent on sticking to its October 26, 2005 deadline for imposing machine readable biometic data in passports or visas for all non americans entering the United States. The EU has indicated that not all of its members will have the required biometric passports in place prior to the US deadline (see my earlier blog -- Europe: Biometric Passports May be Years Away . They have asked for a further extension until April 4, 2006. Such an extension now appears unlikely following congressional hearings last week on the issue. This, despite the fact that House Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security and Claims was told that the Department of Homeland Security would not be ready either by October 26, 2005 deadline with machines capable of reading biometric passports at all ports of entry. The Europeans are also piqued that the US will not require that US passports incorporate biometic information by the October 26 date. The EU is therefore considering requiring visas from US citizens traveling to Europe.

Gijs de Vries, the EU�s counter-terrorism co-ordinator, has warned that the consequences of a US refusal to extend the deadline is likely to "create a great deal of acrimony" between Europe and the United States at a time when increased cooperation is essential. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will reportedly meet with House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Chairman John Hostettler {(R) Indiana} next month to discuss the issue further.