The Afghan Wilderness: A Tiny Victory

By Andrew Cochran

1LT Aaron Flint is serving on an Afghan Police Mentor Team in Paktya Province, Afghanistan. He's a former staffer in the U.S. Senate, a member of the Montana Army National Guard, and most recently worked as a reporter for KTVQ,...

Congress to Examine Counterthreat Finance Successes & Plans

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. House Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities, chaired by Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, will hold a hearing on March 11 titled, "Tracking and Disrupting Terrorist Financial Networks: A Potential Model for Inter-agency Success?" The...

Members of Congress Agree: Federal Agencies Should Cut All CAIR Ties

By Andrew Cochran

Three U.S. Senators have today joined a U.S. House Member in requesting additional information from the FBI on the recent cessation of its relationship with the Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR), which was reported by the IPT on January...

Is Removal of Cuba From "State Sponsors" List Inevitable?

By Andrew Cochran

The release by Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) of a draft staff report on U.S.-Cuba policy, his statement yesterday upon release of that report, and statements by Secretary of State Clinton on the future of the relationship point towards the removal...

FBI Director Vindicates Visa Waiver Criticisms By CT Blog Experts

By Andrew Cochran

Today, in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, FBI Director Robert Mueller gave official credence to the warnings voiced here by Michael Cutler and Bill West of the Visa Waiver Program. While discussing the threat of Mumbai-like attacks...

Michael Braun, Former DEA Operations Chief, Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We are very pleased to welcome, as our newest Contributing Expert, Michael Braun, who recently retired after 33 years in law enforcement as Chief of Operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration. He was responsible for DEA's 227 domestic and 87...

Next Panel: “Reforming U.S. Counter-Terrorism Assistance Programs”

By Andrew Cochran

On Thursday, February 12, from 2 to 4 pm ET, Professor Yonah Alexander and I will co-chair a special seminar titled, “Reforming U.S. Counter-Terrorism Assistance Programs,” in room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington....

U.S. Treasury Designates Sa'ad Bin Laden (OBL's Son) and Mustafa Hamid (aka Abu al-Walid al-Masri), Top Al Qaeda Theorist (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced the designations of Sa'ad bin Laden, the third oldest son of Osama bin Laden, and other individuals (updated link). Last September, Sa'ad bin Laden was reported to have returned to Pakistan from Iran, according...

Stuart Levey, Top Counter-Terror Financing Official, to Be Acting Treasury Secretary

By Andrew Cochran

While the selection of Cabinet Secretaries in the Obama Administration draws the most press attention, the CT community is also concerned about those sub-Secretarial appointments who drive policy formulation, international negotiations, and execution of Presidential and Secretarial decisions - the...

U.S. Continues Sanctions Campaign Against Iranian Financial System

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury Department announced a new designation against Assa Corporation, a front company in New York City, and its parent organization, Assa Co. Ltd,, located in the Channel Islands. Concurrently, the Justice Department has filed a complaint in federal...

Transcript of December 4 Panel on Mumbai Attacks

By Andrew Cochran

The transcript of our panel on the Mumbai attacks, held December 4 in Washington, is available here as an Acrobat document. The panel consisted of Contributing Experts Dr. Walid Phares and Farhana Ali, and Dr. David Kilcullen, and I served...

Defense Department Further Institutionalizes "Threat Finance Cell" Concept

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Yon has posted the new directive, sigend three days ago by Deputy Defense Secretary England, which provides the clearest statement yet of DoD policy and command responsibilities for "counterthreat finance" operations. The directive permanently institutionalizes the "threat finance cell"...

Dr. David Kilcullen Added to Tomorrow's Mumbai Panel

By Andrew Cochran

We are very pleased that Dr. David Kilcullen will join Dr. Walid Phares and Farhana Ali as panelists at tomorrow's event to discuss the Mumbai attacks. To quote from the biography released last week by CNAS: "Dr. David Kilcullen has...

Contributing Experts to Discuss Mumbai Attacks At December 4 Event

By Andrew Cochran

The Counterterrorism Foundation and The Counterterrorism Blog will hold a special panel on the Mumbai attacks this Thursday, December 4, at 11 am ET in room 2220 of the Rayburn House Building on Capitol Hill in Washington. Contributing Experts Walid...

HLF Guilty Verdict Should Terminate Government & Business Relationships With UICCs

By Andrew Cochran

Today, the jury hearing the second Holy Land Foundation terrorism trial delivered guilty verdicts against HLF and all of the individual defendants, a stunning victory for federal prosecutors. This site has been among the leading websites in discussing the ramifications...

Cell Phone Payments Make the World Easier For Terrorists, Too

By Andrew Cochran

A Reuters article discusses the ease with which developments in cell phone technology are rapidly enabling mobile payments, replacing credit cards and other instruments controlled by traditional financial institutions."Japan is leading the way in this regard. KDDI, for example, is...

The Status & Future of Counter-Terrorist Financing Efforts

By Andrew Cochran

On October 21, I gave the luncheon address on the third day of the annual Money Laundering Enforcement Conference co-sponsored by the American Bankers Association and the American Bar Association, one of the most widely attended annual banking conferences in...

U.S. Should Establish Threat Finance Cells to Monitor Hezbollah's Worldwide Activities

By Andrew Cochran

In my opinion, the single most effective counter-measure that the U.S. government has taken against terrorist financing in the past three to four years was to integrate counter-terrorist financing theory and techniques into the worldwide counterinsurgency efforts of the Pentagon,...

James McGinnis Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We have always strived to add Contributing Experts who work on the front lines against terrorist plots and networks and not just as an "armchair analyst." So one of my hopes when I opened this website in 2005 was to...

U.S. Treasury Designation Targets Iran's WMD Financing, Alliance With Venezuela

By Andrew Cochran

This morning, the U.S. Treasury is announcing a new designation of the Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI) for providing or attempting to provide financial services to Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). The Iranian regime is...

Proposal to Amend Bank Secrecy Act Released

By Andrew Cochran

The American Bankers Association, the largest banking trade association in the U.S., today released a proposal to amend the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 (officially the "Bank Records and Foreign Transactions Act"). The proposal was drafted by a committee of...

Panel to Discuss Cyber-Crime and Cyber-Terrorism

By Andrew Cochran

The Counterterrorism Foundation co-sponsored a panel on the subject of "Meta-Terror: Terrorism & the Virtual World" on February 29, and it was one of our most heavily attended and widely publicized events. The panel, which included Contributing Experts Evan Kohlmann...

Bush Administration Removes North Korea From "State Sponsors" List (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The Bush Administration announced today that North Korea has agreed to all demands for inspection of its nuclear facilities, enabling the U.S. to remove North Korea from the list of "state sponsors of terrorism." The removal is only "provisional," in...

Treasury Reports on Assets in U.S. of Terrorist Countries and Designees

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury has released its latest annual report on the assets in the U.S. of state sponsors of terror and the other international terrorism program designees (Acrobat file). This report, mandated under law since 1991, is the sixteenth released...

Qatar Exaggerates IMF Assessment of Anti-Terrorist Financing Regime

By Andrew Cochran

A headline in the October 7 issue of "The Peninsula," a leading daily newspaper in Qatar, boasts, "Country free of terror financing: IMF report," with the lead sentence, "A report just issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given...

Transcript of Event: "The Jihadists' Revolt Against Al Qaeda"

By Andrew Cochran

On September 23, the Counterterrorism Foundation and New America Foundation held a live panel discussion on Capitol Hill with Peter Bergen, CTB Contributing Experts Evan Kohlmann and Paul Cruickshank, and guest commentator Maajid Nawaz to discuss "The Jihadists' Revolt Against...

New Australian Report Adds to Concerns Over Stored Value Instruments

By Andrew Cochran

Yesterday, the Australian Institute of Criminology, a research and knowledge center on crime and justice, released a report, "Money laundering risks of prepaid stored value cards," which identifies "the misuse of prepaid stored value cards to keep the proceeds of...

Guest Post: FinCEN Promotes the Use of Section 314(b) of the USA PATRIOT Act

By Andrew Cochran

I am very pleased to post the views below of Mr. James F. McGinnis, Managing Director for Anti-Money Laundering Ethics & Compliance at BNP Paribas, on the use of Section 314 of the USA PATRIOT Act, which authorized enhanced information...

Wall Street's Collapse Enhances Influence of "Islamic Finance" Vehicles (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

One impact of the collapse of a number of major institutions on Wall Street this year (a trend which will continue into next year) will be to enhance the influence of "Islamic finance" (or "shariah finance") vehicles which have arisen...

Sept. 23 Panel: "The Jihadists' Revolt Against Al Qaeda" (edited Sept. 16)

By Andrew Cochran

The Jihadists’ Revolt Against Al Qaeda: Why Some of Al Qaeda’s Old Allies Have Turned Against It Tuesday, September 23, 10 am, 2255 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC Co-sponsored by New America Foundation and The Counterterrorism Foundation Participants: Peter...

U.S. Treasury Department Designates Senior Venezuelan Officials For Assisting FARC

By Andrew Cochran

This morning, after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez publicly ran the U.S. Ambassador out of the country, the U.S. Treasury department announced that two current and one former senior Venezuelan officials will be designated under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act...

Google Surrenders to Sen.Lieberman, Changes YouTube to Bar Terrorist Incitement

By Andrew Cochran

On June 3, I posted about Google's hypocrisy in taking down a YouTube clip in Thailand because it "offended" the King, while continuing to enable terrorist organizations to post videos inciting violence. In May, Sen. Joseph Lieberman had urged Google...

Distinguished Experts to Discuss Saudi Penetration Into U.S. Institutions

By Andrew Cochran

Tomorrow at 10 am ET, I will join other distinguished experts on a special panel to discuss the effects of Saudi penetration into our nation’s financial, legal and educational infrastructure. The Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) will host the...

Mainstream Media Diverting Terrorism Reporters Into Political Investigations

By Andrew Cochran

I see one after another of the mainstream media outlets which have made important contributions to the factual underpinnings of the counter-terrorism effort dropping off that beat. Editors in the print media are shifting terrorism experts on their staffs towards...

Russia's War Leads Administration to Drop One Objection to Iran Sanctions Bill

By Andrew Cochran

The Associated Press reports this morning that Secretary of State Rice has announced that the Administration will not pursue the U.S.-Russia civil nuclear cooperation agreement in light of Russia's invasion of Georgia. As the AP notes, Congress was probably unlikely...

Now the U.S. Is Chasing OBL to His Cave

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. has taken the gloves are off: In a first, senior U.S. officials acknowledged that U.S. ground forces entered Pakistan to pursue high-value Al Qaeda targets, and the hunt for Osama bin Laden is moving at full speed before...

Hurricane Gustav Success Shows Improvements in Attack Readiness

By Andrew Cochran

Three years ago, as the Hurricane Katrina disaster unfolded, we were the first site in the counterterrorism niche to point out the obvious negative implications for our ability to protect the homeland from terrorist attack or to recover from one...

Aafia Siddiqui Indicted For Charges Including Attempted Murder and Assault

By Andrew Cochran

Aafia Siddiqui has been indicted by a federal grand jury in New York City and will appear in court on Thursday in connection with this new indictment, which you can download from here. She is charged with: (1) one count...

Hizballah’s Attack On The Lebanese Army: An Accident Or A Message?

By Andrew Cochran

Phillip Smyth is the the CT Blog's Assistant Newslinks Editor and a contributor to the Aramaic Democratic Organization. He has visited Lebanon, interviewied anti-Hezbollah NGOs and Hezbollah supporters, and maintains regular contact with sources there. He wrote the following about...

Libyan Terrorism Settlement: Mixed Results & An Unknown Precedent

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S.-Libya terrorism settlement which sailed through the U.S. Congress at the end of July and was signed on August 14 has mixed results for both countries and the victims of Libyan-sponsored terrorism. The deal will enable the U.S. and...

Cleaning Up Iraq and Capturing An Iranian-Linked Terrorist (updated 8/28)

By Andrew Cochran

From the press releases of the coalition forces, we can see that there's never a dull moment in Iraq: 1. Coalition forces in Diyala killed three terrorists, two of whom were wearing suicide vests, and detained an alleged al-Qaeda in...

CT Blog Operations Restored Following Server Crash

By Andrew Cochran

Last Friday night, the main server at the company which hosts our operations suffered a massive crash (no cyberattack indicated), which left us unable to post new material. Posts as of mid-July have been restored, with more to be uploaded,...

Summary of Statement by Maajid Nawaz, Former Hizb ut-Tahrir Official, at Senate Hearing

By Andrew Cochran

Today's hearing by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is historic for several reasons. First, as I wrote on Monday, it featured Maajid Nawaz, probably the most senior former official in any radical Islamist group to testify...

Steven Emerson's Statement For Senate Committee Hearing on Extremism

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson prepared the following written statement for the record for today's Senate committee hearing on violent extremism, which features Maajid Nawaz, former senior Hizbut official (see this article about the measures taken to bring him into the country this...

Will Iran's Missile Test Result in New U.S. Sanctions Law?

By Andrew Cochran

Today's missile tests by Iran might be the last straw in efforts on Capitol Hill to enact new sanctions. In late June, the Senate Finance Committee passed S.3227, "The Iran Sanctions Act of 2008," which included a host of provisions...

FISA Surprise: Bill Amendment Could Mean No Telecom Immunity for Months (corrected)

By Andrew Cochran

CORRECTION, July 8: The amendment referred to my original post refers to an amendment to be offered during Senate debate, and not to Section 301 in the House-passed bill, as I first reported. The error is mine and I regret...

Maajid Nawaz, Former Senior Official in Hizb ut-Tahrir, to Testify Before U.S. Congress

By Andrew Cochran

Maajid Nawaz, currently Director of the Quilliam Foundation in the UK, will testify on Thursday before a U.S. Senate committee on the subject of the roots of violent extremism and how to counter it. Mr. Nawaz became famous for publicly...

Gap in Tracking Terrorist Financing Through Money Service Businesses?

By Andrew Cochran

The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) appears to have responded to a published report of a potential gap in the pursuit of critical information needed for terrorist financing investigations. On June 13, Moneylaundering.Com reported that FinCEN has never...

"Islamic Finance" a Hot Topic in Washington Seminars - But Beware

By Andrew Cochran

In the last two months, in two seminars aimed at developing future counterterrorism policy attended by senior-level representatives from the Administration, industry (e.g., financial institutions, tech companies, and defense-related consulting groups), and the military, the subject of "Islamic finance" (or...

Pentagon Report, Gates' Comments Indicate Taliban's Resilience

By Andrew Cochran

A report issued late Friday by the Pentagon under Congressional mandate and comments by Defense Secretary Gates indicate the fragility of the security situation in Afghanistan. The "Report on Progress toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan" is the first formal...

Islamic Saudi Academy Latest Example of Saudis' Distribution of Propaganda

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE, June 27: Patrick Poole has posted an explosive disclosure at Pajamas Media: - that while ISA operated for almost seven years as an entity separate from the Saudi Embassy, ISA apparently never filed federal tax returns required of all...

Fairfax County Supervisors Wimp Out on Islamic Saudi Academy Textbooks (Updated June 25)

By Andrew Cochran

[UPDATE, June 25: An Al-Jazeera reporter commented on the issue on June 17, supporting the ISA and condemning certain unnamed Congressmen and the USCIRF. She also completely distorted the initial decision of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to extend...

Two New Reports on Progress and Continuing Instability in Iraq

By Andrew Cochran

Two reports released today continue the "more good news but remaining bad news" pattern that we've seen in the past year, since the surge in U.S. troops was fully implemented. In "Iraq Report 9: The Battle For Basra," published by...

Seventh Circuit Vacates Holy Land Foundation Opinion, Grants Rehearing

By Andrew Cochran

On June 16, the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the opinion of a three-judge panel, rendered December 28, 2007, which overturned the landmark $156 million judgment against the Holy Land Foundation (HLF), other Islamic charities in the U.S.,...

Islamic Saudi Academy in Virginia: Case Study in Homegrown Radicalization

By Andrew Cochran

The new report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom on textbooks in use at the Islamic Saudi Academy in northern Virginia leaves little doubt that the Saudi government, which owns the school, and school officials use the...

Textbooks Inciting Violence & Intolerance Still Used at Saudi School in Virginia

By Andrew Cochran

On May 20, I wrote about the approval by the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia, near Washington, DC, to continue leasing county property to the Islamic Saudi Academy, which is funded by the Saudi government. The school had...

Chavez: Giving Up on Terrorism or Just Doing it Himself?

By Andrew Cochran

After Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez brusquely told FARC to give up their decades-long fight, Doug Farah wondered aloud whether he was "cutting his losses" or whether Chavez is "immersed in some hidden game that has little or nothing to do...

Israel Will Move Into Gaza Very Soon, and Washington Knows It

By Andrew Cochran

A newswire story today sounds the alarm on a probable Israeli incursion into Gaza to address repeated Hamas terrorist attacks into Israel. "Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Friday raised the spectre of a full-scale military operation in the Hamas-run...

Mistrial for Naveed Haq for shootings at Greater Seattle Jewish Federation

By Andrew Cochran

This was co-authored by counterterrorism researcher Timothy Thompson, who followed the Haq trial closely. The facts were never in dispute at his trial in Seattle, Washington: Naveed Haq, 32, killed one woman, wounded five others, and kidnapped a teenage girl...

Earliest Known "American Al Qaeda" Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Charges

By Andrew Cochran

Christopher Paul of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to conspiring with others to use a weapon of mass destruction, namely explosive devices, against targets in Europe and the United States. Paul is the last of three Ohio men charged with...

Hypocritical Google Removes Video Which Offends Thailand's King But Not Terrorists' Videos

By Andrew Cochran

On May 19, U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman called on Google to remove to remove Internet videos produced by terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda from its YouTube subsidiary. "Islamist terrorist organizations use YouTube to disseminate their propaganda, enlist followers, and provide...

Madeleine Gruen Joins Us As a Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We are pleased to welcome Madeleine Gruen to CTB as our newest Contributing Expert. Ms. Gruen most recently worked in the Counter Terrorism Bureau of the NYPD as an Intelligence Analyst, analyzing terrorist and extremist-group capabilities and intentions; maintaining current...

Millions in Criminal Proceeds + Iran's Oil Millions = Hearts, Minds, Votes for Hezbollah

By Andrew Cochran

Our future national counterinsurgency or asymmetric threat strategy must take into consideration the success which Hamas, Hezbollah, and other segments of the jihadist community have had in building and operating a social services network which influences the local populace. Matthew...

Hezbollah Wins in Lebanon - Is This the "Grand Bargain" in Action?

By Andrew Cochran

Today is a day which we should mark on the calendar and remember for a long time. For on this day, it became abundantly clear that the Iranian-Syrian axis now controls Lebanon through Hezbollah, and Al Qaeda and the Taliban...

Secret Report on Saudi School in Virginia Must Be Released

By Andrew Cochran

Yesterday, the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia, near Washington, DC, unanimously voted to continue leasing county property to the Islamic Saudi Academy, which is funded by the Saudi government. The school had been criticized for using textbooks which...

Turkish Ambassador to U.S. Calls Iran "a threat to Turkey as well as to the U.S."

By Andrew Cochran

Doug Farah and I talked about his post on Hezbollah and clarified that Hezbollah might be the premier non-state terrorist threat. After all, Hezbollah's support and the extent of its direction from the current Iranian regime is massive. Two years...

Addressing Asymmetric Threats: Shifts at the Pentagon And Strategic Communications Strategy

By Andrew Cochran

Last Thursday, I was honored to chair one of four panels at a special seminar, "Dealing with Today's Asymmetric Threat," co-sponsored by the National Defense University and CACI International, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Foundation. The purpose of the seminar...

U.S. House Makes It Tougher to Remove North Korea From "State Sponsors" List

By Andrew Cochran

(UPDATED May 16 after approval by U.S. House) The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill with a special section that reinforces the conditions governing North Korea’s potential removal from the list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism." Sponsored by Rep....

Next Public Event: "The Future of Turkey-U.S. Strategic Partnership"

By Andrew Cochran

On Monday, May 19, at 2 pm, I will co-chair, with Professor Yonah Alexander, a special seminar titled, "The Future of Turkey-U.S. Strategic Partnership" (corrected title) in room 2255 of the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington....

Assessment of International Counter-Financing of Terrorism Efforts Needed For Next Administration & Congress

By Andrew Cochran

Last week, in an interview for the MoneyLaundering.Com subscription newsletter, I recommended a complete review of the outcomes of the laws, regulations, and structures governing the counter-terrorist financing effort by the U.S. government and our international relationships. "It is time...

Viktor Bout Indicted for Conspiracy to Kill Americans & Related Terrorism Charges

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the Acting Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced the unsealing of an indictment against international arms dealer Viktor Bout for conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth...

Evidence of Iran's Terrorist Training Camps Increases Support for Tougher Sanctions

By Andrew Cochran

The revelation that Iran is training thousands of Shia terrorists inside Iran for operations inside Iraq is likely to markedly increase support on Capitol Hill for tougher U.S. sanctions against Western businesses conducting business with the regime. The specter of...

Whose Lobbyists Should Congress Investigate?

By Andrew Cochran

A story last week in "The Hill" newspaper disclosed, "Senior Democrats are starting to discuss ways to target Washington-based lobbying firms whose clients include the Iraqi government as part of their election-year strategy to seize on the costs of the...

Lorenzo Vidino Returns As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We're very pleased that Lorenzo Vidino is rejoining us as a Contributing Expert. Lorenzo has recently accepted a position as Senior Fellow in International Security Studies at the Fletcher School of Law Diplomacy, Tufts University. Previously he was affiliated with...

Summary of April 15 Panel on Outlook for Iran & U.S.

By Andrew Cochran

At a panel on Capitol Hill on April 15, Contributing Experts Matthew Levitt and Walid Phares, along with Prof. Yonah Alexander and Dr. Milton Hoenig, discussed the range of options available to the U.S. and the West in dealing with...

No FISA? No Problem... (updated April 25)

By Andrew Cochran

As a follow-up and partial rebuttal to Dennis Lormel's post on the need for a new Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), I invite readers to review recent public statements and testimony by leading counter-terrorism officials in the Bush Administration. Review...

Malaysia's Former Prime Minister Again Stokes the Islamists' Fire

By Andrew Cochran

Last month, I wrote on the importance to global security of then-pending elections in Malaysia, followed afterwards by Zachary Abuza's analysis of the gains by Islamists. The ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, has tenuously remained in power,...

Reality Hits Jimmy Carter in the... Face

By Andrew Cochran

Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki delivered a Niagara Falls-magnitude of cold water to Jimmy Carter today, pronouncing his meeting with Hamas leaders worthless. More quotes: "The only thing he achieved was permission on the part of Khaled Meshaal of Hamas...

U.S. Treasury Designates More FARC Leaders as Drug Kingpins (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury continued to target the Colombian FARC narco-terrorist group, by designating entities and individual FARC leaders under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. The action freezes any assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibiting U.S. persons from conducting business...

One Difference Between Muslims and Catholics

By Andrew Cochran

The terrible insults of the Catholic Church and Pope Benedict XVI by HBO talk show host Bill Maher reminded me of the recent mini-debate here by Farhana Ali and Jeffrey Breinholt over the reaction in the Muslim world over the...

Al Qaeda Officially Hates The Counterterrorism Blog

By Andrew Cochran

When I started this website in January 2005, I never envisioned that that Al Qaeda would target us for a hit piece over the Internet. Well, voila, the blessed day has arrived. The wonderful folks at the SITE Intelligence Group...

Experts Discuss Outlook and Options for U.S. Policy Towards Iran

By Andrew Cochran

At a panel on Capitol Hill yesterday, Contributing Experts Matthew Levitt and Walid Phares, along with Prof. Yonah Alexander and Dr. Milton Hoenig, discussed the range of options available to the U.S. and the West in dealing with Iran. I...

Trying to Stay One Step Ahead of the Terrorists

By Andrew Cochran

In connection with our continuing coverage of terrorists' uses of the online world (see the summary of our February 29 panel) and as a followup to recent posts by Doug Farah and Frank Hyland, I submit the following advertisement for...

Abu Ubaida al-Masri, Senior Al Qaeda Leader, Reported Dead in Pakistan

By Andrew Cochran

Fox News reports that a U.S. official confirmed that senior Al Qaeda operative and bomb expert Abu Ubaida al-Masri (a.k.a "Ubaidah" or "Obaidah") has died of natural causes. We discussed al-Masri's ascension within Al Qaeda in April 2007 as part...

Next Public Event: "Iran and the United States: Outlook for the Next Decade?" (updated April 9)

By Andrew Cochran

On Tuesday, April 15, at 2 pm, I will moderate a panel titled, "Iran and the United States: Outlook for the Next Decade?" in room 2255 of the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington. Our panelists will...

Turkish Government Reaches Final Decision to Freeze al-Qadi's Assets

By Andrew Cochran

Today, the Turkish Government took the last step needed to affirm a decision years ago to freeze the assets of Yasin al-Qadi, who was designated on September 28, 2001, by United Nations Security Council following the U.S. Treasury's designation of...

So Who Really Won Iraqi Offensive Against Shiite Militias? (HINT: Not al-Maliki) - Updated April 3

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE, April 3: Max Boot, senior fellow in national-security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, largely shares my views of the outcome expressed last week and below: "The problem is that the prime minister has proved singularly inept in...

Venezuela Begins Media Counteroffensive in Washington Against Terrorism Charges

By Andrew Cochran

The Venezuelan Embassy in Washington sent a mass e-mail today with four attachments, intending to blunt growing concern in Washington that the Chavez government has cooperated with Colombia's FARC terrorists. The counteroffensive is especially aimed at discrediting a resolution introduced...

Iraqi Shiites Copying From Their Hezbollah Cousins in Lebanon?

By Andrew Cochran

In reviewing the action this week between Iraqi forces and Shiite militia, it's instructive to compare press accounts of this conflict to reports from the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel conflict in Lebanon, as posted or discussed on this website. Some examples:"Hizballah has...

Iraqi Offensive: "Progress" or Head-in-the-Sand Disaster?

By Andrew Cochran

Today, President Bush promoted the offensive underway by Iraqi government forces against Shiite militias as showing "the progress the Iraqi security forces have made during the surge." Let's look at that "progress" today:"With the threat of a civil war looming...

Our Expert Panel on Disclosures From FARC Computer About Ecuador and Venezuela

By Andrew Cochran

(Edited to add Acrobat file of transcript.) On March 19, I moderated a Counterterrorism Foundation panel titled, "Compañeros de Armas ("Friends in Arms"): Chavez, FARC & South America" before a group of Congressional staff and other attendees on Capitol Hill...

Bin Laden Reiterates Al Qaeda Doctrine Tying Victory in Iraq to Victory Over Israel

By Andrew Cochran

In my opinion, the most important point in the second tape in two days by Osama Bin Laden is his reiteration of long-held Al Qaeda doctrine that victory in Iraq is critical to the long-term success of the jihad throughout...

Canada Makes First Arrest for Terrorist Financing

By Andrew Cochran

Last November 2, I posted on a report on the 1985 Air India bombing from consultants at Deloitte & Touche who were asked to interview institutions and organizations that report large cash transactions, suspicious transactions and cross-border wire transactions to...

Our Next Public Event: Compañeros de Armas ("Friends in Arms"): Chavez, FARC & South America

By Andrew Cochran

On Wednesday, March 19, at 10 am, I will moderate a panel titled, "Compañeros de Armas ("Friends in Arms"): Chavez, FARC & South America," in room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington. Our panelists...

Spitzer's Downfall, Part II: More on Banking Laws and Regulations

By Andrew Cochran

Kourtney McCarty of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) sent the following short summary on the banking laws applied and enforced in the Eliot Spitzer matter. ACAMS is an international organization which performs the vital service of educating...

Please Support Our Work By Donating to the Counterterrorism Foundation

By Andrew Cochran

I write to solicit your financial support for the Counterterrorism Foundation and the Counterterrorism Blog. My colleagues and I are now in our fourth year of offering independent, comprehensive, and often exclusive news and analysis about the extent of terrorism...

Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb Issues Demands Over Austrian Hostages

By Andrew Cochran

The SITE Intelligence Group has released an announcement from Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, in which it stipulates demands for the release of two Austrian tourists taken hostage this week. The demands provide three days for the Tunisian and Algerian...

Caught in the Act: Smear Attempt on Steven Emerson Boomerangs

By Andrew Cochran

An effort by radical Islamists to smear terrorism expert Steven Emerson backfired last week when the allegations proved to be fabricated. An article entitled, “Paul Kendall: Did an 'Expert' on Terrorism Conspire With a Foreign Government to Violate the Constitutional...

How Federal Banking Laws Brought Down Eliot Spitzer

By Andrew Cochran

"But Spitzer had the money broken down into several smaller amounts of under $10,000 each, apparently to avoid getting around federal regulations requiring the reporting of the transfer of $10,000 or more, the sources said. The regulations are aimed at...

Global Security Stakes in Malaysian Stability Are Substantial

By Andrew Cochran

As election fever takes hold in multi-religious Malaysia, which goes to the polls tomorrow, the world has a stake in seeing that the country continues to remain a model of a moderate Muslim democracy that does not tolerate Islamist-based terrorism...

Event Transcript and Related Links: "Meta-Terror: Terrorism and the Virtual World"

By Andrew Cochran

On February 29, I moderated a special panel titled, "Meta-Terror: Terrorism and the Virtual World" before a packed room on Capitol Hill in Washington. Panelists were Kenneth Silva, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of VeriSign, and Contributing Experts...

DHS Secretary Chertoff Addresses Cybersecurity, FISA in Special Roundtable

By Andrew Cochran

DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff welcomed a small group of blog editors to take our questions on a number of topics. I asked him for his response to Congressional criticisms of a new Bush Administration Cyber Initiative, as voiced most recently...

2008 State Department Report Targets Afghan Opium, Mobile Payments Issues

By Andrew Cochran

The 2008 edition of the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report was released by the U.S. State Department today. As in the 2007 edition, this year's report targets the explosive growth in opium production in Afghanistan and warns of the corrosive...

Influential Institute Releases Sobering GWOT Assessment

By Andrew Cochran

The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, an influential policy research institute based in Washington, has released a sobering assessment of the Global War on Terror. Titled, "The Global War On Terrorism: An Assessment," the 292-page report provides a summary...

Evan Kohlmann Testifies As Abu-Jihaad Trial Begins

By Andrew Cochran

Today was the opening day in the trial of former U.S. Navy sailor, Hassan Abu-Jihaad, on charges of providing material support to terrorists by sending classified information on naval ships to Baber Ahmad, the British computer expert who operated the...

Leading Experts to Address Terrorism Threats in the Virtual World

By Andrew Cochran

Seats remain for the next Counterterrorism Foundation event on Friday, February 29, at noon. I will moderate a panel titled, "Meta-Terror: Terrorism and the Virtual World" in room B339 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Our panelists include three of...

The Good Guys Hit the Trifecta - Another Important Terrorist Leader Killed

By Andrew Cochran

First, we nailed Al Qaeda commander Abu al-Laith al-Liby (or al-Libi, depending on your dictionary). Then someone (the Israelis? the Syrians?) stuck Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh, "the Bin Laden of the 80s," in his well-deserved coffin. Now comes word that...

Reported New "Peace Agreement" Between Tribes and Authorities in North Waziristan

By Andrew Cochran

While President Musharraf's allies are losing the Pakistan parliamentary election, two Pakistan papers are reporting that tribal elders in North Waziristan have reached a new "peace agreement" with the North Waziristan political administration against "extremism" and "terrorism." The Daily Times...

Event Transcript: The Evolution of U.S. Counterterrorism Policy

By Andrew Cochran

On February 12, I moderated a special panel titled, "The Evolution of U.S. Counterterrorism Policy" before a packed room at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington. Panelists were Prof. Yonah Alexander and Contributing Experts Michael Kraft and Jonathan Winer. The...

Farhana Ali Joins Us As a Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We are very pleased to welcome Farhana Ali to CTB as a Contributing Expert. Ms. Ali joined the RAND Corporation in August 2005 as an Associate International Policy Analyst. Her research is focused on the evolution of global terrorism and...

Next CT Blog Event: "Meta-Terror: Terrorism and the Virtual World"

By Andrew Cochran

On Friday, February 29, at noon, I will moderate a panel titled, "Meta-Terror: Terrorism and the Virtual World" in room B339 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Our panelists will be Kenneth Silva, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer...

CT Blog posts on role of Imad Mughniyeh, top Hezbollah terrorist

By Andrew Cochran

A car bomb in Damascus killed Imad Mughniyeh, leader of Hezbollah's military operations and a mass murderer. It was a fitting end for someone who planned and executed numerous deadly terrorist attacks, including the 1983 bombings of the U.S Embassy...

Previous CT Blog Posts on Mansour & Mullah Dadullah, Former Taliban Commanders

By Andrew Cochran

Pakistani forces captured and critically wounded Mansour Dadullah, formerly one of the Taliban's top commanders, in a remote area along the Afghanistan border. Dadullah was videotaped last summer at a graduation ceremony for teams of newly trained terrorists supposedly headed...

A Tribute to Rep. Tom Lantos, Champion of Terrorism Victims

By Andrew Cochran

Rep. Tom Lantos, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and a champion in the fight against terrorism, died earlier today. Rep. Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor to win a seat in Congress, was a consistent supporter of counterterrorism...

Special Panel: The Evolution of U.S. Counterterrorism Policy

By Andrew Cochran

A week from today, on Tuesday, February 12 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm, I will moderate a special panel titled, "The Evolution of U.S. Counterterrorism Policy" in room S-115 of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington. Panelists will be Prof....

Abu Laith Al-Libi, Top Al Qaeda and Libyan Islamic Fighting Group Figure, Killed in Waziristan Airstrike

By Andrew Cochran

The SITE Intelligence Group reports that, "Al-Ekhlaas, a password-protected Al-Qaeda-affiliated forum, today, January 31, 2008, (announced) the death of Abu Laith Al-Libi, an Al-Qaeda leader who was also the head of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG). Media reports earlier...

Did a Federal Court Leave Terrorism Victims Out in the Cold?

By Andrew Cochran

On December 28, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the ruling in the David Boim case, a $156 million judgment against the Holy Land Foundation and other U.S.-based Muslim charities. The case arose out...

So Now President Bush Won't Call It "Islamic" Terrorism or Extremism?

By Andrew Cochran

I noticed something unusual last night during President Bush's State of the Union speech - he never used the words "Islamic" or "Islamist" to describe the most dangerous forms of terrorism and extremism which the U.S. and the West face...

Israeli Government Issues Warning As Gaza Border Security Evaporates

By Andrew Cochran

The Israeli government has issued warnings against traveling in the Sinai Peninsula in the wake of Hamas' destruction of the Egypt-Gaza Strip border wall and the elimination of any effective border security at the Rafah crossing. "Terrorists in Sinai are...

Money Service Business Cases Show Difficulty of Stopping Funds Flows

By Andrew Cochran

For years, U.S. and state financial regulators and law enforcement have recognized the unique difficulties in trying to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing through money service businesses (a.k.a. MSBs or "hawalas"). Guidance implementing Patriot Act mandates for Bank Secrecy...

Quantify and Prioritize Risks to Hemispheric Security

By Andrew Cochran

I certainly agree with Doug Farah that "the Iran-Venezuela-Nicaragua nexus, built on a foundation of already-existing Hezbollah and Hamas operatives who have been economically active in the region for decades," could be disastrous for the security of the Western Hemisphere...

U.S. Navy Official Exaggerated Terrorist Threat to Arctic & Panama Canal Shipping

By Andrew Cochran

An article in the January 23, 2008 issue of Jane's Defence Weekly (subscription only) caught my attention, because it included a public statement from a senior Navy civilian official about the potential terrorist threat to shipping lanes through the Arctic...

The "Cartoon Jihad" - The Lie That Doesn't Die

By Andrew Cochran

A court in Belarus jailed, for three years, a newspaper editor who reprinted cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad that first appeared in Denmark in 2005. So the phenomenon dubbed the "cartoon jihad" has claimed another set of victims: first, the...

Text of Original Senate Finance Committee Letter on Suspect Charities, Including IARA

By Andrew Cochran

The Senate committee list of suspect charities to which Doug Farah refers was included in a December 22, 2003 letter from the then-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Charles Grassley, and then-ranking Member, Sen. Max Baucus, to the Commissioner...

Iran & Hezbollah Targeted U.S. Embassy Officials in Lebanon

By Andrew Cochran

Today's bombing which targeted a U.S. Embassy car in a northern Beirut neighborhood most likely was an assassination attempt by Hezbollah and their Iranian superiors on the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Jeffrey Feltman, or senior embassy personnel. The blast killed...

THAICOM Ends Transmission of Hezbollah's Al-Manar Channel (updated January 15)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE, January 15: ITIC reports that THAICOM terminated al-Manar TV's broadcasts due to the disclosures of its initial transmission decision. The following is my original post on January 14 on that decision. ---------------------- The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC)...

U.S. Government Wins a Terrorism-Related Criminal Case

By Andrew Cochran

The three leaders of Care International, Inc., a Muslim charity based in Boston, were convicted in federal court today in Boston. Emadeddin Muntasser, the founder; Muhammed Mubayyid, the former treasurer; and Samir Al-Monla, the president from 1996 to 1998, were...

Syria’s Assassination Goal: Target March 14th Christians To Divide & Conquer

By Andrew Cochran

Phillip Smyth is the the CT Blog's Assistant Newslinks Editor and a contributor to the Aramaic Democratic Organization. He spent 2 months this summer in Lebanon talking with and interviewing anti-Hezbollah NGOs in addition to Hezbollah supporters. He wrote the...

Alleged Al Qaeda Spokesman Denies Involvement in Bhutto Attack (edited)

By Andrew Cochran

(UPDATE: See actual video of the shooting of Benazir Bhutto.) From AFP News:Alleged Al-Qaeda leader Baitullah Mehsud denied any involvement in Benazir Bhutto's death after the Pakistan government blamed him for the killing, his spokesman told AFP on Saturday. "He...

Landmark Civil Terrorism Decision Overturned - Victory For Holy Land Foundation, Defeat For Terrorism Victims

By Andrew Cochran

The Holy Land Foundation won an important victory in a U.S. courtroom on Friday, when the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a $156 million judgment against it, other Islamic charities in the U.S., and an alleged Hamas fundraiser. The...

Paul Cruickshank Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

Paul Cruickshank, a Fellow at the Center on Law and Security at New York University’s School of Law, joins us today as our newest Contributing Expert. Paul graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in history, and has a Masters...

What a Coincidence! New Osama bin Laden Tape Coming Soon (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Laura Mansfield, Evan Kohlmann, and Rita Katz's SITE Institute report that Islamist websites are announcing a new OBL tape, discussing Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq, titled “The Way to Contain the Conspiracies” (revised translation). This comes on the...

Previous Counterterrorism Blog Posts on First Bhutto Assassination Attempt

By Andrew Cochran

Our Contributing Experts posted several analyses and updates after the first assassination attempt on Benazir Bhutto on October 18: Aaron Mannes: October 19, Pakistani Pressure-Cooker and October 23: Whodunnit from Hell: The Attack on Benazir Bhutto Jeffrey Imm, October 20:...

Swiss Prosecutor Drops Investigation of Yassin Al-Qadi

By Andrew Cochran

From today's Arab News: The six-year-long saga of Saudi businessman Yassin Abdullah Al-Qadi, who was accused by US authorities of funding terrorism, has ended with the Swiss federal prosecutor exonerating him of all charges. According to a report carried by...

Terrorism Tidbits: Short Notes on Various Topics & Events (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Some condensed news and notes on various topics: 1. The NEFA Foundation has released full English transcripts of the audio of Al Qaeda #2 Ayman Al-Zawahiri denouncing the Annapolis Conference and released on December 14, and of the subsequent video...

Newest Al-Zawahiri Tape Includes Footage of Evan Kohlmann

By Andrew Cochran

Today as-Sahab, the media arm of Al Qaeda, posted a 98-minute video with an interview with Al-Qaeda's #2, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, titled “A Review of Events.” Al-Zawahiri speaks about the United States, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestinian territories and Egypt, in...

Summary of Special Panel on Holy Land's Ties to Hamas & Muslim Brotherhood

By Andrew Cochran

On Tuesday, December 11, the Counterterrorism Foundation, along with the NEFA Foundation and International Assessment and Strategy Center, conducted a special panel, "Infiltration and Deception: The Holy Land Foundation and the Muslim Brotherhood in America," in the halls of Congress...

CT Blog Algeria Press Conference on Thursday, December 20

By Andrew Cochran

Walid Phares, Olivier Guitta, and I will hold a public press conference on the December 11 Algeria bombings and the implications for Europe and elsewhere. The press conference will be on Thursday, December 20, at 2 pm ET at room...

Another Terrorism Mistrial, But Overall Far More Convictions Than Acquittals

By Andrew Cochran

From the Associated Press: "One of seven Miami men accused of plotting to join forces with al-Qaida to blow up Chicago's Sears Tower was acquitted Thursday, and a mistrial was declared for the six others after the federal jury deadlocked....

A Committed Terrorist Discusses Syria's Role & Assistance

By Andrew Cochran

MEMRI has released a transcript of an interview with Shehada Jawhar, formerly the Al-Qaeda terrorist in charge of training in Iraq, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on December 7, 2007. It is a bloodcurdling look into the mind of a...

Terrorist Bombings in Algeria: Previous CT Blog Posts on Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (updated Dec. 12 with link to transcript)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE, Dec. 12: Evan Kohlmann first reported that Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claims credit for the bombings. The NEFA Foundation has an English transcript available, and here is an AP story on it: "The group identified the suicide...

Recent PKK-Led Istanbul Riots Recall 2005 & 1995 Paris Riots

By Andrew Cochran

As Frank Hyland posted here yesterday, "Kurds now populate slum areas near virtually all of Turkey’s large cities in the west" and (quoting a Jamestown Foundation article) "bombings in Izmir and Istanbul on October 2nd and 7th appear to have...

Treasury Designates Individuals with Ties to Syria, Al Qaida, and Sunni Terrorists

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury continued its campaign to squeeze the finances of Al Qaida in Iraq and Sunni terrorists in Iraq by designating seven individuals with ties to the insurgency and Saddam Hussein's regime. One was designated for supporting Al-Qaida in...

The Counterterrorism Foundation Speakers Bureau Opens

By Andrew Cochran

Today we announce the opening of the Counterterrorism Foundation Speakers Bureau, consisting of some of the Contributing Experts on CTB. Our experts are leaders in their respective fields and can bring their experience and knowledge to you directly in presentations,...

Victor Comras & Larry Johnson Debate the New NIE & Iran

By Andrew Cochran

Several of the CTB Contributing Experts and I periodically participate in an email discussion on CT issues, hosted by Philip "Rick" Henika, with others including former CIA and State Department official Larry Johnson. Today, after Rick sent Larry Johnson's analysis...

U.S. Treasury Designates Leader of Al Qaida in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury today designated Abdelmalek Droukdel (Droukdel), the leader or emir of Al Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), formerly known as the GSPC. Any assets he might have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S....

Germany Sends PKK Suspects to Turkey, Wants Turkey to Return Al-Qaeda Suspect

By Andrew Cochran

Several days ago, Germany signaled a crackdown on PKK elements there through the extradition of two men to Turkey. In return, Turkey might send a German citizen of Turkish origin, with suspected links with al-Qaeda, back to Germany. The Today's...

Special Public Event: Panel on Holy Land Foundation & Muslim Brotherhood

By Andrew Cochran

On behalf of the Counterterrorism Foundation, I will moderate a panel on the Holy Land Foundation and the Muslim Brotherhood on Tuesday, December 11, from 12 noon to 1:30 pm, in 2168 Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. This...

New Bin Laden Audio Tape Demands Europeans Halt Afghanistan Ops (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The new audio tape from Osama bin Laden is being released this afternoon on Al Jazeera. in it, OBL demands that the Europeans end their cooperation with the U.S. against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. The release of...

Frank Hyland Joins Us As a Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We welcome Frank Hyland today to the CT Blog as a Contributing Expert. Mr. Hyland served in the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency's Counter-Terrorist Center, and the National Counter-Terrorism Center and has been involved in counter-terrorism work for...

Counter-Insurgency Conference to Be Held in Stockholm in March 2008

By Andrew Cochran

The Global Defence Forum, with the Swedish National Defence College and the UK Defence Academy, will hold a conference titled, "Countering Insurgency and Terrorism," on March 11 through 13, 2008, in Stockholm. The Counterterrorism Blog is proud to serve as...

In "Call for Donations," Al Qaeda Admits Financial Stress

By Andrew Cochran

On November 20, I posted on the success of the U.S.-led Iraq Threat Finance Cell in disrupting Al Qaeda in Iraq's financial network. Reuven Paz, one of the leading experts in the CT community and the founder and Director of...

U.S. "Iraq Threat Finance Cell" Puncturing Insurgents' Financial Network

By Andrew Cochran

On November 2, I posted on the degree of integration of a "threat finance" mindset into the Pentagon's intelligence and military operations, and discussed the Iraq Threat Finance Cell co-directed in Baghdad by DoD and the Treasury Department. Today's Washington...

Islamists Will Quickly Aid Bangladesh Cyclone Victims (updated Nov. 18)

By Andrew Cochran

Bangladesh is the latest victim of a natural disaster in which Islamists, including groups designated by the U.S. as terrorists, already have a social assistance infrastructure. The death toll from the Bangladesh cyclone has topped 1,100 as of this post...

Success Against Jemaah Islamiyah As "Bali Three" Near Execution

By Andrew Cochran

On October 25, Kenneth Conboy wrote here about the lack of attacks by Jemaah Islamiyah during Ramadan season in Indonesia: "In hindsight, 2007’s Ramadhan fast and Lebaran will probably go down as one of the most peaceful in recent memory....

Turkish Special Forces Attack PKK Inside Iraq

By Andrew Cochran

Just over a week after President Bush promised Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan aid in fighting PKK, Turkish special forces attacked across the border into Iraq. The limited action, apparently consisting of helicopter gunship raids on two villages, is a clear...

Roderick Jones Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We are pleased to welcome Roderick Jones to CTB as a Contributing Expert. Roderick is a former member of the UK’s Special Branch (now Counter-Terrorism Command) and is currently Vice President of Concentric Solutions, a security consultancy. His professional focus...

FBI's New Friends Were Kicked Out of UAE For "Talibanization"

By Andrew Cochran

As a follow-up to Steve Emerson's post about the FBI's meeting with Tanzeem-e-Islami, I want to suggest to the FBI that they use a website named "Google" to comprehensively search the groups and individuals with which they are planning to...

Interpol Adds Buenos Aires Bombing Suspects to Most-Wanted List

By Andrew Cochran

Interpol today added five Iranians and a Lebanese man to its most-wanted list over their suspected role in the 1994 bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The bombing killed 85 and injured 250. In adding the...

Prime Suspects in Worst Suicide Attack in Afghanistan's History (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATED: A suicide bomber hit a sugar factory in the northern town of Baghlan, killing 40 and injuring dozens of others, with at least 5 members of the Afghan Parliament killed (Reuters reports 50 killed, quoting an Afghan official). An...

U.S. Treasury Freezes Assets of Individuals Assisting Syrian Influence Over Lebanon

By Andrew Cochran

As two Congressional committees prepare for hearings this week on the state of affairs in Lebanon, the U.S. Treasury has announced the designation of four individuals who are assisting Syria's efforts to undermine Lebanese sovereignty. The designations freeze any assets...

Numerous Terrorism-Related Hearings This Week in U.S. Congress

By Andrew Cochran

Various committees of the U.S. Congress will conduct oversight hearings on the state of affairs in Syria, Iran, Pakistan, and Lebanon; on use of the Internet by jihadists; the problems with terrorist watch lists; and on planning for a post-9/11...

Fighting Terrorist Financing: Canada's Problems and Pentagon's "Threat Finance" Initiatives

By Andrew Cochran

On October 24, I posted three suggestions for federal financial regulators in the U.S. to consider to improve anti-terrorist financing efforts. Two separate terrorist financing issues worth considering include (1) a recent report which raises questions whether Canada's financial intelligence...

U.S. Treasury Designates FARC Leaders Under "Drug Kingpin" Law

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury Department has designated 15 of the top commanders of the Colombian narco-terrorist group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (or FARC), under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. The designation blocks the designees' assets located within U.S....

Yemen & Turkey: First "Walkaways" Under Assumed U.S. Retreat

By Andrew Cochran

An editorial early in October by Tariq Alhomayed, Editor-in-Chief of the influential Asharq Al-Awsat, probably voiced the opinion of many leaders in the Arab world: "In preparation for the American withdrawal from Iraq, activity is in full swing to fill...

Is Google Allowing Syria to Play Politics With Google Earth?

By Andrew Cochran

I received this comment from William, a loyal CTB reader, referring to Daveed Gartenstein-Ross' post on Palestinian extremists' use of Google Earth to help determine their targets for rocket strikes: I was just reading about the use of Google Earth...

Yunus Qanooni: Friend or Foe of Democracy in Afghanistan?

By Andrew Cochran

(Update, Oct. 27: This post was republished HERE on e-Ariana.com, probably the most-read English language website for Afghan news.) I received this from a trusted friend, an American who lived in Afghanistan for over a year (I won't say exactly...

Turkish Government Imposes News Blackout of Military Movements

By Andrew Cochran

The Turkish government has embargoed Turkish radio and television from reporting much of what is happening on the Iraqi border. The Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) announced the news blackout on Tuesday (read a confirmation article from Turkish...

U.S. Announces New Sanctions Against Iranian Military, Banks, Leaders (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Today, the State Department designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) for their proliferation activities. The Treasury Department also designated numerous Iranian parties for proliferation concerns: nine IRGC-affiliated entities and...

Federal Financial Regulators Should Provide More Guidance to Stop Terrorists

By Andrew Cochran

As a senior counsel on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, I participated in the building of the current relationships between the U.S. financial institutions, the federal financial regulators (Treasury and component agencies, FDIC, SEC, and the Federal Reserve Board),...

Steven Emerson Sets the Record Straight on Holy Land Trial

By Andrew Cochran

A mistrial is neither a conviction nor an acquittal - that's an indisputable fact in law stretching back hundreds of years. Read the entire transcript (below) of Steven Emerson's interview on Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes last night for...

Bin Laden Sounds the Call of Defeat in Iraq (updated 10/23 with transcript)

By Andrew Cochran

This new message from OBL is the second signal since early September that OBL smells and fears strategic defeat in Iraq. Look at Walid Phare's September 10 post about the September 8 video, in which he noted "unease among wider...

U.S. Financial Regulator Warns of Iran's Efforts to Break Through Sanctions

By Andrew Cochran

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the U.S. Treasury (FinCEN) has issued an advisory to financial institutions, warning them of "threats of illicit Iranian activity related to money laundering, terrorist financing and weapons of mass destruction proliferation financing. The advisory...

Iraqi Terrorists Targeting Polish Troops Ahead of Elections

By Andrew Cochran

Iraqi terrorists are targeting Polish troops there ahead of the national elections in Poland next Sunday, October 21. The attackers, mostly Shiite at this point, are obviously following the lead of the al Qaeda-linked Madrid train bombers whose March 11,...

First U.S. Defense Department Study on Disrupting Terrorist Financing Released

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College has released to the public a study titled, "Disrupting Threat Finances: Utilization of Financial Information to Disrupt Terrorist Organizations in the Twenty-First Century" (166-page Acrobat document). To my knowledge, it's the first...

Former General Aoun & Orange TV Spreading Iranian-inspired Jihadist Propaganda

By Andrew Cochran

The following is a report from "Karim," the CTB Special Correspondent in Lebanon. He last reported for us on October 3. The joint venture between Hezbollah and the "Free Patriotic Movement" of former General Michel Aoun is growing stronger by...

U.S. Congress Takes Steps to Protect & Inform Terrorism Victims

By Andrew Cochran

In recent months, one or both houses of the U.S. Congress have passed measures designed to protect the victims of terrorism and to punish countries for their involvement with terrorist groups. Last week, the Senate attached "The Justice for Victims...

Christopher Heffelfinger Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We're very pleased to welcome Christopher Heffelfinger as our newest Contributing Expert. Mr. Heffelfinger is a researcher and consultant for the Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy, one of the very best CT institutes in the world....

Jeffrey Breinholt Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

Jeffrey Breinholt, a top legal expert on terrorism cases and one of the most capable prosecutors of those cases in the United States, joins us today as a Contributing Expert. Jeff is a member of the State Bar of California...

Victor Comras Testifies Today at Senate Hearing on Halliburton & Iran (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

A subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on "Halliburton and U.S. Business Ties to Iran" today at 2:00 p.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. Victor Comras will testify, as will (possibly)...

Previous CT Blog Posts on Terrorist Attacks & Arrests in Saudi Arabia

By Andrew Cochran

The Saudi government announced that is has prevented a series of air attacks on oil facilities and military bases: "Saudi Arabia says it has foiled a plot by militants to carry out suicide air attacks on oil installations and military...

"Islam & Democracy" Seminars This Week

By Andrew Cochran

Two seminars this week on the topic of Islam and democracy caught my attention. The first, titled "Islam and Democracy: Promoting Dialogue and Political Participation among Muslims in Western Societies," will be held at 2200 Rayburn House Building on Capitol...

Will Congress Meet With Lebanese Parliamentarians Allied With Hezbollah?

By Andrew Cochran

Information from Lebanon indicates that members of the Lebanese Parliament are coming to Washington this week to meet with Congressmen, and among the visitors will Ghassan Moukheiber and Ibrahim Kenaan, both supporters of Michel Aoun. But over a year ago,...

Lorenzo Vidino & Victor Comras Participate in PBS's "The Brotherhood"

By Andrew Cochran

Tonight, in the last segment of the controversial PBS "America at a Crossroads" series, Lorenzo Vidino and Victor Comras join other experts for a critical view of the Muslim Brotherhood. "The Brotherhood" includes interviews of key MB figures, including convicted...

Getting Tough With Iran Requires Ending Everyday Business

By Andrew Cochran

Two U.S. House subcommittees held a joint hearing yesterday on financial sanctions against regimes which support terrorism and WMD proliferation (scroll down to that hearing for all statements and testimony). Victor Comras was one of a panel of non-governmental experts...

Michael Jacobson Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Jacobson, senior fellow at The Washington Institute''s Stein Program on Terrorism, Intelligence, and Policy, joins us as a Contributing Expert today to post on sanctions and financial measures to combat national security threats and on other issues. From June...

Victor Comras to Testify on Financial Sanctions Against Terrorist States

By Andrew Cochran

Victor Comras is one of a number of distinguished witnesses who will testify at a special Congressional hearing today on the subject, "Isolating Proliferators and Sponsors of Terror: The Use of Sanctions and the International Financial System to Change Regime...

33 Dead in Shootings at Virginia Tech (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Final update, 5:45 pm ET: School and law enforcement officials announced that the shooter killed 32 in the Virginia Tech shootings, with at least 15 more wounded (CNN reports 29 wounded), before killing himself. The shooter entered and shot inside...

Terrorists Begin Spring Offensive in Afghanistan

By Andrew Cochran

Writing on the New York Daily News blog "Mouth of the Potomac," reporter James Gordon Meek has written a timely summary of recent action by Al Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan indicating the start of their spring offensive. Meek...

Special Report & Slides Released on Pre-Iraq War Intel

By Andrew Cochran

Sen. Carl Levin, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, today released a newly declassified report of the Department of Defense Inspector General about the intelligence activities of Douglas Feith, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, before the Iraq...

CENTCOM (Inaccurately) Reports New Bin Ladin Video Expected Soon (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

CENTCOM has issued a press release titled "Al-Sahab Reportedly To Release New Bin Ladin Video Message" with the following message from a jihadist website: "After a long absence by the shaykh of mujahidin, whom we have missed as well as...

Iran to Release British Hostages - So What's the Deal?

By Andrew Cochran

President Admadinejad has announced the release of the British hostages as "a gift to the British people." The official IRNA site trumpets a medal given to the commander of the Iranian coast guards who seized the hostages. Iranian and British...

Why Are American Officials Meeting With Terrorists' Supporters?

By Andrew Cochran

The internet sites and cable TV shows are buzzing about the visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Syria today. She's not the only Member of Congress meeting with the Assad regime - three Republican Congressmen, including the normally...

American Jihadist, "Ticking Time Bomb," to Plead Guilty to Terrorism Charges

By Andrew Cochran

WNBC in New York City reports that Mahmud Faruq Brent, of Gwynn Oak, MD, will admit that he supported terrorists and traveled to Pakistan to train with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Pakistani-based terrorist organization. "Brent was arrested as part of the...

Saudi Money Funding Islamists' Recent Efforts in Kurdish Iraq & Bangladesh

By Andrew Cochran

As a follow-up to Douglas Farah's post today on the move by the Saudi royals away from the U.S., I can add news provided today by British journalist James Brandon at a Jamestown Foundation forum. Brandon's recent travels through Kurdish...

U.N. Still Not Acting to Protect Human Rights of British Hostages (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE, 6:13 pm ET: In a press statement, which is the weakest form of statement possible, the Security Council has expressed "grave concern" for the hostages and called for an early resolution of the problem, including the hostages' release. The...

Iran Refusing Offers to Mediate Hostage Crisis

By Andrew Cochran

Highly reliable sources report that officials in the government of a Scandinavian country have offered to mediate the Iran hostage crisis, but the offers have been refused thus far by the Iranians. Also, a well-placed journalist in Washington and a...

U.N. Should Demand Immediate Access to the British Hostages in Iran

By Andrew Cochran

Yesterday, the U.N.'s Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General was asked whether the Secretary General had any statement to make about the British hostages held in Iran, and the spokesman said there is no comment. When a reporter then asked if...

Conference Summary: "Coping With Iran: Confrontation, Containment or Engagement?"

By Andrew Cochran

Phillip Smyth, Assistant Newslinks Editor, attended an excellent conference on U.S. policy towards Iran in Washington last week sponsored by RAND Corporation. He filed this report: Iran has long been a state sponsor of terrorism, with current support of Hezbollah...

Iranian Captures of British Navy Personnel: Intentional Provocation or Local Decision? (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Elements of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized 15 British Navy personnel from Iraqi waters and are holding them. The British Navy personnel "had completed a ship inspection when they were accosted by Iranian vessels." (UPDATE, 2:20 pm ET:...

New Arrests in London Transit Bombings of July 7, 2005 (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

British law enforcement made the first arrests for the July 7, 2005 transit bombings, which killed 52 commuters in addition to the four bombers. From the BBC website: "Two men, aged 23 and 30, were arrested shortly before 1300 GMT...

New Studies on Muslim Brotherhood and on New Palestinian Government

By Andrew Cochran

Let me suggest two analyses on completely different subjects for readers' review and comment. The first is a long six-part series by Manal Lutfi on Asharq Al-Awsat, the Arabic international paper based in London, about the Muslim Brotherhood and its...

U.S. Seeks Cessation of Investments in Iran and U.N. Designation

By Andrew Cochran

Testifying at a Congressional hearing today on Iran, senior Treasury & State Department officials said the U.S. is pressing for American companies to cease further investment in Iran, citing "jawboning" discussions with companies such as Shell Oil. They also said...

One Man's Transformation on Iraq Worth Considering

By Andrew Cochran

On this anniversary of the entry of U.S. troops into Iraq, it's instructive to look back on the changes in opinions on the war as the nature of the conflict changed. Last month, "Army Magazine" published "The Modern Seven Pillars...

Transcript of Al Qaeda Leader Bin Attash's Confession to U.S.S. Cole & Embassy Bombings

By Andrew Cochran

Senior Al Qaeda operative Waleed Mohammed Bin Attash (a.k.a. Tawfiq bin Attash or Tawfiq Attash Khallada) confessed to planning the October 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole, which killed 17 and injured 37, during a hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba....

Transcripts of Hearings For Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (REVISED Mar. 15), Abu Faraj al-Libi, & Ramzi Binalshibh

By Andrew Cochran

Here are the transcripts of the hearings held by the Defense Department with the three most senior Al Qaeda leaders in custody in the world, first provided to us by Jean Charles Brisard. The Defense Department has posted more information...

Details of Justice Department Charges Against Chiquita Brands for Terrorist Dealings

By Andrew Cochran

The Justice Department has charged Ohio-based Chiquita Brands International with doing business with a terrorist organization in Colombia, the right-wing United Self-Defense Forces (AUC). DOJ also provided information on Chiquita's dealings with two other terrorist groups there, the leftist Revolutionary...

Michael Cutler & Matthew Levitt to Testify Before Congress

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Experts Michael Cutler and Matthew Levitt will testify before Congressional committees at separate hearings tomorrow. Michael will testify before a subcommittee of the House Committee on Homeland Security on the topic, "Crossing the Border: Immigrants in Detention and Victims...

Assaf Moghadam Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We're very pleased to welcome Dr. Assaf Moghadam to the CTB as our newest Contributing Expert. Dr. Moghadam is a Fellow in National Security at the John M. Olin Institute for Strategic Studies at Harvard University. He is also a...

Arrest in Spain Connected to Indictment of NY Businessman (updated March 13)

By Andrew Cochran

Spanish authorities have arrested a man identified as Brian David Anderson, a Canadian apparently involved in the fraud and terrorist financing case in which Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari, a NYC-area businessman, was indicted. I posted on that case (with...

Part II of "MetaTerror: The Potential Use of MMORPGs by Terrorists"

By Andrew Cochran

On March 1, I posted "MetaTerror: The Potential Use of MMORPGs by Terrorists," consisting of a guest post by Roderick Jones of Concentric Solutions Int'l, about the potential use of "Second Life" digital 3-D worlds by terrorists. I invited comments...

Another Iraqi Report of Baghdadi's Capture: Another Mistake (edited Mar. 10)

By Andrew Cochran

Once again, an Iraqi official has announced the capture of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State of Iraq. And as I write, there hasn't been a confirmation of the capture by U.S. officials. This happened on March 4,...

"Triangle of Terrorism:" The Web Jihadist, the Mall Bomber, and the Sailor

By Andrew Cochran

Hassan Abujihaad of Phoenix was arrested yesterday as the third member of a "Triangle of Terrorism" which has snared suspects in London and Chicago. Abujihaad is accused of providing material support for the conspiracy to kill United States nationals and...

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Claims Split From Taliban, "Suggests" Peace Talks

By Andrew Cochran

The Associated Press has released an exclusive story in which Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, longtime Afghan tribal warlord who has allied with the Taliban for years, announced that he has ended his cooperation with them and "suggested" that he could reach a...

Incompetent & Crooked Iraqi Police Allow Terrorists to Escape Imprisonment (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

For at least the second time in the past 5 months, some of the most dangerous terrorists have been able to escape from an Iraqi jail guarded by Iraqi police. Today, militants stormed Mosul's northwestern Badoush prison and freed over...

Capture of Terrorists in Iraq: Big Fish Captured or Another False Alarm? (updated Mar. 5)

By Andrew Cochran

Multinational Forces Iraq has announced the capture of over 50 terrorists in Salah ad Din province in northern Iraq: "Soldiers from Task Force 1-319 and the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division detained more than 50 insurgents during...

Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, Taliban Official Arrested by Pakistan, Was Released by Afghans After 9-11 Attacks (updated Mar. 2)

By Andrew Cochran

Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, former defense minister of the Taliban government and described as the current #3 on the ladder of the Taliban's 10-member leadership council, was captured in Quetta. But this is the second time Akhund has been in custody...

New Report on Drugs, Money Laundering, & Terrorism Warns on Iran

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. State Department today issued this year's edition of the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which describes the efforts of key countries to attack all aspects of the international drug trade in the past year. The INCSR is mandated...

MetaTerror: The Potential Use of MMORPGs by Terrorists

By Andrew Cochran

Co-Editor's Note: Roderick Jones, a friend of several of us here who runs the private intelligence practice of Concentric Solutions Int'l, submitted this concept paper, and I wanted to post it for your consideration. Please send your comments to him...

Coalition Forces in Iraq Still Finding Foreign Aid For Terrorists in Recent Captures

By Andrew Cochran

Captures in Iraq in recent days highlight the continued prevalence of foreign fighters and funding for Al Qaeda and other terrorists from Iraq's "neighbors" in the Muslim world. Today, according to a Defense Department press release, coalition forces captured a...

Egypt's NileSat Takes Al-Zawraa, Militant Iraqi TV Channel, Off Air

By Andrew Cochran

On January 26, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross passed on a story from the BBC that al-Zawraa TV, a 24-hour station set up by the Islamic Army of Iraq and subordinate to the Mujahideen Shura Council, had been picked up by Saudi-run Arabsat....

Turkish Administrative Court Freezes Yasin Al-Qadi’s Assets

By Andrew Cochran

According to Turkish news reports, Yasin Al-Qadi’s assets in Turkey will finally be frozen after years of delay. Today’s Hurriyet reports (translated for me by a respected source):Administrative Law Divisions Council of the Turkish Administrative Court repealed the previous verdict...

Al Qaeda in Iraq Promises Revenge For Alleged Rape in Iraq

By Andrew Cochran

The leader of Al Qaeda's "Islamic State of Iraq," Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, issued an audio tape today titled, “At Your Rescue, Sister,” threatening revenge for the alleged rape of "Sabrin al-Janabi" (a pseudonym for a Sunni woman) by Iraqi police....

Imam Musa: "they are not suicide bombers; they are heroes"

By Andrew Cochran

On Monday I posted about Imam Abdul Alim Musa of Washington, who was caught on tape, taken by Steven Emerson's Investigative Project on Terrorism, supporting Palestinian terrorists. Last night on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," Steve discussed additional videos...

New Indictments For Conspiring to Commit Terrorist Acts Against Americans (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

One year ago to this day, I posted about indictments announced that day against three men in Ohio for supporting terrorist attacks in Iraq and of threatening to kill President Bush. Today, DOJ announced additional indictments in that case against...

Steven Emerson's Investigative Project Catches Radical Islamic Cleric On Tape Supporting Terrorism

By Andrew Cochran

Last night, Sean Hannity of Fox News revealed video tape taken by Steven Emerson's Investigative Project on Terrorism of Imam Abdul Alim Musa of Washington, DC, openly supporting terrorism. Musa has a long history of supporting terrorists and expressing hatred...

French Court Orders Defamation Trial For Usama bin Laden's Half-Brother, Yeslam

By Andrew Cochran

For years, terrorism investigator Jean Charles Brisard has pursued financial ties which Yeslam bin Laden might have had with his half-brother, Usama. This month, a French judge decided in Brisard's favor, which could result in a public trial and possibly...

N.Y. Businessman Indicted for Terrorist Financing - Some Interesting Connections (updated 2/19)

By Andrew Cochran

Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari, 53, a.k.a. "Michael Mixon," a businessman and self-described "peace advocate" in New York, was indicted yesterday on multiple felony counts, including financing terrorism, material support of terrorism, and money laundering. You can download and read...

No Capture of Leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq: (rewritten 2/16)

By Andrew Cochran

REVISED FEB. 16: An Iraq Interior Ministry spokesman claimed on February 15 that al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri was wounded and his aide, identified as Abu Abdullah al-Majemaai, was killed. A number of wire services and networks reported...

Who Brainwashed American Terror Suspect and Supported His Training in Somalia? (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

On February 14, I posted on statements by terrorist suspect Daniel Maldonado, who was arrested in Houston and charged for assisting Al Qaeda. Richard Miniter has done more digging and found Maldonado's personal blog, on which Maldonado described himself as...

CAIR Continues to Support Tariq Ramadan, Excluded From Entry For His Actions

By Andrew Cochran

Tariq Ramadan, who was denied a visa to enter the U.S. last September, has written an article for "The Chronicle of Higher Education" in which he asserts once again that his denial was due to his criticism of American foreign...

American "Homegrown" Terrorist Suspect Confirms Al Qaeda Presence in Somalia

By Andrew Cochran

"An American citizen charged with receiving terrorist training at an Al Qaeda camp in Somalia — including classes in how to become a homicide bomber and 'wage violent jihad' — was taken into custody by FBI agents and returned to...

Al-Zawahiri Blasts Bush, Calls For Muslim Unity in New Tape (updated with video link)

By Andrew Cochran

In a new 40-minute tape released by Al Qaeda's As-Sahab media arm titled, “Tremendous Lessons and Events in the Year 1427 AH,” Al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri unloads on President Bush. He claims that Bush is an alcoholic and addicted...

State Department Acts Against Hezbollah & PIJ Terrorists, Sends Signals to Lebanon & Germany

By Andrew Cochran

Secretary of State Rice today added Mohammed Ali Hamadei and Ramadan Abdullah Mohammad Shallah, leaders in Hezbollah, and PIJ, respectively, to the U.S. State Department Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program, each with a potential reward of up to $5 million....

American Airstrikes in Pakistan: Bush Sends Message to Musharraf

By Andrew Cochran

It is no coincidence that the meeting between new Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was preceded by admissions by U.S. commanders in Afghanistan that they've fired artillery units at Taliban forces across the border in Pakistan....

Evidence of Iran's War Against Coalition Forces in Iraq Unveiled (updated Feb. 12)

By Andrew Cochran

For some time, there have been claims of Iran's direct involvement in attacks against Iraqi and U.S. troops, but without the presentation of sufficient actual evidence to persuade Congress or the American public at large. Congress - Members of both...

Iranian & Saudi Textbooks Also Preach Intolerance Which Promotes Violence (updated Feb. 12)

By Andrew Cochran

On February 8, I wrote here about new textbooks used in Palestinian schools which promote hatred of other religions and support terrorism. But this problem certainly isn't isolated to that area; it appears to be more of a systemic effort...

September 11 WTC Victims' Remains Still Being Discovered

By Andrew Cochran

Many of the families who lost loved ones at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, are still monitoring repair and construction work around the site for discoveries, and remains are found often. Here are the texts of e-mails...

Al Qaeda Renews Call to Attack Oil Supplies

By Andrew Cochran

In the new issue of "Sawt al-Jihad" (Voice of Jihad), issued today, Al Qaeda returns to an attack policy used in 2005 and 2006, that of targeting oil supplies intended for the West. Rita Katz's SITE Institute provides this commentary:...

Palestinian Textbooks Preach Hate and Support Terrorism

By Andrew Cochran

The Palestinian Media Watch, an Israeli-based organization which examines Palestinian culture, today released an important new report on the content of textbooks introduced at the end of last year into the 12th grade in schools run by the Palestinian Authority....

Somalia - Still on the Brink and Without Sufficient U.S. Support

By Andrew Cochran

A Senate hearing yesterday disclosed the fragile state of affairs in Somalia, and news today of multiple arrests of suspected terrorists (stories here and here) indicates that Islamists there are back on the offensive. Ethiopian troops may have dislodged the...

Saudi "Terror Finance" Arrests: Still More Questions Than Answers (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

On Saturday I posted about the arrests of 10 people by the Saudi government, ostensibly for funding terrorism outside the Kingdom. Soon after the arrests, an attorney for some of the arrested cried foul, claiming the suspects are actually just...

U.S. Should Initiate Designation Process For Iraqi Parliament Member For Possible Terrorist Activities (updated 2/7)

By Andrew Cochran

Today we learn that a sitting member of the Iraqi Parliament, Jamal Jafaar Mohammed, might be a convicted and still-active terrorist. Mohammed was sentenced to death in Kuwait in 1984 for the bombings of the U.S. and French embassies there...

Arrest in Spain of Alleged Key GSPC-Al Qaeda Terrorist

By Andrew Cochran

Spanish authorities have announced the arrest in Catalonia of a Moroccan, Mbark El Jaafari, who was wanted in his home country for allegedly sending suicide bombers to Iraq. If the allegations surrounding Jaafari are true, it would represent an important...

More on Yasin al-Qadi's Connections to Turkey's Prime Minister

By Andrew Cochran

In his new article, “Will Turkey have an Islamist President?” Michael Rubin highlights some unanswered questions on the connection between terrorist financier Yasin al-Qadi to the Turkish Prime Minister. He writes:Cuneyd Zapsu, Erdoğan’s chief advisor, has donated money to Yasin...

Saudi Arrests for Iraqi Terrorist Financing: Breakthrough or "Show Arrests"? (updated Feb. 4)

By Andrew Cochran

Readers of the Iraq Study Group report will recall that the ISG was highly critical of the disinterest shown by the Saudis and other Gulf states in stopping the terrorism in Iraq and assisting in stabilizing the country. Quoting from...

Steven Emerson & Walid Phares Featured in New Documentary on Radical Islam

By Andrew Cochran

On Saturday at 9 pm ET and again at midnight (and Sunday, February 4 at 4:00 pm ET and Monday, February 5 at 3:00 am ET), the Fox News Channel will broadcast “Radical Islam: Terror in Its Own Words,” a...

Government Loses Terrorism Case in Chicago Hamas Trial

By Andrew Cochran

Two men accused of providing money and recruits to Hamas were acquitted by a federal jury of terrorism-related charges but were convicted on lesser charges. Muhammad Salah was convicted of obstruction of justice for giving false answers in a civil...

Matthew Levitt, Former Senior Treasury Official, Rejoins As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

Matthew Levitt, one of our original Contributing Experts, rejoins us today as a Contributing Expert. Matthew returns to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy as the Director of the Stein Program on Terrorism, Intelligence, and Policy after a stint...

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross Releases Important New Book (updated video link)

By Andrew Cochran

The newest book by one of our Contributing Experts, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross' "My Year Inside Radical Islam: A Memoir," officially launches tomorrow, and I predict it will attract a broad readership. Daveed tells the story of his work for the U.S....

New U.S. House Homeland Security Chairman Discusses Agenda

By Andrew Cochran

The leadership in the U.S. Congress changed hands this month, and the new chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, laid out his legislative agenda in comments today at a forum. With respect to the counterterrorism arena, Rep. Bennie...

Internet Security Company Cracks Special Jihadist Software

By Andrew Cochran

CT Blog posting from Jim Melnick, iDefense Intelligence Team, VeriSign, Inc. On January 1, 2007, the pro-terrorist group, "Global Islamic Media Front" (GIMF) announced the "imminent release" of what they called "the first Islamic computer program for secure exchange on...

Did the Libby Trial Testimony Reveal a CIA "Courage Gap"?

By Andrew Cochran

You would think that senior CIA agents who run operations are all rough, tough, unbreakable, imaginative men of steel - see Brad Pitts' and Robert Redford's characters in the movie Spy Games or Redford's character in Three Days of the...

New Video of Al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri: Warning & "Deal" (with video link)

By Andrew Cochran

Laura Mansfield and Rita Katz's SITE Institute report that a new video of Ayman al-Zawahiri will be released soon. Mansfield: "The new video, entitled "The Correct Equation", features Zawahiri in dark robe and white turban against a dark background and...

Islamists Attack in Mogadishu Against Government (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

As Douglas Farah reported below, the transitional government in Somalia is on very shaky ground and needs immediate assistance from African nations to prevent a reversion to Islamist influence. The presidential palace in Mogadishu has been attacked, presumably by UIC...

Federal Regulator Tip-Toes Into Reporting of International Wire Transfers (updated 1/18)

By Andrew Cochran

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the U.S. Treasury (FinCEN) announced today that they had completed a study of the feasibility of mandating the reporting of cross-border wire transfer data by financial institutions, in accordance with the Bank Secrecy Act...

CT Blog Posts on Ahmed Ressam, Millenium Bomber Whose Sentence Was Vacated Today

By Andrew Cochran

Today the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out the 22-year prison sentence given to Ahmed Ressam, the convicted "Millenium Bomber," and ordered the lower court to determine the appropriate sentence. Angst over the court's decision should be mitigated...

My Twin Questions on Any Iraq Strategy

By Andrew Cochran

I have two questions that President Bush's speech didn't answer, and I haven't read a good answer to them today. First, how will this or any strategy halt the funding of the insurgency? The Iraq Study Group found, "Funding for...

U.S. Targets Al Qaeda's 1998 U.S. Embassy Bombers in Somalia Strike (updated 1/11)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE 1/11: A second wave of airstrikes was launched Tuesday against terrorists, but Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, director of Al Qaeda operations in East Africa, was apparently NOT killed. In the first publicly acknowledged military action against Somalian territory since 1993,...

Suspicious Device at Port of Miami Destroyed and Contained No Explosives (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE, 4:19 pm ET: A "suspicious device" was found on a pallet at the Port of Miami, and the Coast Guard reported that six tests for explosives were positive for traces of the C4 plastic explosive. The package was included...

U.S. Congressional Hearings on Iraq, Iran, & Security Threats

By Andrew Cochran

Committees in the U.S. Congress will hold numerous hearings this week on the situation in Iraq and on other terrorism-related threats. The hearings on terrorism issues outside Iraq this week include the following: Implementing Recommendations of The 9/11 Commission Senate...

Our Thanks to Many on Our Second Anniversary

By Andrew Cochran

Two years ago today, after dozens of hours of development and design, I pushed a couple of keyboard buttons and launched this blog; you can see my introductory post from that day. This is the 2,199th post, and we've added...

Al-Zawahiri in New Tape: The U.S. "is weaker than before"

By Andrew Cochran

The new recording from Al Qaeda # 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri has been translated by Rita Katz's SITE Institute, and here is their transcript of it (Acrobat file). In it, al-Zawahiri tells his followers, "My Muslim brothers in Somalia, don't worry...

Douglas Farah to Assume CT Blog Co-Editor & CTF Director Positions

By Andrew Cochran

As a measure of the respect I have professionally and personally for Douglas Farah, which is seconded by each of the Contributing Experts, I've asked him to assume the position of Co-Editor of The Counterterrorism Blog. Moreover, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and...

New Al-Zawahiri Tape: “Set Out to Support Your Brothers in Somalia”

By Andrew Cochran

Rita Katz's SITE Institute and Laura Mansfield have informed us that a new tape from Al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri will be released soon on as-Sahab, titled, "Set Out to Support Your Brothers in Somalia.” The banner announcing the tape...

Saddam Hussein, Longtime State Sponsor of Terrorism, Executed by Iraqis (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

"Criminal Saddam was hanged to death" - Iraqi state TV. Saddam Hussein was executed around 10 pm ET (Al Arabiya reports the death at 10:05 ET). Two other Hussein-era officials, including his half-brother, have not yet been executed and remain...

U.S. Investigations Lead to Arrests in Gemayel Assassination Case

By Andrew Cochran

The following article appeared in the "Alsyassa" newspaper in Lebanon last week and has been translated to English by a friend and highly reliable source. The article points to investigations in the U.S. which led to the arrests of Syrian-allied...

Are U.S. Taxpayers Paying for a Network Infiltrated by Hezbollah?

By Andrew Cochran

I received a translation of an Arabic-language article published in the "Moharrer Al Arabi" newspaper on December 15 about the infiltration by Hezbollah of the “al-Hurra” TV station and its sister “Radio Sawa” station in Beirut. These stations are funded...

New Pentagon Counterinsurgency Manual Released

By Andrew Cochran

The Pentagon has released a new counterinsurgency manual, jointly produced by the Army and Marine Corps. As the Foreward notes, "It has been 20 years since the Army published a field manual devoted exclusively to counterinsurgency operations. For the Marine...

Polonium: The Terrorists' Perfect WMD? Possibly (Part 2)

By Andrew Cochran

Last week, I posted on the possibility that terrorists could use polonium 210, the radioactive substance which killed former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, as a weapon of mass destruction. I asked for comments and subsequently received more e-mails than I've...

Chicago-Area Man Arrested for Allegedly Planning Mall Grenade Attack (updated with documents)

By Andrew Cochran

Derrick Shareef, 22, of Rockford, IL (a Chicago suburb), a convert to Islam, was arrested Wednesday when he met with an undercover agent to trade stereo speakers for four hand grenades and a handgun. "Shareef was acting alone and not...

Polonium: The Terrorists' Perfect WMD? (updated 12/8)

By Andrew Cochran

The disclosure that "seven workers at the Millennium Hotel, where former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko met a contact on the day he fell ill, have tested positive for 'low levels' of polonium" further expands the serious consequences of the investigation...

Iraq Study Group Report Available Here - Advises Iraq Pullout & "Constructive Engagement" With Iran & Syria

By Andrew Cochran

The Iraq Study Group Report is out, and here is the full report and a separate file with the Executive Summary. Other ISG files and webpages of interest: "Iraq Study Group Fact Sheet" "Iraq Study Group Consultations" Iraq Study Group...

Financial institutions already worry about potential terrorist attacks

By Andrew Cochran

The Department of Homeland Security has issued an advisory to banks and financial institutions that al Qaeda may be planning cyber attacks on their websites, after a jihadist website posted threats of denial-of-service attacks during December. In reality, the financial...

Selecting the "Best Books on Terrorism"

By Andrew Cochran

We see lists of "best books on terrorism" often, and of course we're partial to the list of books written by our Contributing Experts (in the left sidebar), many of which are cited in "best terrorism books" lists. One new...

Congress to Review Iraq, Afghanistan, & North Korea

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Congress has returned for a post-election session, and several committees will hold terrorism-related hearings this week. The schedule of open hearings is below: November 14, 2006 Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Corporate Ownership Identification Investigations Subcommittee...

DNI Disclosed Saddam's Nuclear Secrets - Is the Saddam-Terrorism Debate Reopened? (updated 11/4)

By Andrew Cochran

Today's "New York Times" includes a story about the disclosure of a nuclear weapons "cookbook" in the huge stash of documents found in Saddam Hussein's intelligence archives and then posted on the internet archive run by the Director of National...

"Combat, not Surrender": Video of Abu Yahya al Libi Released

By Andrew Cochran

As advertised yesterday, the As Sahab arm of Al Qaeda has released the video of Abu Yahya al Libi. Laura Mansfield reports, "In this seventeen minute video announced on November 1, 2006, on various jihadi message boards, al Libi eulogizes...

New Al Qaeda Video Coming Soon (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Laura Mansfield discloses that As Sahab will release a new Al Qaeda video tape soon. "According to banners placed on several Arabic language message boards, it appears that Al Qaeda's media production arm, As Sahab, will be releasing a new...

Two Terrorism Experts "Get Political" in Op-Eds

By Andrew Cochran

I'm amazed by the op-eds written by Peter Bergen in today's New York Times tiled, "What Osama Wants," and by Michael Scheuer in yesterday's Washington Times, titled, "Another bin Laden victory." Both men are luminaries in the counterterrorism community on...

Reform Party of Syria Should Substantiate "Muslim Brotherhood" Charge Against Activist

By Andrew Cochran

Yesterday, the Reform Party of Syria ("RPS"), one of the many Syrian dissident groups and a good source of information, sent a blast email charging the following: "The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood (SMB), in alliance with the ex-vice president of Syria...

Dhiren Barot (a.k.a. Esa al-Hindi) Pleads Guilty to Plotting Numerous Attacks

By Andrew Cochran

In a major legal victory against a key terrorist operative, Dhiren Barot of London, a.k.a. Esa al-Hindi, pleaded guilty today in London on charges of plotting numerous attacks in the U.K. He was one of eight suspects arrested in the...

Gadahn Indicted for Treason (with Indictment) & NYC Airplane Crash Raises Readiness Questions (updated 10/12)

By Andrew Cochran

Two items of news with last update at 5:45 pm ET: Adam Gadahn, a.k.a. "Azzam the American," was indicted for treason in California, the first such indictment in 50 years in the U.S., for giving aid and comfort to Al...

Another Indication of the Continuing Deteoriation in Baghdad

By Andrew Cochran

At his press conference this morning (continuing as I write), the President is addressing the deteoriating security situation in Baghdad on the heels of a terrorist attack on an American arms depot there. Another indication of that the slide downhill...

Jonathan Winer Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We are very pleased to add Jonathan Winer, a highly respected veteran of the counterterrorism community, to our roster of Contributing Experts. Currently a partner in the Washington office of Alston & Bird LLP, Mr. Winer counsels companies in anti-money...

Animesh Roul Joins Us as a Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We are pleased to welcome Animesh Roul, co-founder and Executive Director (Research) of the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict in New Delhi, as a Contributing Expert. He is involved with independent think tanks, media houses, and policy...

Tariq Ramadan Continues His Deception Despite Evidence

By Andrew Cochran

Yesterday, the "Washington Post" ran a column by Muslim activist Tariq Ramadan, in which he lamented the "fear of ideas" among federal officials that has led to the refusal of a visa for him to visit the U.S. in his...

New Video Released With Al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri

By Andrew Cochran

The new video, promised earlier this week, is out, in which Zawahiri attacks Pope Benedict XVI and President Bush a "lying failure" and "deceitful charlatan." You can see it thanks to Laura Mansfield. Rita Katz of SITE Institute has a...

New Audio from Leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

New audio tape from Abu Hamza al-Muhajir - Laura Mansfield has the original tape here. Rita Katz of the SITE Institute has an analysis: "The speech, 20:31 in length, is titled: “Come to a Word that is Just Between Us...

Terrorism Defense Attorney Runs Off At Mouth, Loses to Expert

By Andrew Cochran

Another set of terrorism defense attorneys tried to disqualify Evan Kohlmann as an expert witness in his client's trial and met the same fate as their peers in other trials, failing miserably. In the meantime, one terrorism defense attorney from...

DNI Releases Declassified "Key Judgments" of National Intelligence Estimate (available here)

By Andrew Cochran

Under orders from President Bush, the Director of National Intelligence has released an declassified version of the key judgments from the April NIE, from which one conclusion was leaked to and reported by the "New York Times." Here is the...

What the FBI Needs Now

By Andrew Cochran

Editor's Note: This is a guest post by Michael R. Fedarcyk, who recently retired from the FBI after 24 years of service. His last assignment was as the Special Assistant to the FBI's Deputy Director, where he was responsible for...

British Kill Omar al-Faruq, Key Al Qaeda Operative, in Basra (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

British troops have killed Omar al-Faruq, major Al Qaeda operative, in Basra. Al-Faruq, a Kuwaiti, has been described as the most senior Al Qaeda figure in southeast Asia and a key link to Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiah. He was captued in...

9/11 Commission Members Should Review and Report on Controversial Intel Estimate

By Andrew Cochran

The "New York Times" report on the the most recent National Intelligence Estimate, completed in April, is quickly fueling another ugly political argument over the value and accuracy of the intelligence in the report and whether the news story fairly...

As Predicted Here, There's a Gitmo Deal

By Andrew Cochran

Big Surprise: As I predicted on June 29, two hours after the Supreme Court's Hamdan decision, and again on September 6, there's a deal to pass legislation enabling trials of the Gitmo terrorists. The lesson here is that if you...

U.S. House Intelligence Committee Releases Al Qaeda Report

By Andrew Cochran

Yesterday, the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence released a 40-page report, "Al Qaeda: The Many Faces of an Islamist Extrmist Threat" (large Acrobat file). The report labels Al Qaeda "the single most important terrorist threat to U.S. national...

Japan & Israel Follow U.S. Actions Against Iran's Financial Network

By Andrew Cochran

On September 8, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it was effectively shutting out Bank Saderat, one of the largest Iranian-owned banks, from the U.S. financial system due to the bank's involvement in financing terrorism. Thereafter I posted comments from a...

Steven Emerson & Walid Phares Testify on Domestic Implications of Radicalization (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson and Walid Phares testify today before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, at a hearing titled, "The Homeland Security Implications of Radicalization.” The hearing will be at 1 pm ET in room 2212, Rayburn...

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross' Testimony on Prison Radicalization (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross testified today at a U.S. Senate committee hearing on prison radicalization; his testimony is posted there. Daveed discussed his experience with the Al Haramain Foundation and its prison program: Nor was the Wahhabi/Salafi translation of the Qur’an the...

Congressional Terrorism-Related Hearings Include Testimony by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Steven Emerson, & Walid Phares (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The schedule of open terrorism-related hearings this week includes testiomony by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross on Tuesday at 10 am ET before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at room 342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The hearing topic...

Claims That Two Leaders of Al Qaeda in Iraq Taken Out (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

First piece of good news from Iraq: "Iraq's Interior Ministry says its forces have killed a senior figure of the Al Qaeda militant group in Baghdad. The ministry described the slain militant, Abu Jaafar al-Liby, as the number-two leader of...

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross the New Co-Chairman of The Counterterrorism Foundation

By Andrew Cochran

I am pleased to announce that Daveed Garstenstein-Ross has agreed to become Co-Chairman of the Counterterrorism Foundation, effective immedately. Daveed is one of the brightest young stars in the counterterrorism community, and we've worked together several times to inform Congressional...

Does the Treasury Department's Designation of a Terrorist Financier Make a Difference?

By Andrew Cochran

After the Treasury Department targeted Hezbollah's and Iran's financial institutions last week, I was interviewed about the designation and asked whether (a) a singular action by the U.S. makes a real difference, and (b) whether other countries, particularly in Europe,...

U.S. Congress to Review Homeland Security, Terrorist Financing, NSA Surveillance Program

By Andrew Cochran

Committees in the U.S. Congress will hold a number of open terrorism-related hearings this week on a variety of topics: September 12, 2006 Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Treasury's Role in Combating Terrorist Financing Full committee hearing on...

CT Blog Experts' Columns on This Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks

By Andrew Cochran

The Contributing Experts of the Counterterrorism Blog have had columns and interviews published in various media about this anniversary and the Global War on Terror: Steven Emerson on the GWOT in Fall 2006 issue of Journal of Counterterrorism and Security...

See What the Terrorists Did to Us on September 11, 2001 (links to graphic photos)

By Andrew Cochran

Numerous exhibits relating to the 9/11 attacks were released to the public for the first time at the Zacharias Moussaoui trial this summer. The exhibits enable us to remember, for all time, the scale of the horror perpetrated upon us...

Second Al Qaeda 9/11 Video Coming Soon (UPDATED, 9/11 - Video Released)

By Andrew Cochran

On the heels of the now-released 9/11 commemorative video with Osama bin Laden and other Al Qaeda figures, the As-Sahab media site has announced yet another tape "soon, God willing," this time from #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri. Laura Mansfield had the...

Full Version of Al Qaeda's 9/11 Commemorative Video Released (updated 9/10)

By Andrew Cochran

Laura Mansfield has obtained all of the long Al Qaeda video released in part on September 7. You can see an excerpt here. UPDATE 9/10: You can see Part 1 of the video here and Part 2 here from her...

Treasury Department Targets Hezbollah's and Iran's Financial Institutions

By Andrew Cochran

In actions announced yesterday and today, the Treasury Department makes it clear that the U.S. will pursue the financial institutions which assist Hezbollah and the Iranian regime. Today, Treasury cut off access to the U.S. financial system by Iran's Bank...

Aaron Mannes & David Schenker Join Us As Contributing Experts

By Andrew Cochran

We are very pleased to announce that Aaron Mannes and David Schenker are joining us as Contributing Experts. Mr. Mannes, author of the TerrorBlog (http://www.profilesinterror.com/) and Profiles in Terror: The Guide to Middle East Terrorist Organizations (Rowman & Littlefield-JINSA Press...

Unseen Bin Laden Video and New Audio Tape (with translation) by Zarqawi's Successor in Iraq (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Al Qaeda has released two "9/11 anniversary tapes." The new video shows Osama bin Laden with his former lieutenants Mohammed Atef (killed in Afghanistan in 2001) and Ramzi Binalshibh (a planner of the 9/11 attacks and captured 4 years ago),...

What Has Changed Since Last Year on 9/11?

By Andrew Cochran

As we approach the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, it's informative to recall what our Contributing Experts said last year at this time and compare their statements with the events and disclosures of the past year (we don't mind...

Outstanding Coverage of Conflict Zones Resumes at "Fourth Rail"

By Andrew Cochran

We wish Bill Roggio all the success in the world on the resumption of his solo blogging effort, and we heartily endorse his outstanding coverage of the hottest conflict zones. His contributions to CTB during since April have been outstanding,...

Bush Administration Will Challenge Congress to Hold or Release "Gitmo Terrorists" (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

On June 29, after the Supreme Court ruled in the Hamdan case that the Gitmo detainee trials are illegal under U.S. law and international Geneva, I wrote, The decision is actually a huge political gift to President Bush, and the...

Congressional Terrorism-Related Hearings Include Testimony by Walid Phares

By Andrew Cochran

This week's open terrorism-related hearings in the the U.S. Congress include a hearing of the U.S. House International Relations Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation on the subject, "Gauging Islamist Terrorism." Walid Phares will testify at that hearing on Thursday,...

Michael Cutler: 1993 World Trade Center Bomber the Beneficiary of Immigration Vulnerabilities

By Andrew Cochran

On Friday, September 1, Michael Cutler testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee at a hearing held in Dubuque, Iowa on the subject, "Is the Reid-Kennedy bill a repeat of the failed amnesty of 1986?" Other witneses included Iowa Sen....

New Video Coming From Ayman al-Zawahiri and American Al Qaeda (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Rita Katz's SITE Institute and Laura Mansfield, each of whom we rely upon for reliable information on upcoming Al Qaeda videos, have seen an announcement by Al Qaeda's As-Sahab media arm of a forthcoming new video. The video is titled,...

Steven Emerson: Hezbollah Apologist Wins "Human Relations" Award... in the U.S. (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson appeared tonight on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" to discuss his article on "The New Republic Online" website, "Prize Fighter - A Hezbollah Apologist Wins an Award for Tolerance." In the article, Steve discloses the radical anti-American...

Counterterrorism Blog Posts on Tariq Ramadan

By Andrew Cochran

Doug Farah's post below discusses yet another attempt by Tariq Ramadan to enter the country, with the help of his American allies (including those in the U.S. government). We've addressed him and the publicly available evidence, which supports denial of...

Treasury Department Designates Islamic Resistance Support Organization (IRSO), Key Hizballah Fundraiser

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced the designation of the Islamic Resistance Support Organization (IRSO), a key Hizballah fundraising organization, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. I quote from the press release: "While some terrorist-supporting charities try to obscure their...

Coming Soon: Investigation of Lebanese Terrorist Recruitment in Europe

By Andrew Cochran

Two Contributing Experts are collaborating on a special investigation of terrorist recruitment in Europe by Lebanese-based militants. They will post their findings within a few days....

Palestinian Terrorists Release Tape of Kidnapped Journalists (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Al Jazeera has released a tape from a previously unknown group, the "Holy Jihad Brigades," with Fox News reporter Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig, who were kidnapped August 14 from their TV van near the Palestinian security services headquarters...

New Movie Opens Window Into Terrorists' Suicidal Culture

By Andrew Cochran

Last year, I posted an interview with Pierre Rehov, a French filmmaker who has filmed numerous documentaries on the terrorists in the Palestinian areas, in part through interviews with them and their families. At that time, he was preparing his...

Counterterrorism Blog Posts on Terrorist Financing Methods & Our Continuing Vulnerabilities

By Andrew Cochran

The focus in the UK-US airline terror plot is now on the financing of the plot; Dennis Lormel and I were quoted in a Dow Jones MarketWatch story on that issue. A Financial Times story points out the difficulties in...

London Airline Bombing Plot News (last update at 9:15 pm ET)

By Andrew Cochran

British authorities have been tracking the plot for months, and the arrests were made "when they learned several of the men had booked flights to the U.S. in the next several days, for apparent trial runs." The plot is walked...

CT Blog Experts on "Homegrown" UK Islamic Terrorists

By Andrew Cochran

CT Blog Contributing Experts have written often on "homegrown" Islamic terrorists in the UK, especially since the July 7, 2005 London attacks. Here are links to some of those posts (links in their posts might be outdated, and punctuation anomalies...

Walid Phares Interviewed on Lebanon & Jihadists' Aims

By Andrew Cochran

In an excellent article titled, "East and West must beware new Barbarians at the gates," British journalist Allister Heath interviews Walid Phares about the implications of the current situation in Lebanon for the jihadist movement. Some excerpts follow, and you...

New Al Qaeda Tape Announces "Merger" With Egyptian Islamic Group, a.k.a. Gamaa Islamiya

By Andrew Cochran

In an new tape, Al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri announces the "merger" of the Egyptian Islamic Group (a.k.a. al-Jamaa al-Islamiya or Gamaa Islamiya or Jamaa Islamiya, not to be confused with the Indonesian Al Qaeda-linked group Jemaah Islamiyah) into Al...

Magnus Ranstorp, Walid Phares, & Stephen Sloan Comment on War in Lebanon

By Andrew Cochran

Three of our Contributing Experts recently provided their opinions on the situation in Lebanon in the print media. Links to these, plus other links to columns by and media interviews of our Contributing Experts, are available in the "CT Experts...

Cyber-Terrorism Breaking Out Over War in Lebanon

By Andrew Cochran

During the height of the "cartoon jihad," I posted about cyber-terrorist attacks on pro-Danish and anti-terrorist websites, including ours (see my posts here and here). Now the cyber-terrorists and their political backers are predictably going into action over the Israel-Hezbollah...

Congress to Review Hamdan Impacts, Border Security, GWOT Status

By Andrew Cochran

Several Congressional committee will hold open terrorism-related hearings this week in and outside Washington: August 1, 2006 House Armed Services Committee Northern Border National Security Concerns Full committee field hearing on "National Security Concerns on the Northern Border." Witnesses: Air...

Evan Kohlmann on Zawahiri Tape and "Accommodation" With Hezbollah

By Andrew Cochran

Evan Kohlmann was interviewed on MSNBC by Tucker Carlson last Thursday and discussed the Zawahiri tape and the possibility of the U.S. reaching an "accommodation" with Hezbollah: "And I think we can reach some kind of accommodation with Hezbollah one...

Entire Zawahiri Video Now Available

By Andrew Cochran

The entire video from Al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri is now available at various internet sites; the version posted on Thursday was an excerpt released by Al Jazeera. Thanks to Laura Mansfield for sharing this link to the full video...

Controversy Over New Zawahiri Tape and Al Qaeda's Intentions (updated with translation)

By Andrew Cochran

Last night, I posted on the newest video by Al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri, and Bill Roggio and I have updated it frequently since then. I wanted to post this separate note to report that Evan Kohlmann and other experts...

New Tape by Ayman al-Zawahiri Released (updated 7/27 with translation)

By Andrew Cochran

Banner announcing the new Zawahiri tape. Banner compliments of Rita Katz and Laura Mansfield. Rita Katz of the Site Institute and Laura Mansfield informed us Wednesday night that a new tape from Al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri on the...

Congressional Terrorism-Related Hearings Include Testimony by Michael Cutler & Robert Charles

By Andrew Cochran

Two of our Contributing Experts testify this week before Congress. Michael Cutler will testify before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims on Thursday the 27th at 11:30 am ET on the topic, "Whether Attempted...

New Bin Laden Message to Address Gaza and Lebanon...PROBABLY NOT (updated 7/22)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATED 7/22 WITH NEW INFORMATION: ABC News reported on Friday, July 21 that "A new Osama bin Laden message from al Qaeda's as-Sahab Institute for Media Production is to be released soon, according to IntelCenter, which monitors extremist websites. Sites...

Dr. Stephen Sloan Joins Us As a Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We're pleased and honored to welcome Dr. Stephen Sloan, one of the most respected veterans of the CT community, as our newest Contributing Expert. For over 35 years, Dr. Sloan has been a pioneer in research, teaching and consulting on...

Hizballah Activity in North America

By Andrew Cochran

Brian Hecht of The Investigative Project on Terrorism has prepared a quick reference guide to major Hizballah and Hizballah-linked illegal activity in the United States, Canada and Mexico: Racketeering, Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing: * U.S.A. v. Mohamad Youssef Hammoud et...

Congressional Schedule Might Include Resolutions on Israel-Hezbollah War (Updated 7/18)

By Andrew Cochran

The schedule of terrorism-related events in the U.S. Congress could include resolutions by both houses addressing the Israel-Hezbollah war. Senior staff in both houses are drafting resolutions now, and the draft Senate resolution is below. (UPDATE 7/18: Both houses will...

U.S. Treasury Official Provides Details on Use of SWIFT Data to Pursue "Charities" (updated 7/14)

By Andrew Cochran

One comment at a Congressional hearing on Tuesday caught my attention: the top anti-terrorist financing official at the U.S. Treasury Department, Under Secretary Stuart Levey, testified (page 4), "The details remain classified, but the program has been instrumental in identifying...

CT Blog Experts' Posts on Lebanon and Hezbollah - Haifa Hit by Rockets (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Bill Roggio's post below on the Hezbollah attack on Israel is the latest in a long line of CT Blog posts calling attention to the Iran-Syria-Lebanon-Hezbollah axis. Walid Phares's July 7 post on the link from the NYC tunnel plot...

House Committee Postpones Hearing on Weapons Sales to Pakistan (updated 7/13)

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. House International Relations Committee has postponed its hearing, scheduled for tomorrow morning, on the sale of F-16s and other weapons to Pakistan. The timing is interesting, coming a day after the Mumbai attacks and commentaries which, in part,...

Steven Emerson on Mumbai Train Attacks & NYC Tunnel Plot

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson appeared on NBC Nightly News and on CNN on July 11 to discuss the Mumbai train attacks and the NYC subway plot (with Peter Bergen and Harold Wiseman) and warned that a terrorist rail attack on US soil...

First Hamdan and SWIFT Hearings on Congressional Committee Schedule This Week (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The first Congressional hearings on the impact of the Supreme Court's Hamdan decision and on the SWIFT disclosures will occur this week. On June 29, I posted my prediction that Congress will pass a new law to enable the Administration...

Steven Emerson Interviews Melanie Phillips, "Londonistan" Author, on London Bombings Anniversary

By Andrew Cochran

With today's first anniversary of the London 7/7/05 bombings in mind, Steven Emerson interviewed reknowned British journalist Melanie Phillips, author of "Londonistan," to talk about the legacy of the bombings and what Britain has done in response. An excerpt follows,...

Yemen Officials Reportedly Deny Capturing Jamal al-Badawi

By Andrew Cochran

I posted yesterday on the reported recapture of Jamal al-Badawi, USS Cole bombing mastermind and leader of al Qaeda in Yemen, who had escaped from prison in February. ABC News posted yesterday that U.S. law enforcement sources had confirmed the...

Yemen Recaptures Jamal al-Badawi, USS Cole Bombing Mastermind and Yemen Al Qaeda Leader

By Andrew Cochran

The UPI reports that Yemeni security forces recaptured Jamal al-Badawi, who escaped in February with 22 other Al Qaeda convicts and suspects from Yemen prison, and have transported him back to the capital. This recapture is an important and positive...

Second Bin Laden Tape in Two Days Endorses al-Muhajir as Leader in Iraq, Addresses Somalia, Warns America (updated 7/2)

By Andrew Cochran

AP story: "Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden said in an Internet message Saturday to militants that the Islamic community was depending on them to "liberate" Iraq. His fifth statement this year and his second in two days, the 19-minute audio...

New Osama Bin Laden Video Tape Released (updated 6/30)

By Andrew Cochran

Image from Osama bin Laden's latest tape. Some early quotes from CNN's translation: "I say to Bush, you should deliver the body to his family, and don't be too happy. Our flag hasn't fallen. Thanks to God, it has...

Libya's Last Day as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism" - Will They Pay Up?

By Andrew Cochran

The champagne corks are popping in Tripoli - yesterday was the end of an era, the day on which Libya's status as an official "state sponsor of terrorism," according to the United States of America, was supposed to end (pending...

Prediction: Bush & Congress Will Override the Supreme Court's Gitmo Decision (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The news networks are proclaiming that the Supreme Court handed the President a "strong rebuke" in the Hamdan case by declaring the proposed Gitmo trials are illegal under U.S. law and international Geneva conventions. Oh, really? The decision is actually...

CT Blog Experts Interviewed on SWIFT Disclosures

By Andrew Cochran

On June 23, Victor Comras posted, "Reports of US Monitoring of SWIFT Transactions Are Not New: The Practice Has Been Known By Terrorism Financing Experts For Some Time," in which he quoted from a 2002 UN report which briefly discussed...

Israel Begins Gaza Military Operations, With Possible End of Hamas Government (updated 6/28)

By Andrew Cochran

Israel has started a military campaign in Gaza against the Hamas-run Palestinian Authority, after Hamas refused to release Cpl. Gilad Shalit. This follows numerous attempts at negotiation through various third parties, and Israeli officials sent public and private signals in...

Congressman's Move to Enforce Libya Settlement Survives...So Far (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Last week, I reported here on the effort by Rep. John Sweeney to enforce the settlement between Libya and the families whose loved ones died at the hands of Libyan terrorists on PanAm Flight 103 and elsewhere. Rep. Sweeney proposed...

Congressional Terrorism-Related Hearings Include Testimony by Michael Cutler

By Andrew Cochran

The schedule of open Congressional committee hearings this week on terrorism-related matters includes a House Homeland Security Committee hearing at which Michael Cutler will testify on the topic, ""DHS Intelligence and Border Security: Delivering Operational Intelligence." Other hearings will review...

Congress Voices Independence on Selected Terrorism Issues (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Several votes in the past week in Congress indicate that Members are becoming more independent on selected terrorism issues, especially with respect to Libya and Iran. Yesterday, Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY) successfully amended the FY 2007 appropriations bill for the...

Financial Regulators Seek Increased Recordkeeping for Funds Transfers

By Andrew Cochran

Last Friday the Federal Reserve Board and the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) asked for public comments on a proposed rule which would require financial institutions to increase recordkeeping requirements for funds transfers. The recordkeeping requirement was established...

Internet Security Team Finds Jihadist Website Related to Zarqawi's "Successor"

By Andrew Cochran

Jim Melnick is director of threat intelligence for iDefense, the security intelligence arm of VeriSign, Inc., which operates the systems that manage the ".com" and ".net" domains. (Note: VeriSign is a client of GAGE LLC, the consulting firm where I...

CNN Editor Equates "Terrorism" With "Freedom Fight," Insulting All Coalition Forces

By Andrew Cochran

You would think that a worldwide news operation would recognize and apply standards and definitions for the reporting of a "terrorist" and "terrorist act." We appreciate and work with many outstanding reporters and commentators worldwide who certainly have no problem....

U.S. Forces Conduct Zarqawi Autopsy Briefing (updated with slides)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE, 12:00 pm ET: The Multi-National Forces website now has the slides presented at the briefing on the Zarqawi and Rahman autopsies and links to videos of the briefing and the airstirke. Here is the first DOD press release on...

Which Side Is Winning? Two Opposing Views

By Andrew Cochran

With Zarqawi's death, experts and observers are starting to re-assess whether Islamist terrorists, led by Osama bin Laden, or the Western CT community are "winning" or "losing". Personally, I think such exercises are still premature - it seems analogous to...

Iraqi Foreign Minister: Terrorists Targeting Civilians, Not U.S.

By Andrew Cochran

In an interview with the Khaleej Times, Hoshyar Zebari, Iraqi Foreign Minister, said this about the targeting of civilians in Iraq: ‘The US forces do not kill civilians. Yes, civilians got killed in Haditha and other places but it is...

More CT Blog Media Appearances on Zarqawi's Death & Legacy (updated 6/10)

By Andrew Cochran

Many of our Contributing Experts continued their heavy schedule of media appearances and interviews last night and today in the wake of Zarqawi's death, including: Evan Kohlmann was interviewed by the AP on Friday: "My perception is that if they...

Contributing Experts' Media Appearances on al-Zarqawi's Death

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson on Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Report tonight: AZ's death will have some effect on the insurgency, but the devolution of jihad worldwide into homegrown cells through the Internet and Saudi-funded Wahabbism mean his death has little impact outside...

Contributing Experts' Posts on the al-Zarqawi Network

By Andrew Cochran

Our Contributing Experts have reported often on the scope of the network of terrorists and sympathizers who were trained by or pledged allegience to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi: Evan Kohlman: The Inside Story of Al-Qaida's First Terrorist Training Camp in Iraq...

ABU MUSAB AL-ZARQAWI KILLED IN U.S. BOMBING ATTACK (updated with pictures)

By Andrew Cochran

LAST UPDATE AT 10:45 am ET. “Today, al-Zarqawi was terminated” (Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki). From the AP story: "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's leader in Iraq who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and kidnappings, has been killed in an...

Former Top Canadian Security Official, Who Beat CAIR-Canada in Lawsuit, to Testify Before U.S. House Subcommittee

By Andrew Cochran

Tomorrow, the U.S. House Judiciary immigrations subcommittee will hold a hearing to support the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which would largely end passport-free travel in the Western Hemisphere, in accordance with recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. One of the witnesses...

Congress to Consider NSA Subpoenas and Assess Situations in Syria and Iran

By Andrew Cochran

The terrorism-related hearings this week in Congress include a special hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee at 2 pm ET today to consider whether to issue subpoenas for a future hearing on the NSA surveillance program. The House International Relations...

Steven Emerson: Al Qaeda Plotting to Attack U.S. Targets - Expect Indictments

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson was interviewed today on MSNBC about the Canadian jihadist plots and arrests. But his most provocative comments, about investigations underway in the U.S. of Al Qaeda plots, came near the end of the interview. You can see the...

Were Canadian Jihadists Targeting Pickering Nuclear Plant? (Updated 6/4)

By Andrew Cochran

"A terror attack potentially three times more devastating than the Oklahoma City bombing has been averted," according to the latest report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Seventeen people have been arrested to date, and you can see a picture...

Report: Libyan Terrorist Not Likely to Serve as First Ambassador to U.S.

By Andrew Cochran

Jeff Stein, National Security Editor for "Congressional Quarterly" and veteran CT reporter, wrote yesterday that it appears unlikely that an infamous Libyan terrorist, Musa Kusa, will be named Libya's first ambassador to the U.S., as suggested in an overseas publication...

Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Not Getting Easier, But Not Broadening Either

By Andrew Cochran

Developments on the regulatory and legislative front signal at least a temporary halt to efforts to ease Bank Secrecy Act compliance burdens within the U.S. and to broaden its scope to include international wire transfers. Beginning last year after Hurricane...

How Will State Department Personnel Changes Impact Counterterrorism Policy?

By Andrew Cochran

Personnel selections can signal important shifts in policy and also have unforeseen impacts. Secretary of State Rice announced numerous personnel changes in personnel this week which will hopefully change recent one State Department trend in counterterrorism policy. Many of the...

Recent State Department Report & Public Comments Pointed to Libya Decision (UPDATED)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE: You can read President Bush's decision to rescind Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism here (Acrobat file). You can read a statement on the matter by the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Richard...

Do We Have the Intel Needed to Prevent a Nuclear Terrorist Attack?

By Andrew Cochran

The subcommittee in the U.S. House which takes first crack at writing FY 2007 appropriations for the Homeland Security Department met yesterday and passed the first draft of that bill. The bill includes $500 million for the DHS Domestic Nuclear...

Please Support Independent, Open-Source Research, Starting With Bill Roggio's Embed in Afghanistan

By Andrew Cochran

To our loyal readers: Over the past 16 months, tens of thousands of individuals have come to rely on The Counterterrorism Blog to provide unbiased, thought-provoking reporting and analysis on the daily happenings in the Global War on Terror. The...

Steven Emerson: Admadinejad Letter "a very effective ploy"

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson appeared on Fox News discussed the letter from Iranian President Admadinejad to President Bush. You can see the interview video on the website of the Investigative Project on Terrorism, and here is the transcript: BILL HEMMER: More now...

Dr. Magnus Ranstorp Joins Us As a Contributing Expert (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

We are honored to announce the addition of the esteemed Dr. Magnus Ranstorp to The Counterterrorism Blog. Dr Ranstorp is the Research Director of the Centre for Asymmetric Threat Studies at the Swedish National Defence College, directing a large funded...

Michael Cutler to Testify - Other Congressional Terrorism-Related Hearings Scheduled

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler will testify this Thursday before the U.S. House Intenational Relations Oversight Subcommittee on the subject, "Visa Overstays: Can We Bar the Terrorist Door?" Other open terrorism-related hearings this week will touch on preventing biological attacks and the State...

Moussaoui Verdict Shows Terrorism Planners How to Cheat Death Penalty (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE, May 4: The complete court docket, with all publicly available motions, is here at the US Attorney's site. The judge agreed with the jury's recommendation and officially sentenced him to life in solitary imprisonment. Mousaoui railed against the CIA...

Pakistan & U.S. Confirm Capture of Abu Musab al-Suri, a.k.a. Mustafa Setmarian Nasar (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE: Pakistan and U.S. authorities confirm the capture of top Al Qaeda operative Mustafa Setmarian Nasar, better known as Abu Musab al-Suri (a.k.a. Omar Abdel Hakim), last November and his transfer to U.S. custody. Nasar is one of the senior...

Two Terrorism-Related Congressional Hearings This Week

By Andrew Cochran

Just two open terrorism-related hearings in the U.S. Congress this week: The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will hold an oversight hearing this Tuesday on the FBI. Topics are likely to include the extent of information sharing with other agencies (or...

Steven Emerson: Iran Capable of Terrorist Attacks in U.S. Anytime

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson discusssed the new Ayman al-Zawahri video tape and the Iranian danger yesterday on MSNBC. You can see the interview on the Investigative Project of Terrorism website. Here is the transcript: ALEX WITT: Let’s get perspective on this from...

...Especially Given BoNY's History in Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

By Andrew Cochran

The Bank of New York's activities on behalf of LeT and IKK, as discussed in Evan Kohlmann's post, are inexplicable in light of its history of involvement with Russian money launderers and the Arab Bank. Just nine days ago, BoNY...

Ayman al-Zawahri Continues Propaganda Offensive

By Andrew Cochran

The new 16-minute video tape by Al Qaeda Deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, entitled, "A Message to the People of Pakistan," is the third this week by Al Qaeda leaders, an unprecedented volume of bold propaganda. Our Contributing Experts will break down...

Kenneth Conboy Joins Us As a Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

Kenneth Conboy, nothed author, expert on Southeast Asian terrorism, and Country Manager for Risk Management Advisory in Indonesia, joins us today as a Contributing Expert. Mr. Conboy is responsible for all Indonesian operations for RMA Indonesia, in which capacity he...

Links to New State Department Terrorism Report and Tape Transcripts Now in "CT Library"

By Andrew Cochran

One of the features we offered when we opened in January 2005 is a "Counterterrorism Library" with important laws, studies, primary source documents, and important releases by our Contributing Experts. Click on the "CT Library" link in the "Navigation" box...

Great Propaganda No Substitute for Real Victories

By Andrew Cochran

I agree with Doug Farah that the Al Qaeda propaganda machine is rolling at top speed. But sooner or later, they have to win something in Iraq - anything - and they haven't won anything real in Iraq for a...

Was Today's Suicide Bombing in Egypt Part of Planned Second Wave? (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The newswires reported a twin suicide bombing outside of a multinational force base in Egypt, just 10 miles from the Israeli border near Rafah, in which only the suicide bombers died. But an attempt today by terrorists to cross the...

Steven Emerson: Law Enforcement Should Investigate Islamic Thinkers Society

By Andrew Cochran

In his post on April 21, Steven Emerson provided details of the outrageous slogans chanted at a rally in NYC of the Islamic Thinkers Society: "The mushroom cloud is on its way! The real Holocaust is on its way!" Steve...

Congressional Terrorism Hearings: Iraq, North Korea & Central Asia

By Andrew Cochran

A thin week for terrorism-related hearings this week in Congress - two on the status of Iraq, one on North Korea's illicit income, and one on U.S. policy in Central Asia. The North Korean income issue includes a tie to...

Attorneys for Alleged "Virginia Jihad Gang" Member Fail to Disqualify Evan Kohlmann

By Andrew Cochran

On September 16 of last year, Ali Asad Chandia of College Park, a Maryland suburb of Washington, was arrested and after being indicted with Mohammed Ajmal Khan. They were charged with "conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material...

Bombings at Egyptian Resort of Dahab Recall Sharm el-Sheikh Attacks (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Last update at 10 pm ET. Three explosions Monday night rocked the Egyptian resort city of Dahab, 200 miles southeast of Cairo in the Sinai peninsula, at the height of the tourist season (early reports of four explosions not true)....

Steven Emerson: Bin Laden Trying to Rally Muslim Masses to Attack Civilians

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson discussed the new Bin Laden audio tape today on the Fox News Channel and on MSNBC. You can see the Fox News interview video here and and the MSNBC video here. Here are the transcripts of the interviews:...

Bill Roggio Participating in Military Bloggers' Conference

By Andrew Cochran

Bill Roggio is participating in the 2006 Milblog Conference today in Washington, DC. There are three panels: "Milblogs: Past, Present and Future;" "Milblogging Family Style;" and "Blogging From Theater." There is a great mix of panelists in attendence, and Bill...

Douglas Farah: "The Little Explored Offshore Empire of the International Muslim Brotherhood"

By Andrew Cochran

While we're discusing the nature and role of the Muslim Brotherhood, I wanted to call attention to a new study by Douglas Farah titled, "The Little Explored Offshore Empire of the International Muslim Brotherhood," on the website of the International...

Jeffrey Cozzens Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

Jeffrey Cozzens, Senior Analyst with the Intelligence & Terrorism Analysis Group at AMTI (Applied Marine Technology, Inc.), joins us today as a Contributing Expert. Jeff is a former analyst with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Counterterrorism and Research...

Congressman Makes Personal Contribution to the Counterterrorism Foundation

By Andrew Cochran

When we announced the merger of our two blogs, we also announced the opening of the non-profit Counterterrorism Foundation. The Foundation provides financial support to the Counterterrorism Blog and funds related research and reporting activities, including embedded reporting by Counterterrorism...

Kabul Rocket Attack Indicates Terrorists' Continuing Potential

By Andrew Cochran

A massive explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan in the diplomatic area of city and near U.S. Embassy was caused by a rocket attack. The "blast occurred inside the grounds housing the state-run television offices. The building is next to the heavily...

Welcome to the New Counterterrorism Blog

By Andrew Cochran

Bill Roggio of "The Fourth Rail," the Contributing Experts of the original Counterterrorism Blog, and I welcome you to the new, expanded, and improved Counterterrorism Blog. Through the merger of the original Counterterrorism Blog with "The Fourth Rail" military blog,...

CT Blog to Merge With "Fourth Rail" and Move - New Foundation to Fund Our Efforts

By Andrew Cochran

Recently, I've had the pleasure to meet Bill Roggio, editor of "The Fourth Rail" and one of the best military bloggers, and get to know him well. After much discussion, we've decided to merge our resources into a single Counterterrorism...

"A History of the Car Bomb" Series Worth Reading

By Andrew Cochran

"Asia Times Online" has a two-part series, "A History of the Car Bomb," by American author Mike Davis, in the April 13 and April 18 editions. It's a fascinating history of the car bomb from its first use in September...

Flight 93 Cockpit Tape and Transcript: "When they all come, we finish it off"

By Andrew Cochran

The Moussaoui death penalty trial became the setting for the first public disclosure of the United Flight 93 cockpit tape, with audio and a transcript. You can read the transcript below, downloaded from the FindLaw.com site. Clearly, the terrorists were...

CFIUS Review of New Proposed Dubai Purchase Nears Completion

By Andrew Cochran

On March 27, I posted, "Round Two of Dubai Investment Issue Begins, This Time for U.S. Defense Plants," about the CFIUS review of the proposed purchase by Dubai International Capital, an investment company owned by the ruling family, of the...

Terrorists Kill Dozens in Pakistan Bombing (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

AFP news quotes Pakistan provincial government official: "Information we have received from hospitals and police suggest that the death toll is 57." "Dawn" in Pakistan reports, "At least 56 people were killed and more than 100 injured when a bomb...

9/11 Victim's Family Channels Grief Into Treatment for Terrorism Victims

By Andrew Cochran

The ongoing Moussaoui trial, with its gripping testimony and videos of the September 11 attacks, reminds us that the survivors and the victims' families still live with the impacts every day. I had the privilege of escorting several of them...

Saddam's Past Terrorism Connections Have Future Consequences

By Andrew Cochran

A U.S. House oversight subcommittee conducts the first public hearing today on the lessons gleaned from the first review of the vast storehouse of Saddam's intelligence documents. They will hear today from two military officers involved in the preparation of...

Law Enforcement Criticizes Proposed Relief From Bank Secrecy Act Mandates

By Andrew Cochran

The news quotes emanating from yesterday's U.S. Senate Banking Committee hearing (testimony and statements available there) centered around the North Korean regime's worldwide money laundering activities and the usual official comments about the Saudi Kingdom's insufficiencies at stopping terrorist financing....

Congress This Week: DOD Counterterrorism, Terrorist Financing, Islamists in Europe, Saddam's Docs

By Andrew Cochran

Congressional committees will hold numerous open terrorism-related hearings this week, including hearings on on U.S. government efforts to stop terrorist financing and to train experts in other countries; the Defense Department's role in counterterrorism; and Islamic extremism in Europe. I...

Did Saddam Hussein Assist Palestinian Terrorist Groups More Than Previously Thought?

By Andrew Cochran

On January 7, I discussed the potential disclosure of up to 2 million documents from Saddam Hussein's intelligence apparatus and whether it would lead to a reassessment of his ties to Islamic terrorist groups. I expressed hope that the documents...

House Oversight Subcommittee Targets UBS Currency Violations

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. House International Relations Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations has announced additional witnesses for tomorrow's hearing on offshore banking and terrorism (previously noticed on CTB here). It's clear from the witness list that the subcommittee, which conducted a very...

Round Two of Dubai Investment Issue Begins, This Time for U.S. Defense Plants

By Andrew Cochran

Weeks after political pressure forced Dubai Ports World to announce that it would surrender its control of U.S. port operations obtained in the P&O purchase, the issue could return to the front page. Today UPI reports the following: Dubai International...

Congress to Examine Nuclear Terrorism, Terrorist Financing, and Shoulder-Fired Missile Threat

By Andrew Cochran

Congressional committees will hold a number of open terrorism-related hearings during the week of March 25, including two hearings on the threat of nuclear terrorism; a hearing on offshore banking and terrorist financing; one on the terrorist threat from shoulder-fired...

Is the ETA's "Ceasefire" Sincere and Permanent?

By Andrew Cochran

The "Basque Fatherland & Freedom" terrorist group, known as ETA, has declared a ceasefire and pledged to pursue the political process to achieve its goal of political independence for the Basque territory. Founded over 40 years ago, ETA is considered...

FARC Terrorist Leaders Indicted for Massive Cocaine Dealing

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Justice Department has obtained indictments against 50 of the top leaders in the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, for importing more than $25 billion worth of cocaine into the United States and other countries. This is...

Current & Former CT Blog Experts Focus on Hamas

By Andrew Cochran

Current and former Contributing Experts are writing and commenting on Hamas' future and financing as it assumes control of the Palestinian Authority. Matthew Levitt, who posted here while he was a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East...

Sebastian Junger Revisits Afghanistan and Points Finger at Pakistan

By Andrew Cochran

Sebastian Junger is famous for his book, "Perfect Storm," but he's also in a unique position for having visited Afghanistan in 2000 and traveling with the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance leader, Ahmad Shah Massoud. Massoud was assassinated two days before the...

Lebanese Army Squeezing Al Qaeda for Iranian Proxies

By Andrew Cochran

On January 13, based on intel from a reliable Western government source, I posted that a turf war was developing between Islamic terrorist groups in and around Gaza and southern Lebanon. That came after the December 27 rocket attack into...

Steven Emerson: Mayor Bloomberg Too Soft on Imam Jalil

By Andrew Cochran

The decision by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg to suspend, but not fire, Imam Umar Abdul-Jalil for his outrageous comments ("We know that the greatest terrorists in the world occupy the White House, without a doubt...the Zionists of the media to...

"Vendetta" is a Pro-Terrorism Movie (updated 3/17)

By Andrew Cochran

What are the Warner Brothers studio and parent company Time Warner thinking? They've released a movie, "V for Vendetta," that is simply a pro-terrorism movie. Sure, it hides behind an attractive theme of "revolution" against a totalitarian government, but the...

CAIR Supports Imam Jalil's Hateful Views

By Andrew Cochran

Brian Hecht of Steven Emerson's Investigative Project on Terrorism has prepared the following post; please quote Brian: Yesterday, the "New York Post" broke the story of an anti-Government, anti-Semitic speech made by the chief Imam of New York City�s Department...

Treasury Department Won't Freeze Mohammed Taheri-Azar's Assets, Either

By Andrew Cochran

Another point to add to Daveed's excellent post below: if the Treasury Department wanted to seriously investigate Mohammed Taheri-Azar for possible terrorist connections, they could designate him under the OFAC program and freeze his assets to prevent him or his...

U.S. Government Assisting Bangladesh Terrorism Investigation and Securing Radioactive Materials

By Andrew Cochran

How important were the captures of JMB terrorist leaders Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai in the past week? Important enough for the Treasury Department to send two top experts to Bangladesh this week to determine how JMB was financed and...

Exposing CAIR as "Islamists Fooling the Establishment"

By Andrew Cochran

Daniel Pipes and Sharon Chadha have a new expose of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on the Middle East Forum site today, titled "CAIR: Islamists Fooling the Establishment." The article is an excellent profile of CAIR's very shady side,...

Has the Pakistan Government Joined the "Cartoon Jihad?"

By Andrew Cochran

Tracy Tywman of Portland, Oregon, whose websites were hacked by cyber-terrorists after she published "the cartoons," now tells me that the Pakistan government has officially banned one of her sites and at least 11 others. Read the details of the...

Congressional Hearings on Terrorism Issues Soon

By Andrew Cochran

Several committees in the U.S. Congress are planning hearings this spring on a variety of terrorism-related issues. The committees averaged 2-3 hearings a week last year, until Hurricane Katrina absorbed most of the attention and resources. I can't divulge the...

NC Hit-and-Run Case Publicity Trivializes Real Terrorism

By Andrew Cochran

The cable news networks and some of my favorites blogs are in danger of trivializing real terrorism by trumpeting the case of the University of North Carolina graduate student from Iran, who tried to run down students to "avenge the...

Bangla Bhai the Second Major Terrorist Leader Captured in Bangladesh (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

On March 2, I posted about the capture in Bangladesh of Abdur Rahman, leader of Islamic terrorist groups Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) and Bin Laden ally during the 1990s. Bangladesh have followed up on...

New Ayman al-Zawahri Tape Urges Terrorist Attacks, "Cartoon Jihad" Strikes, & Contributions (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

In new audio and video tapes released yesterday, Al Qaeda's #2, Ayman al-Zawahri, urges followers to attack the West, supports the "cartoon jihad" economic strikes aganist Danish and other Western countries, supports Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel, and asks for...

Steven Emerson: Pakistan Is Ally and "Anti-Ally" Against Terrorists

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson appeared this morning on NBC's "Today" Show to discuss President Bush's visit to Pakistan and the extent of that country's cooperation with the U.S. against terrorism, or lack thereof, depending on the issue. You can see the video...

Abdur Rahman, Key Terrorist Leader & Bin Laden Ally, Captured in Bangladesh

By Andrew Cochran

Abdur Rahman, the leader of Islamic terrorist groups Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) in Bangladesh, was captured in Bengal on Thursday after a siege of well over a day (the number of hours differ by...

Steven Emerson Discusses "Cultural Jihad" & Considers Australia Attack "Very Viable"

By Andrew Cochran

An outstanding profile of Steven Emerson has been published in the March 7 issue of "The Bulletin" in Australia. In it, Steve comments on the compromises by Western media with the jihadists over the Mohammed cartoons, labels an attack on...

Israeli Firm's Endorsement of DPW a Major Boost to Port Purchase Prospects

By Andrew Cochran

The chairman of Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., the largest Israeli shipping firm, wrote on February 22 to Sen. Hillary Clinton (Acrobat file from CNN website) to strongly endorse the purchase of U.S. port operations by Dubai Port World. The...

New State Department Report Raises More Concern Over Afghanistan

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. State Department today released the 2006 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), an annual report which "describes the efforts of key countries to attack all aspects of the international drug trade in Calendar Year 2005." Much will be...

Evan Kohlmann: Skeptical of Iraqi Official's Claims on Big Arrest and Jill Carroll Status

By Andrew Cochran

The Iraqi Interior Minister's claims today that Iraqi forces arrested a "high-ranking aide" to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and that U.S. journalist Jill Carroll is alive and he knows who kidnapped her, should be viewed with skepticism, according to Evan Kohlmann....

The 13th Anniversary of the 1993 WTC Bombing - NEVER FORGET

By Andrew Cochran

Today is the 13th anniversary of the bombing of the World Trade Center parking garage on February 26, 1993, in which 6 Americans died (7 including an unborn baby carried by one of the adult victims) and over 1,000 were...

Terrorists Attack Saudi Oil Facility (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

LAST UPDATE AT 2:55 pm ET. One of the "nightmare scenarios" in the counterterrorism community almost happened, with an attempted terrorist attack on a major oil refinery in Abqaiq (a.k.a. Buqayq) in eastern Saudi Arabia today. This is the first...

Steven Emerson: Mixed UAE Record on Terrorism, With Hamas Still Supported

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson appeared on Rita Cosby's MSNBC program last night to discuss the UAE's record on terrorism and container security. You can see his appearance on the Investigative Project on Terrorism website (Windows Media). Here is the discussion on the...

Al Qaeda Claimed Infiltration of Key UAE Agencies in 2002

By Andrew Cochran

Lorenzo Vidino, on travel and unable to post, sent me one of the DOD Harmony database documents released by the West Point CTC last week (and publicized for the first time anywhere here). It's a communication in May or June...

How Recently Were Abu Musab al-Zarqawi & Family in Afghanistan?

By Andrew Cochran

A highly respected terrorism analyst in Washington sent me information on the possible presence of the al-Zarqawi clan in Afghanistan since the 2003 American invasion of Iraq, and I asked Evan Kohlmann to comment on it. I invite other comments....

President Promises Veto of Port Legislation, But Our UAE Source Supports Critics

By Andrew Cochran

The White House has started a full-court press to defend the purchase by UAE-controlled DP World of the British company which operates six U.S. ports. President Bush, flying on Air Force One this afternoon, promised to veto any legislation which...

New Arrests in Ohio for Support of Terrorists in Iraq (with indictment, press conference highlights, and suspects' pictures)

By Andrew Cochran

Here is the full indictment (Acrobat file) courtesy of Steven Emerson's Investigative Project on Terrorism: Download OhioIraqiSupportCase.pdf. Here is the Justice Department press release on the arrests of three men in Ohio for supporting terrorist attacks in Iraq. The men...

Treasury Dept. Freezes Assets of Hamas-associated "KindHearts" Charity (updated 2/20)

By Andrew Cochran

The Treasury Department announced that it is freezing the assets of "KindHearts," an Ohio-based Islamic charity, pending further investigation of possible terrorist financing. Quote: "KindHearts is the progeny of Holy Land Foundation and Global Relief Foundation, which attempted to mask...

West Point Center Issues Al-Qa'ida Study With Newly Released Documents (updated 2/16)

By Andrew Cochran

(UPDATE 2/16: See "USA Today" story on this study.) The Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy at West Point has produced an interesting new study entitled, "Harmony and Disharmony: Exploiting Al-Qa'ida's Organizational Vulnerabilities" (browser-friendly view). The study...

Leading Blog Attacked by Muslim Cyber-terrorists (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Michelle Malkin, one of the most-read and referenced bloggers on the Internet, announced just now, "Last Tuesday, during or immediately after my appearance on Fox News Channel to discuss the Mohammed Cartoons, this blog was hit by a large, foreign-based...

Another Example of Muslim Hacking of American Websites

By Andrew Cochran

This morning, I received an e-mail from CT Blog fan Ms. Tracy Twyman in Portland, OR, in response to my report yesterday about a hacking of a Seattle-area website by Muslim cyber-terrorists (that's what I'm calling you, get used to...

Saddam's Intel Stash: No Breakthroughs So Far (UPDATED 2/15)

By Andrew Cochran

On January 7, intrigued by a Weekly Standard article, I expressed hope that the Pentagon, Congress, and the CT community would delve further into Saddam Hussein's massive stash of intelligence documents for his possible links to terrorists. The author of...

Seattle-Area Website for Girls Club Hacked by Angry Muslims and Nobody Cares (edited)

By Andrew Cochran

On February 8 I posted about the hacking of Danish and Western websites by Muslim cyber-terrorists over the cartoon controversy. Last night I received an e-mail from a knowledgeable CT Blog fan in the Seattle area about the hacking of...

Lebanese Anti-Syrian Leader Agrees to Hezbollah's Terrorism Agenda

By Andrew Cochran

On Monday, Michael Aoun, Member of Parliament and leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, met with Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's Secretary General, to discuss collaboration. These two leaders were on opposite ends of the Cedar Revolution that freed Lebanon from...

President Bush Releases Details of Foiled Terrorist Hijacking (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

President Bush today at the National Guard Association (text of speech at White House website): In October 2001, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, who masterminded the 9/11 attacks, set in motion a shoebombing plot to hijack plane and fly into Liberty Tower...

Senate Building Reopened After False Alarm

By Andrew Cochran

Chief Terry Gainer of the U.S. Capitol Police announced on CNN's Larry King Show that the "all-clear" has been given, and a U.S. Senate building can be reoccupied. It was emptied after a security sensor indicated the presence of a...

Muslim Hackers Assaulting Websites Since Cartoon Controversy Began (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

An article yesterday on Britain's "Computer Shopper" website caught my eye. It discussed the assault of Danish and other Western websites by gangs of Muslim hackers. "Gangs of pro-Muslim computer hackers have unleashed a withering cyber attack on Danish and...

Links to First Senate Hearings on NSA Surveillance Program

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee holds the first hearing today on the NSA surveillance program, with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as the sole witness. The hearing begins at 9:30 ET. You can access the committee's webcast from the hearing page...

Zeyno Baran: "Will this be the much-needed wake up call for the West?"

By Andrew Cochran

Zeyno Baran is on travel in Europe and asked me to post the following comments on the Danish cartoon controversy - please quote her: Many Western governments have been so focused on defeating the �terrorists� they have actively ignored combating...

In Hollywood, the U.S. is the enemy, not the terrorists

By Andrew Cochran

It's clear from the Oscar nominations and current crop of movies that Hollywood just isn't going to aim its cameras at the terrorists who hate us (especially the Hollywood culture) and who try to kill us. In Hollywood, the enemy...

Contributing Experts' Interviews on Al-Zawahri Tape & Border Threats

By Andrew Cochran

Our Contributing Experts have been all over the airwaves to discuss the new video issued by Al Qaeda's #2, Ayman Al-Zawahri, and potential border attacks by Mexican drug lords. Links to the interviews: Al-Zawahri Tape: Daveed Gartenstein-Ross on Fox News...

Congress to Pass Second Short-Term Extension of USA Patriot Act

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. House is scheduled to take up the USA Patriot Act this week. The extension which passed in December expires on February 3. I understand that a second short-term extension into March is likely. House Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner has...

Senate Judiciary Democrats Question Att. Gen. Gonzales on NSA Surveillance

By Andrew Cochran

On Wednesday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter sent a letter to Attorney General Gonzales with 15 questions to be answered at the February 6 committee hearing on the NSA surveillance program. Committee Democrats sent their own letter yesterday with...

Davos Forum: Another anti-Israel Vehicle?

By Andrew Cochran

Aren't there enough pressing issues to address at the World Economic Forum without reducing it to yet another opportunity to showcase those who wish to see Israel shunted aside? First, an article called �Boycott Israel� in the Global Agenda magazine...

Summary of News & Opinions on Hamas Victory

By Andrew Cochran

It's official: Hamas won 76 of the 132 seats in the PNA parliament, with Fatah winning 43 seats and the Prime Minister and cabinet resigning. The victors and the vanquished are already fighting, "Hamas and Fatah activists clashed at the...

Senate Judiciary Chairman's Letter on NSA Program to Att. Gen. Gonzales (with letter)

By Andrew Cochran

Sen. Arlen Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote a 3-page letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, asking him to address 15 specific subjects in the opening statement at the committee's upcoming hearing on the NSA surveillance issue on...

U.S. & Pakistan Must Face Facts About Al Qaeda's Reported Resurgence

By Andrew Cochran

Pakistan's Prime Minister is in Washington, trying to persuade American policymakers that his government has successfully stripped Al Qaeda of its leadership and assets. As he makes the diplomatic rounds here, President Musharraf is on a public relations campaign claiming,...

Naval School Professor Should Be Fired for Proposing to "Test" Osama's "Truce"

By Andrew Cochran

Douglas Borer, associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, has written an op-ed in today's "Christian Science Monitor" titled, "Why not test bin Laden's 'truce' offer?" In my opinion, the piece is ridiculous and repugnant for two...

Walid Phares on Oprah Winfrey Show and Links to Experts' Recent Interviews (updated 1/23)

By Andrew Cochran

Walid Phares will be on Monday's Oprah Winfrey Show with Peter Bergen and Thomas Friedman in a discussion on terrorism. We congratulate Walid for being invited to participate on such an exclusive panel with the most popular talk show host...

No Outbreak of Anti-American Violence in Muslim World Since Pakistan Strike

By Andrew Cochran

Despite media stories about demonstrations in Pakistan against the U.S. strike, the fact is that there has been no outbreak of anti-American violence, or even a significant anti-American protest, in the Muslim world since the Pakistan strike last week. No...

Steven Emerson: Bin Laden's Bluster "Is Still Bluster"

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson appeared on MSNBC today about the new bin Laden tape. You can see video of his MSNBC appearance here (Windows Media), and here is the transcript (emphasis mine): NATALIE MORALES: Well, a short time ago the CIA confirmed...

New Bin Laden Audio Tape Warns of Coming Attack Against U.S. (updated 1/20 with full transcript link)

By Andrew Cochran

Al Jazeera has aired a new tape, from Osama bin Laden, which warns of a future attack against the U.S. and apparently offering a "truce," with a U.S. pullout from the region, to avoid the attack. The CIA has confirmed...

Top Al-Qaeda Bombmaker & Other Senior Al Qaeda Reported Killed in Pakistan Strikes (updated with photos)

By Andrew Cochran

ABC News broke the story this afternoon that al Qaeda's master bomb maker and chemical weapons expert, Midhat Mursi, a.k.a. Midhat Mursi al-Sayyid Umar, a.k.a. Abu Khabab al-Masri, a.k.a. Abu Khabab, was killed in last week's U.S. missile attack in...

Syrian Military Intel Director Tagged for Syria's Support of Terrorism in Lebanon

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury Department is announcing the designation of Assef Shawkat, Director of Syrian Military Intelligence, as a Specially Designated National of Syria for "directly furthering the Government of Syria's support for terrorism and interference in the sovereignty of Lebanon"...

Steven Emerson: Pakistan Strike Was Opportunity That Could Not Be Missed

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson appeared on NBC's "Today" Show this morning to discuss the attempt to kill Ayman al-Zawahiri. Here is the transcript of the interview, and you see the video here: Matt Lauer: NBC News analyst Steve Emerson is a terrorism...

Douglas Farah in "New Republic" on Viktor Bout's operations

By Andrew Cochran

Douglas Farah has an article, co-authored with Kathi Austin, in the January 23, 2006 issue of the New Republic magazine, titled, "Air America: Viktor Bout and the Pentagon." Bout and 30 companies and four individuals in his international arms-trafficking network...

Victor Comras Interviewed in BBC's "Dirty Money" Series

By Andrew Cochran

Victor Comras is one of the experts interviewed in "Terrorism" segment of the BBC's three-part "Dirty Money" audio series, anchored by Michael Buchanan. The "Terrorism" segment is described as follows: "How do terrorists move their funds around the world to...

Walid Phares: Allies or Not Allies is the Question (edited)

By Andrew Cochran

Walid Phares asked me to post the following for him (quote him directly) - EDIT: I added links to Intelligence Summit clips of his weekend TV appearances: The Predator's strike inside Pakistan's border area, aiming at al-Zawahri's possible stay in...

Saudis' Lack of Followthrough Drawing More Fire (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

An excellent story in today's "LA Times," reprinted elsewhere without registration, adds fuel to the gathering sentiment among Washington policymakers in the Executive Branch and on Capitol Hill that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia won't keep its past promises to...

CIA Targets Ayman al-Zawahiri in Pakistan - Pakistan Says He Was Not at Site & Protests Attack (updated 1/14)

By Andrew Cochran

LAST UPDATE AT 10:00 am ET January 14. CIA airstrike against Al Qaeda's #2, Ayman al-Zawahiri in Pakistan - CIA got "good reporting" on al-Zawahiri's presence in a building and it ordered the Predator airstrike. But AP reports on Saturday...

Arrests & Seizures by Lebanon: Sign of Terrorists' Turf War?

By Andrew Cochran

We could see a turf war, and not cooperation, developing between Islamic terrorist groups in and around Gaza and southern Lebanon. Lebanese security forces arrested suspected 13 Al Qaeda operatives two weeks ago, and only 3 were Lebanese - 3...

Highlights of First "U.S. Money Laundering Threat Assessment"

By Andrew Cochran

In what might be a positive sign about U.S. government counterterrorism efforts amidst the waning interest noted by Doug Farah, the first official "U.S. Money Laundering Threat Assessment" was released this morning at the Treasury Department. It's the first time...

Steven Emerson: Al Qaeda & the Taliban "Resurrect" Themselves

By Andrew Cochran

Appearing on Fox News Channel this morning, Steven Emerson discussed the comeback of Al Qaeda in the Middle East and the Taliban in Afghanistan, with the latter profiting from the Afghan drug trade (see Robert Charles' post related to that...

Will Counterterrorism Experts Ignore New Evidence of Saddam's Terrorist Ties?

By Andrew Cochran

Stephen Hayes' "Weekly Standard" article on Saddam's terror training camps discloses a massive Iraqi intel stash pointing to a systematic program to train thousands of terrorists. Hayes reports that Saddam's regime "trained thousands of radical Islamic terrorists from the region...

Report Released on FBI's Handling of Brandon Mayfield Case & Fingerprint Errors

By Andrew Cochran

The Inspector General of the Justice Department has released a new report on the FBI's handling of the Brandon Mayfield case (you can download a large Acrobat file of the unclassified executive summary). Mayfield was the Oregon attorney arrested in...

Our First Anniversary - Thanks to Contributing Experts & Readers - Some Perspectives

By Andrew Cochran

Yesterday was our first anniversary - you can read my opening post on January 5, 2005. This is the 1,121th article posted in the center column, and to date we have linked to over 7,100 news articles and columns in...

Supreme Court Agrees to Transfer of Jose Padilla to Justice Department (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and agreed to the Bush Administration's request to transfer custody of Jose Padilla from the Defense Department to the Justice Department for the purpose of standing trial in Miami....

Pakistan Arrests Important Militants Linked to Al Qaeda & Pakistani Intel

By Andrew Cochran

There are news reports that Pakistan arrested Ghulam Mustafa, a.k.a. Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum, in Lahore 10 days ago. Tabassum is a leader in the outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group, which is linked to Al Qaeda. The Reuters story quotes an Pakistani...

NY Times's Ombudsman: Explanation of decision to report NSA program was "woefully inadequate"

By Andrew Cochran

Today's New York Times includes a column by Brian Calume, the "public editor" (basically an ombudsman), titled, "Behind the Eavesdropping Story, a Loud Silence," in which he complains about lack of cooperation by NYT management in answering his questions on...

Indonesia Bombing: Jemaah Islamiyah's Christmastime 2005 Attack? (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The casualties from a bomb attack outside a shop selling pork in Palu, Indonesia has risen to 7 deaths and 47 injured, according to the Jakarta Post's latest report. Quoting: "Witnesses said the bomb exploded inside the kiosk which was...

DOJ Should Appoint Patrick Fitzgerald to Investigate Two Leaks of Classified Information

By Andrew Cochran

The Justice Department is initiating a second investigation into the leak of classified, terrorism-related information to a news source, this time over the NSA intercept program as initially divulged by the New York Times. DOJ already initiated an investigation into...

Steven Emerson: "Split Round" in War on Terrorism in 2005 (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Appearing on NBC's "Today" program today, Steven Emerson said that the lack of terrorist attacks in the U.S. since the 9/11 attacks is due to a combination of factors, including the investigative and law enforcement activities; plain luck; and the...

Patriot Act Extended by Congress (updated with title change)

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. House approved an extension of the current USA Patriot Act only through February 3, 2006, not to July, as the U.S. Senate approved yesterday. The Senate approved the one-month extension tonight, and President Bush will sign it. Here...

My Challenge to Patriot Act Opponents: Show Me the Victims! (UPDATED with news)

By Andrew Cochran

As a senior counsel to a congressional committee for almost three years, I planned numerous public hearings and investigations on issues affecting the housing, accounting, securities, and financial industries and the federal government agencies charged with overseeing those industries. I...

Patriot Act Facts: There is "Judicial Oversight" and No Proven "Abuse"

By Andrew Cochran

I've said in various public fora that the USA Patriot Act is the most "slandered" and most misunderstood law in America today, and that the public understands the dreaded Internal Revenue Code better that the Patriot Act. That level of...

U.S. Treasury Department Announces Final Correspondent Banking Regs

By Andrew Cochran

Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has finalized the rules for correspondent banking accounts, in accordance with Section 312 of the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act. In February 2001, a Senate subcommittee released a landmark investigative report (Acrobat file) on the abuse...

We Regret the Loss of Service Due to Typepad's Technical Problems

By Andrew Cochran

We regret the loss of service; all Typepad blogs suffered from technical problems, beginning just after midnight Eastern time. We have resumed full operations....

New Osama Bin Laden Video Reportedly Released (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

IntelCenter, one of the groups which searches for and translates terrorists' videos, is announcing the reported release of a new Osama Bin Laden video, which would be the first such sighting in over a year. The problem is that no...

"USA Today" Story on Meth: More Support for PATRIOT Act Passage

By Andrew Cochran

On December 13, I posted my support of a provision in revised PATRIOT Act which raises penalties for meth possession. Today's "USA Today" cover story, "Meth addicts' other habit: Online theft," includes details about the use of meth profits for...

Cigarette Smuggling & Meth Possession Provisions Certainly Belong in USA PATRIOT Act

By Andrew Cochran

Yesterday, Declan McCullough, a highly respected expert on the tech industry, criticized provisions in the PATRIOT Act conference report which would increase federal prosecutions for cigarette smuggling and increase penalties for possession of methamphetamine. He termed those and several other...

Congress Continues to Voice Concern Over Saudi Oversight of Charities

By Andrew Cochran

Rep. Sue Kelly, who chairs the oversight subcommittee on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee and a special congressional task force on terrorist financing, wrote last week to President Bush with her continuing concerns over the oversight exercised by the...

Showdown Coming on USA PATRIOT Act and Expiration Is a Victory for Terrorists

By Andrew Cochran

Sixteen provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act expire at the end of this month, and Congress has been debating, drafting, and voting on the future of the provisions for months. The two top Republican lawmakers, Rep. James Sensenbrenner and Sen....

Air Marshals Kill Airline Passenger Near Plane at Miami Airport (updated 12/8)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE 12/8: ABC News reports that there was serious concern about a possible shoe bombing plot, which partially explains and justifies the air marshals' actions. Passenger shot near American Airlines plane parked at gate at Miami International after originating in...

Senate Finance Committee Continues Review of Charities for Terrorist Financing Issues

By Andrew Cochran

In December 2003, the chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Charles Grassley and Sen. Max Baucus, respectively, requested federal tax information from the IRS about a number of charities in connection with an investigation into...

Federal Jury Rejects Terrorism Case Against Sami Al-Arian & Defendants for Alleged PIJ Activities

By Andrew Cochran

The most important terrorism-related trial in the U.S. since the 9/11 attacks has concluded with the jury effectively rejecting the government's entire case against Sami Al-Arian and his co-defendants for their alleged activities on behalf of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad....

Treasury Department Releases Updated Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines for Charities

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury Department today released updated anti-terrorist financing guidelines and voluntary best practices for U.S.-based charities, and invited public comments on the guidelines. As the "Introduction" state, "Investigations have revealed terrorist abuse of charitable organizations, both in the United...

Robert Charles Joins Us As a Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We're pleased to welcome Robert Charles as a new Contributing Expert. He was quoted extensively in this week's "U.S. News & World Report" article on the use of criminal gang tactics by terrorists. Mr. Charles served as Assistant Secretary of...

Saudi TV Program Televises Terrorists' Confessions, Discusses Recruitment Techniques

By Andrew Cochran

I highlighted the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on Saudi Arabia's role in the dissemination of extremist propaganda. And this summer, I posted an interview with French filmmaker Pierre Rehov about his interviews of suicide bombers and their motivations (here is...

Update on Militants' Efforts in Kashmir & Pakistan Earthquake Zones

By Andrew Cochran

Victor Comras posted last week about the Kashmir militants' use of earthquake relief as a recruitment tool. I just heard from a U.S. government official who recently traveled to the region (and liked Victor's post) and provided this feedback:I was...

Ahmed Omar Abu Ali Convicted in Northern Virginia

By Andrew Cochran

Ahmed Omar Abu Ali was convicted today in northern Virginia of joining Al Qaeda and plotting to assassinate President Bush. We covered the case from its start, including his ties to other cases and members of the LeT terrorist group:...

Jose Padilla's New Indictment Based, in Part, on USA PATRIOT Act (updated link to indictment)

By Andrew Cochran

Alleged "dirty bomber" Jose Padilla was indicted on new charges that he conspired to "murder, kidnap and maim" people overseas, along with 4 others. The indictment links Padilla to another pre-existing indictment of an alleged terrorist cell, marking the first...

George Galloway Lauds Syria's Dictator, Hezbollah, and Iraqi Terrorists

By Andrew Cochran

British MP George Galloway is nothing if not explicit in his support for and work with terrorists and killer dictators, including taking Oil-for-Food funds from Saddam Hussein for his favorite "charity." MEMRI has caught him at it again, this time...

We Need the USA PATRIOT Act to Stop Terrorists

By Andrew Cochran

The House-Senate conference agreement on the USA PATRIOT Act is in big trouble this afternoon on Capitol Hill. Six Senators from both sides of the aisle are leading a charge against removal of some Senate-passed provisions, and a senior House...

Evan Kohlmann to Comment on Wash Post Article on Foreign Fighters in Iraq

By Andrew Cochran

Today's "Washington Post" ran a front-page article titled, "Among Insurgents in Iraq, Few Foreigners Are Found" about the detarmination that none of the terrorists captured at the battle of Tall Afar were from outside Iraq. The article cited the CSIS...

House Committee Adds Anti-Terrorist Financing Provision to Banking Bill

By Andrew Cochran

The House Financial Services Committee (where I served as senior oversight counsel from 2001 through 2003) today added an important anti-terrorist financing provision to a banking regulatory relief bill. The provision, sponsored by Rep. Sue Kelly (R-NY) and Rep. Carolyn...

Federal Terrorism Insurance Program to be Extended

By Andrew Cochran

Like the USA PATRIOT Act, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) was passed in response to the 9/11 attacks. TRIA provided a federal loan program to back up certain lines of insurance in case of catastrophic losses from additional attacks....

USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Looks Likely - But It's Not Over Yet (updated 11/17)

By Andrew Cochran

Sixteen provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act (technically an acronym for the "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism") expire at the end of 2005, and the reauthorization process appears to be grinding...

Congress to Explore Iran's Nuclear Program & Terrorism Connections

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will hold a hearing today at 3 pm ET "to examine the relationship between Iran�s pursuit of nuclear weapons and its status as a state-sponsor of terrorism." Witnesses will include...

Steven Emerson: Arrested woman bomber a "treasure trove of intelligence"

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson on NBC's "Today Show" this morning and later on MSNBC (links to videos): "(W)e are seeing a rise in the last five years- basically a two to three hundred percent rise- in the number of suicide bombers that...

Washington-area Muslim Cleric Condemns Amman Bombings, But Supports Palestinian Suicide Bombers

By Andrew Cochran

Brian Hecht of The Investigative Project has this comment on the reaction to the Amman bombings by one Washington-area Muslim cleric: This morning�s Washington Post ("Bombing Victims Mourned in D.C. Area") reports on a sermon at Dar al-Hijrah Mosque in...

Where is the OUTRAGE in the Arab Press Over the Jordan Bombings?

By Andrew Cochran

I received an e-mail from a reader in an Arab country (name & location withheld) about the initial non-coverage of the bombings in the Arab press. I quote from the e-mail (spelling out "KSA") with deep appreciation and an invitation...

Contributing Experts Media Appearances on Jordan Bombings (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson was on MSNBC, Fox and CNBC between 5 and 6 pm (Larry Kudlow) and again between 6 and 7 pm (Dan Abrams). Daveed Gartenstein-Ross was on Fox News's "Studio B with Shepard Smith" (Intelligence Summit video) and on...

Matthew Levitt to Assume Senior Treasury Department Counter Terrorism Position

By Andrew Cochran

Matthew Levitt has been appointed the deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury Department for intelligence and analysis in the Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crime, effective on Monday, November 14. Matthew turned the Terrorism Research Program at The Washington...

Steven Emerson: "One or Two" Bombers Possibly Identified; "Jordan's 9/11" Might Backfire on Al-Zarqawi (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson on NBC "Today" this morning: The Amman bombings are Jordan's 9/11. Video tapes from a hotel and the wedding party, and info from an eyewitness, enable Jordanian security to tentatively identify 1 or 2 bombers. Eyewitness spoke to...

Jordan Suicide Bombings at Hotels (updated 11/10)

By Andrew Cochran

LAST UPDATE AT 10:00 am ET on 11/10. Three near-simultaneous suicide bombings at three Western hotels in Amman with no prior warning of threat - first suicide bombings in Jordan - death toll numbers still differ on news sites -...

Steven Emerson & Anthony Cordesman Debate Saudi Arabia's Cooperation at Senate Hearing (updated for CSPAN link)

By Andrew Cochran

Today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing evolved into a debate between Steven Emerson and Nina Shea on one side, and Anthony Cordesman on the other, over the extent of the Kingdom's counterterrorism cooperation with the U.S. (or lack thereof), and the...

Prosecutor Begins Closing Arguments in Sami Al-Arian Trial

By Andrew Cochran

Brian Hecht of The Investigative Project on Terrorism has been in Tampa, FL, to cover the trial of former University of South Florida Professor Sami al-Arian and has written the following summary of the beginning of the prosecutor's closing argument...

State Department to Issue Report Critical of Saudi Government, But Won't Testify at Congressional Hearing (updated 11/8)

By Andrew Cochran

Late on Monday, the State Department informed the press that it will issue the annual report on states which restrict religious freedom tomorrow, and the report will again name Saudi Arabia as one of the eight countries of particular concern....

Lorenzo Vidino's New Book on Al-Qaeda in Europe Timely in Light of French Riots

By Andrew Cochran

The Investigative Project's Lorenzo Vidino is the author of the book, "Al-Qaeda in Europe: The New Battleground of International Jihad," to be released next week, with a foreword by Steven Emerson. Media reports, French officials (French story), and our experts...

Steven Emerson to Testify on Saudi Arabia's Role in War on Terror

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Arlen Specter, has announced the witness list for its hearing titled, "Saudi Arabia: Friend or Foe in the War on Terror?" on Tuesday, November 8, on the role of the Saudis in...

Al Qaeda-linked Cell Busted in Canada - Three Members Entered From the U.S.!! (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Any doubts about the vulnerability of the U.S. to terrorist attacks from cells in Canada or Mexico, or the persistence of Al Qaeda to attack us, should be put to rest by the disclosure by the "National Post" that the...

Senate Committee Refers Report on George Galloway to U.S. & U.K. Law Enforcement

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has referred its investigatory report on British MP George Galloway (Acrobat file) to numerous law enforcement bodies and regulatory agencies in the United States and the United Kingdom, including the Justice Department, the...

Background of Mustafa Setmarian Nasar, Possibly Captured in Pakistan (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

News reports have the Pakistanis killing one Al Qaeda suspect and capturing another, who might be Mustafa Setmarian Nasar, a.k.a. Abu Musab al-Suri, an AQ leader in Europe and suspected mastermind in the March 11, 2004 Madrid bombings. The Investigative...

New Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and Compliance Solutions Announced

By Andrew Cochran

This week, I attended one of the most important annual conferences on money laundering prevention and enforcement, at which Dennis Lormel spoke on a panel on credit card use and exploitation by terrorists. Federal financial regulators announced the issuance of...

Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing, "Saudi Arabia: Friend or Foe in the War on Terror?" on November 8

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Arlen Specter, has officially rescheduled its hearing titled, "Saudi Arabia: Friend or Foe in the War on Terror?" for Tuesday, November 8, to examine the role of Saudis in disseminating hateful anti-American...

Bombings in New Delhi Kill Dozens - Walid Phares Comments (Updated 10/30)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATED October 30 at 11:52 am ET. AP story: Near-simultaneous explosions in three locations in New Delhi Saturday night, killing at least 61 people, hours after India and Pakistan began talks on opening border in disputed Kashmir to aid earthquake...

New State Department Official on Bioterrorism, Threats from S.E. Asia & Latin America, and on Saudis (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The new State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Henry Crumpton, testified today before the terrorism subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee, chaired by Rep. Ed Royce. Mr. Crumpton has a long career in counterterrorism at the CIA and recently assumed...

Iraq Vote & Triple Bombings: The Terrorists' Strategic Failures (Updated 10/27)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE 10/27 for UK Guardian article: "This rift in the insurgency has already gone far beyond angry words. Clashes erupted between al-Qaida fighters and Iraqi mujahideen cells after al-Qaida killed a group of Iraqi insurgents who they claimed were spying...

Suspicious Package Destroyed Near U.S. Capitol - No Other Explosion (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Last update at 1:17pm ET: Suspicious package in car (rented 2005 Impala) destroyed with no other explosion after perceived threat closes immediate area west of U.S. Capitol (1st & Constitution Avenue, NW) - Capitol Police say that two men approached...

U.N. Hariri Report Doesn't Finger Assad - Walid Phares to Comment on TV

By Andrew Cochran

The special investigation begun by the U.N. Security Council, on the terrorist attack on February 14 this year that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and others, has been completed and published. The report doesn't finger Syrian President Assad...

Money Laundering: Two Bank Cases - Key PATRIOT Act Regulations Not Issued - PATRIOT Act Data System Inoperative

By Andrew Cochran

In the past week, U.S. banking regulators announced two important actions against major banks for weaknesses in anti-money laundering (AML) programs required under the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act. First, the U.S. branch of Deutsche...

New American GI Muslim Abuse Allegations - Watch the Arab Media Spin This One (updated 10/20)

By Andrew Cochran

There are allegations out of Afghanistan, made by a cameraman working for an Australian network and embedded with the 82nd Airborne, that U.S. soldiers burned the bodies of two killed Taliban fighters and then broadcast "an inflammatory message over loudspeakers...

Baltimore: Possible Tunnel Terror Threats & Arrest (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Last update at 6:10 pm ET. Threat information led to closing of Harbor Tunnel, I-895, north of Baltimore for almost 2 hours. Maryland chief homeland security official: tunnel was closed immediately upon decision to close it under plan in place...

Comment: Huge defeat for Al-Zarqawi, Al Qaeda, & the pessimists, and victory for Iraq & Pres. Bush (updated 10/16)

By Andrew Cochran

Pure opinion here: I don't see how anybody, even the most dishonest of anti-American and anti-Bush propagandists, can interpret the day's events as anything but a huge defeat for Al-Zarqawi, the other terrorists there, the Al Qaeda movement, and the...

Iraqi Terrorists' Limited Attacks Today: Precursor of Huge Wave Tomorrow?

By Andrew Cochran

Fox News reports that Iraqi terrorists launched 5 attacks on the largest Sunni political party on the day before the constitutional referendum, which is certainly the most important election in the history of the Arab lands. The Iraqi Islamic Party...

U.S. Senate Committee Announces Hearing on Saudi Terror Cooperation & King Abdullah Denounces Islamic Terrorism - Coincidence?

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has officially announced its hearing, to be held on October 25, on the subject, "Saudi Arabia: Friend or Foe in the War on Terror." Witnesses for the hearing are not yet posted in the committee's...

"Official IRA" Leader Worked With North Korea to Pass Counterfeit Dollars

By Andrew Cochran

In a story related to the theme in Doug Farah's post below, the U.S. Justice Department yesterday announced a May 19 indictment of seven men on charges of obtaining and passing counterfeit dollars which originated in North Korea. Specifically, the...

Al-Zawahiri's Letter to al-Zarqawi Confirms Importance of Abu Faraj al-Libbi, Captured in Pakistan

By Andrew Cochran

The letter from Al Qaeda's #2, Ayman al-Zawahiri, to Iraq Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi appears to confirm the importance to Al Qaeda of Abu Faraj al-Libbi, who was captured in Pakistan in May of this year. The letter...

Remember the USS Cole and the Terrorists Who Killed Our Men

By Andrew Cochran

Today is the fifth anniversary of the attack on USS Cole in the harbor at Eden, Yemen, the last small-scale warning by al Qaeda of its intention to kill Americans before the 9/11 attacks. We should pause for a moment...

Text of Letter From Ayman al-Zawahiri to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Posted on DNI Website

By Andrew Cochran

The complete text of the letter dated July 9, 2005, from Al Qaeda's #2, Ayman al-Zawahiri, to Iraq Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is now posted on the website of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (John...

Afghanistan's Progress and Unfinished Business Provide Gauges for Iraq's Future

By Andrew Cochran

Afghani political and private sector leaders are touring the U.S. to make the case that the country has turned the corner and welcomes foreign investment. The Afghan government says that more than 3,000 new investment projects have been registered in...

What Impacts Will South Asia Earthquake Have on War on Terrorism? (UPDATE 10/10)

By Andrew Cochran

We grieve for the thousands of victims of the devastating earthquakes in South Asia. We invite you to contribute to The International Committee of the Red Cross and other good charities to help throughout the region. The wellbeing of the...

Contributing Experts Discuss NY Subway Threat & President Bush's Speech

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Experts discussed the subway threat & President Bush's speech on TV last night and today: Evan Kohlmann on MSNBC's "Countdown" - Steven Emerson on Fox News's "O'Reilly Factor" and on NBC's "Today Show" this morning and on MSNBC today...

NYPD Closes Parts of Penn Station for Suspicious Substance & More on Yesterday's Threat Report - Suspect Arrested in Iraq (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Penn Station partially shut down after Amtrak found a suspicious package near the ticket counter. CNN & MSNBC cite NYPD sources: "Soapy" or "bubbly" green substance in soda can found there and sent to New York EPA for testing (MSNBC...

NY Subways on Heightened Terrorism Alert (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

LAST POST AT 6:50 pm ET. NYPD & FBI & Mayor Bloomberg press conference on heightened threat "in the coming days": Mayor Bloomberg: this is first threat of this specificity and this event isn't tied to Jewish holy days or...

U.S. Treasury Dept. Targets Egyptian Islamic Jihad Members for Terrorism Sanctions

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury Department has officially designated seven members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad terrorist group, thus prohibiting transactions by U.S. persons with them and freezing any assets which the seven might hold in the U.S. The Treasury Department press...

Today's Bombings in Indonesia: The Return of Jemaah Islamiyah? (Photos)

By Andrew Cochran

The perpetrators of today's terrorist bombings in Bali haven't been publicly identified as of this post, but the bombing took place at Kuta, the site of the October 2002 bomb attacks carried out by the al Qaeda-linked terror group Jemaah...

Advice to NYFD: Scrub Your "Islamic Society" Before Picking Your Next Muslim Chaplain

By Andrew Cochran

"The fire department's new Muslim chaplain abruptly resigned Friday after saying in a published interview that a broader conspiracy, not 19 al-Qaida hijackers, may have been responsible for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks." Well, that was a wise and honorable...

U.S. Congressional Hearing Will Analyze Status and Future of Counterterrorism Strategy

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. House International Relations Terrorism Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), will explore the status and future of US counterterrorism strategy at a hearing today. The press statement offers some of the chairman's concerns: "Some observers suggest that...

"Newsweek" Confirms Evan Kohlmann's Post: Abu Azzam Was Not Al-Zarqawi's "#2"

By Andrew Cochran

This week's "Terror Watch" column at "Newsweek" has confirmed what Evan Kohlman reported yesterday on The Counterterrorism Blog - that Abu Azzam was not truly al-Zarqawi's "#2" in Iraq. Reporters Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball dug deeper and interviewed senior...

Treasury Department's FinCEN Unit Recovering From "Cyberjacked" E-Mail System

By Andrew Cochran

We were the first site to report the "cyberjacking" last Friday of the subscriber-based e-mail service used by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which administers the Bank Secrecy Act (as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act) and shares financial intelligence...

Was Abu Azzam Really "#2" in Al-Zarqawi's Network? And How Serious Are Recent Threats to Attack France?

By Andrew Cochran

Abdullah Abu Azzam, the Al-Zarqawi lieutenant killed in Iraq on Sunday, is being labeled "the #2 Al Qaeda in Iraq" by the Pentagon and in media reports. Counterterrorism experts and students have learned, often the hard way, to never take...

Olivier Guitta Joins Us As a Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We're pleased to welcome Olivier Guitta to the CT Blog as a Contributing Expert, effective today with his post below. Olivier, born in Morocco and now living near Washington, has over a decade of experience in international banking and portfolio...

Senior U.S. Officials Criticize International Failure to Fight Terrorist Financing

By Andrew Cochran

Speaking today at a meeting sponsored by the IMF and World Bank of numerous finance ministers and treasury officials, a senior U.S. Treasury Department official criticized the international failure to stop terrorist financing. Daniel Glaser told the group of officials...

U.S. Congressman Proposes High-Tech Defense to Prevent Terrorist Infiltration

By Andrew Cochran

Rep. Rick Renzi, U.S. Congressman from the 1st District of Arizona, is proposing the deployment of high-tech equipment along the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent infiltration by terrorists. Rep. Renzi represents the largest district, geographically, in the U.S. (except for those...

U.S. Treasury Department's FinCEN E-Mail List "Cyberjacked" and Abused (UPDATED)

By Andrew Cochran

The e-mail list used by the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to send announcements was "cyberjacked" and abused by an outsider this morning. The outsider sent the following message to the FinCEN e-mail list: go away from iraq...

Saudi Official Solicits Funds on TV For Terrorists - And Nobody Cares?!

By Andrew Cochran

MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) regularly provides stunning proof of the explicit, shameless intentions of terrorists and their supporters through translations of tapes and writings. Yesterday they dropped one into our laps that ought to enrage anybody who has...

UN Security Council Adds Abdul Latif Saleh to Sanctions List

By Andrew Cochran

When the U.S. Treasury Department designated Dr. Abdul Latif Saleh, pursuant to Executive Order 13224, for providing support to bin Laden and al Qaida, Doug Farah asked whether the UN Security Council would follow suit. Thankfully, the Council's Al-Qaida and...

Senior U.S. Congressman & Russian Official Comment on Terrorist Funding Through Afghan Drugs

By Andrew Cochran

A senior member of the U.S. Congress and the director of Russia's drug enforcement agency have commented in recent days on the flow of drugs from Afghanistan that is used to finance terrorism. Rep. Henry Hyde, chairman of the U.S....

Hurricane Katrina Lessons Include Expanding Communications Platforms Before Next Terrorist Attack

By Andrew Cochran

Referring to the immediate post-Katrina response, I wrote here on September 1 that "this shows us how unprepared we are for a major urban terrorist attack." An article in Monday's "Technology Daily," which "Technology Daily" has graciously agreed to share...

Federal Banking Regulators & Gulf Coast Community Banks Face Difficult Post-Katrina Balancing Act

By Andrew Cochran

One of the fallouts from Hurricane Katrina is that small community banks along the Gulf Coast not only saw buildings destroyed, but lost their computer systems, their currency, and their clients. In the terrorism context, the community banks now face...

Power Outage in Los Angeles Not Terrrorist-Related (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

LAST UPDATE AT 5 pm ET. Large sections of LA were out of power, just a couple of days after the release of an Al Qaeda tape which threatened LA and Melbourne with terrorist attacks. The AP reports that the...

NEVER FORGET: Events & Commentaries on the Fourth Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

By Andrew Cochran

AP story: "Thousands walked Sunday in remembrance of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in tribute to U.S. troops abroad. By their presence, marchers endorsed the worldwide fight against terrorism that began after airliners slammed into the World Trade Center,...

CT Blog Experts on the 9/11 Anniversary: Four Years Later, Are We Safer? (Updated with video)

By Andrew Cochran

On Thursday, the Counterterrorism Blog held a live panel discussion titled, "Four Years Later: Are We Safer?" Rep. James Sensenbrenner, chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, gave the opening remarks, and Rep. Bennie Thompson, ranking Member of the U.S....

CT Blog Experts' Media Appearances for 9-11 Anniverary

By Andrew Cochran

The Contributing Experts of The Counterterrorism Blog will make numerous media appearances during coverage of the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Steven Emerson will appear on NBC's Today show on Saturday at 7 am ET....

Chief Architect of USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Speaks at CT Blog Panel

By Andrew Cochran

Rep. James Sensenbrenner, chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and the chief architect of the current legislation reauthorizing key sections of the USA PATRIOT Act, gave the opening remarks today at the CT Blog panel titled, " Four Years...

Discosvery Channel's "The Flight That Fought Back" Is an Outstanding Tribute to the Flight 93 Warriors

By Andrew Cochran

To commemorate the fourth anniversary this Sunday of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Discovery Channel will present "The Flight That Fought Back" at 9 pm ET. The special takes us through the timeline of United Airlines Flight 93, which...

Pentagon to Honor Families of September 11 Victims With Special Event (updated 9-9)

By Andrew Cochran

The Defense Department will honor the families of the victims of the September 11 attacks with a special "America Supports You Freedom Walk" and concert this Sunday, beginning at 10 am, near the site of the future Pentagon Memorial. The...

Walid Phares: "Katrina's Geopolitics: The Tower of Babel and America?s 'Image'"

By Andrew Cochran

Walid Phares is on travel and asked me to post the following, which is one of a series of observations he will make about the impacts of Hurricane Katrina on the counterterrorism effort: The tragedy left by the mass killer...

Steven Emerson in the Lion's Den - Debate With Islamist Radical on Al Jazeera

By Andrew Cochran

On August 23, Steven Emerson debated a U.S.-educated Jordanian author, Dr. Ibrahim Alloush, on Al Jazeera on the subject, "Who Is a Terrorist?" As I write this, I can't find the transcript on the Al Jazeera English-language site - maybe...

Two Senior Congressmen to Address CT Blog Live Panel About 9/11 Anniversary

By Andrew Cochran

We are pleased to announce our first live event to discuss the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) will give remarks at a panel discussion by the Contributing...

Who Trained Kevin James, a Prison Inmate, to Be an Radical Islamist?

By Andrew Cochran

New indictments of four individuals in California (Acrobat file of the indictment) show exactly what Daveed Gartenstein-Ross what talking about in his August 25 post, "Radical Indoctrination in U.S. Prisons." Note that the indictment says that Kevin James started his...

Katrina Victims Need Our Help and Better Information From Media and Government - And We Are Obviously NOT READY (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

To quote Michelle Malkin, "Today's the day!" We're joining with hundreds of blogs around the world to urge you to give to a number of terrific charities. We start with the American Red Cross - Doug Farah and I add...

CT Blog to Join Bloggers' Effort to Aid Hurricane Katrina Victims

By Andrew Cochran

Hurricane Katrina was the worst natural disaster ever to hit the United States. The victims need our money and prayers in abundance. So we're joining with other bloggers, organized by Glenn Reynolds, Michelle Malkin, and others, in urging our readers...

Debate Continues Here on Al Qaeda's Involvement With African Diamond Trade

By Andrew Cochran

One of my original goals for this site was to hold the definitive debate on the issue of Al Qaeda's possible involvement with the diamond trade in West Africa. The world had heard from Douglas Farah, former award-winning Washington Post...

Links Added to Buy Contributing Experts' Books & Other Changes

By Andrew Cochran

Some site changes today: I've added a new section in the left sidebar with links to other sites where you can buy books written by our Contributing Experts. I've removed the "Oil-for-Food Collection" (although I still have the files), because...

Steven Emerson on press coverage of Sami al-Arian case and impact of pre-Patriot Act "wall" on prosecutions (updated 8/24)

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson appeared on Fox News Channel's "O'Reilly Factor" on Monday night to discuss how the "St. Petersburg Times" failed to investigate Prof. Sami al-Arian's alleged activities on behalf of Palestinian Islamic Jihad at the University of South Florida during...

Steven Emerson Cites FBI: Will it Take Another Attack to Really Take the Threat Seriously?

By Andrew Cochran

We're starting the round of 4th-anniversary perspectives on the 9/11 attacks, and we'll see numerous stories about our success or failure and our will to continue. Two stories today are among many that make me wonder whether we have lost...

Jordan Missile Attacks: Al Qaeda & Hezbollah Working Together?

By Andrew Cochran

After reading the AP story on the Jordan attacks with some details of the use of Katyusha missiles by Hezbollah, I remembered that James Dunnigan reported the following on "StrategyPage.com" on August 5 (go to the continuation page): "The terrorist...

Steven Emerson to Appear in National Geographic Channel's "Inside 9/11" Special, August 21 & 22 (updated 8/20 with video segment)

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson will be appearing in the National Geographic Channel's "Inside 9/11," a four-hour mini-series event airing over two nights, on Sunday, August 21, and Monday, August 22, at 9 pm ET. National Geographic Channel describes the series as follows:...

Will Discovery of Mosul Chem Weapons Factory Reopen Debate Over Saddam's WMD? (UPDATED 8-14)

By Andrew Cochran

I know it's too early to go out on a limb, but the discovery of a chemical weapons factory in Mosul with 1,500 gallons of chemicals (updated Washington Post link, free registration) might reignite the debate over whether Saddam Hussein...

UK Paper: London Investigations Find 7/21 Cell Not Linked to 7/7 Cell

By Andrew Cochran

The UK Independent is reporting that "The suicide cell that killed 52 people on 7 July is not linked to those alleged to be behind the second London attacks on 21 July, according to the initial findings of the biggest...

Newly Released NYFD 9-11 Attack Records Remind Us: NEVER FORGET & NEVER AGAIN (updated with links to tapes)

By Andrew Cochran

The NYC Fire Department's release of thousands of pages of oral histories and emergency call logs from the September 11 attacks should remind freedom-loving people around the world of why we fight Islamic extremism worldwide, which groups and leaders constitute...

Steven Emerson on New Al Qaeda "Documentary" (updated with video)

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson discussed the new Al Qaeda "documentary" on Fox News Channel's "O'Reilly Factor" on August 10. In his opinion, the jihadists in the tape are quite clear in wanting to subjugate all of Islam to their view, and to...

The Muslim Brotherhood: What Do They Really Want To Teach American Muslim Youth?

By Andrew Cochran

Certain journalists from respected media outlets - most recently Mary Beth Sheridan of the Washington Post - continue to display a certain naivet� in reporting stories on extremist organizations who falsely profess to be mainstream moderates. Merely parroting their words...

Michael Cutler on New Intel on Four 9/11 Attackers

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post the following on this story: I am astounded at the foolishness of how our government works, or more often, fails to work! This International Herald Tribune article on the Mohammed Atta cell (a reprint...

Jeffrey Imm Joins Us as Research Editor

By Andrew Cochran

I'm very pleased that Jeffrey Imm is permanently joining us as Research Editor. Jeff has 25 years experience performing research and analysis for federal government initiatives, including 5 years as an employee with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has...

Steven Emerson on Mall Attacks and "Inevitable" Suicide Bombings in U.S.

By Andrew Cochran

On NBC's "Today" this morning, Steven Emerson reported that while "there is no specific intelligence suggesting that there is any imminent plot or even planning" for a suicide attack at a mall in the U.S., the FBI believes that "it's...

"Washington Post" Details Al Zarqawi's Use of Internet - Evan Kohlmann Featured

By Andrew Cochran

Today's "Washington Post" story, "The Web As Weapon" (free registration) is among the very best articles on the history and current use of the internet by Al Zarqawi. Evan Kohlmann has been featured as one of the premier experts on...

U.S. Complaint Against London-born Al Qaeda Suspect Unsealed

By Andrew Cochran

Aswat Haroon Rashid, a/k/a "Haroon Aswat," the London-born terrorism suspect captured in Zambia, has now been charged with providing material support to terrorism in the United States. The supporting FBI affidavit states that in 1999 and 2000, Aswat attempted to...

London 7/21 Suspect Extradited and Another Indicted - and Indication of Saudi Funding (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Two major developments in the failed London 7/21 attacks: A primary suspect in the attack, Haroon Rashid Aswad, has been extradited from Zambia to London. And one of the 7/21 suspected bombers, Yassin Hassan Omar, has become the first one...

Evan Kohlmann in "Washington Post" video on jihadists' use of internet

By Andrew Cochran

Evan Kohlmann is featured in a video about the jihadists' use oif the internet today on the Washington Post website (free registration required - it's worth it). The video accompanies an outstanding story by Puliltzer Prize-winner Steve Coll & Susan...

Al-Qaida Faction Claims Rocket Attack in Gaza Strip, Releases Video

By Andrew Cochran

A previously unknown group calling itself the "Al-Qaida-Palestine Frontier Jihad Brigades" has released a video allegedly depicting an August 1 Sajil rocket attack on Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip. According to a statement read by a masked militant, "we...

Michael Cutler on the Border Patrol agent arrested for alleged immigrant smuggling

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments on the news that a Border Patrol agent, who is now suspected of being an illegal immigrant himself, has been arrested for allegedly smuggling other illegal immigrants into the United States: Clearly...

Steven Emerson on new Al Qaeda tape & new arest

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson appeared on NBC's "Today" this morning to discuss the new tape with Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaida's No. 2, and the arrest of Mahmud Faruq Brent in New Jersey. Steve said that the tape is more of "a rallying cry"...

Walid Phares: Thawahiri Goal: 'Blame Blair for bombs'

By Andrew Cochran

Walid Phares asked me to post his comments on the Al Qaeda tape: In my two MSNBC interviews yesterday, I summarized Ayman al Thawahiri�s tapes as follows. One, he is affirming al Qaida�s world leadership of the Jihadi movement: British...

Maryland Man Arrested for Conspiring to Support Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) (updated with DOJ complaint & press release)

By Andrew Cochran

WBAL in Baltimore & AP: "Federal authorities have arrested a west Baltimore man for allegedly providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, the U.S. attorney's office in New York announced Thursday. Mahmud Faruq Brent of Gwynn Oak is accused...

Terrorist Toadies Ken Livingstone & George Galloway Strike Again

By Andrew Cochran

Following in the footsteps of Neville Chamberlain as World Champion Appeasers, London Mayor Ken Livingstone and British Member of Parliament George Galloway continue to react to the London bombings by blaming Tony Blair, blaming the U.S., and puckering up to...

Michael Cutler: "Secure Borders - In Whose Lifetime?"

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments: I read the article, "DHS touts success of anti-gang operation," with interest, because I have often made the point that each year more Americans lose their lives, either directly or indirectly as...

Bus Scare in London Over (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

On Fox News/Sky News site & MSNBC: Area around double-decker bus near King's Cross station, scene of a 7/7/ attack, was sealed off after smoke and a "suspicious package" seen. Scotland Yard has investigated and given "all clear" - no...

More London 7/21 Attack Arrests (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Updated Sky News report: Six men and one woman were taken in for questioning in Brighton by police investigating the attempted terror attack in London. The suspects were detained at residential addresses in Sussex which were raided by officers. They...

Michael Cutler: How Many British Bombers Might Have Come Here Without a Visa?

By Andrew Cochran

Mchael Cutler asked me to post the following: I came across this article that is in today's New York Times and thought you would find it to be of interest. This article brings several issues to the fore. First of...

London Update (Third Attack Possible?) And French Government Expelling Radical Clerics (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Sunday Times report: "A third Islamist terror cell is planning multiple suicide bomb attacks against Tube trains and other �soft� targets in central London, security sources have revealed." Fifth bomber arrested and identified as Wahbi Mohammed, 23, "alleged to have...

London - FIVE 7/21 Suspects in Custody (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Five 7/21 suspects in custody, with four today after one suspect, Yasin Hassan Omar, arrested yesterday in Birmingham. London Times reports that Scotland Yard "arrested the mystery 'fifth man', alleged to be Whabi Mohammad, 22, the brother of Ramzi Mohammad,...

Michael Cutler: Don't privatize federal aviation screeners

By Andrew Cochran

Micahel Cutler asked me to post the following about today's hearing of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on improving the management of federal aviation screening workforce: "Earlier this week, in preparation for a hearing that was scheduled for today...

New Arrests in 7/21 Attacks - Links to 7/7 Attack

By Andrew Cochran

Fox News: Anti-terrorist officers arrested nine men in raids early Thursday in connection with the botched July 21 attacks on London's transit system, bringing to 20 the number of people police have in custody, including one of the alleged bombers."...

U.S. Congress Examines Funding of Iraqi Terrorists with Victor Comras as Hearing Witness (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Two hearings in the U.S. Congress, one today and another tomorrow, examine how the Iraqi terrorists have been funded. Today, the joint subcommittee hearing of the U.S. House International Relations Committee reviewed Syria's siphoning of billions from the Oil-for-Food program....

Interview with Pierre Rehov, documentary filmmaker, on psychology behind suicide bombings

By Andrew Cochran

On July 15, I appeared on MSNBC's "Connected" program to discuss the 7/7 London attacks (you can see video of the segment on the linked page). One of my fellow guests was Pierre Rehov, a French filmmaker who has filmed...

7/21 London Bomber Arrested in Birmingham (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

BBC report: "Suspected bomber Yasin Hassan Omar has been arrested by police in Birmingham investigating the failed 21 July attacks in London." Sky News report: "Detectives also confirmed they have arrested Yasin Hassan Omar, suspected of being one of the...

Victor Comras to Testify at Hearing on Syria's Illegal Oil-for-Food Contracts With Saddam

By Andrew Cochran

Victor Comras will testify on Wednesday morning, July 27, before two subcommittees of the U.S. House International Relations Committee, in a hearing on Syria's role in undermining the U.N.'s Oil-for-Food program. As one of five international monitors of the U.N.'s...

U.S. Senate Severely Limits U.S. Companies From Dealing With Terrorist-Supporting States

By Andrew Cochran

By a vote of 98-0, the U.S. Senate today approved a measure proposed by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) to sharply limit U.S. companies from doing business with states that support terrorism. The measure, an amendment to the FY 2006 Defense...

Zeyno Baran on role of Bosnian war & Bill West on UK's actions against Afghan warlord

By Andrew Cochran

Zeyno Baran's op-ed in today's "Baltimore Sun" focuses on the role that the war in Bosnia played in the development of jihadist theology and terrorist cells: "The war in Bosnia, particularly the arms embargo imposed on the Muslim population while...

Walid Phares: "Al Qaida attempting to infiltrate the CIA? IS IT EVEN A QUESTION?

By Andrew Cochran

Walid Phares asked me to post the following for him: "In the July 10 issue of the LA Times, Michael Sulick wrote that "as many as 40 possible terrorists may have attempted to infiltrate U.S. intelligence agencies in recent months,...

Steven Emerson on London & Epypt Bombing Investigations (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson on NBC's "Today Show" this morning: The lack of chatter or intercepts prior to the attacks has shocked British & Egyptian intel services, both of which are very good. The intel services are concerned that future attacks are...

Omar Bakri Mohammed, "the godfather of British terrorism" (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The "Sunday Times's" Nick Fielding, a veteran and respected reporter on terrorism, has an excellent article on Omar Bakri Mohammed as the "godfather of British terrorism" - "It is becoming clear that al-Muhajiroun (ALM), the group formed by Bakri in...

Unexploded Backpacks Leading to Swift Investigation of Attackers' Links (Updated with picture)

By Andrew Cochran

As the CT Blog Experts and others predicted after the 7/21 attacks (Steven Emerson here and here and Evan Kohlmann here), the unexploded backpacks appear to be leading to a swift investigation of the links between the 7/7 and 7/21...

Terrorist Attacks at Egyptian Resort Kill Dozens As Suspects in Previous Bombing Near Trial (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik bombed by terrorists - Updated AFP story: "Al-Qaeda linked suicide car bombers unleashed a trail of carnage in Egypt's tourist-packed Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing at least 88 people, including foreign tourists." Updated...

London 7/21 Attack Stories & Columns - Arrests & Shooting (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

NOTE: Last edit to this post at 10:30 pm Eastern time. MSNBC: Two arrests, one of which is connected to 7/21 attacks. London Police release pictures of 7/21 attack suspects - see below. BBC: "Police hunting four bombing suspects have...

Four London Subway Station & Bus Explosions (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

NOTE: Last edit in this post at 10:00 pm Eastern time. Fox News: London Police confirm four explosions or "attempted explosions" with only one report of injury. Sky News has bus eyewitness accounts and reports "Chemical searches at all four...

Hizb ut-Tahrir in North America

By Andrew Cochran

Brian Hecht of The Investigative Project has conducted additional research which expands on Zeyno Baran's July 14 post about "The Guardian" newspaper's employment of a known Islamic extremist as a reporter. This information was first made public by Scott Burgess,...

Michael Cutler: German release, Virginia arrest, & Alamoudi case show dangers of Visa Waiver Program

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments on three cases and the Visa Waiver Program: Once again we have more news which illustrate just how potentially dangerous the Visa Waiver Program is. A German court decided that a German...

UK Should Not Allow Yusuf al-Qaradawi to Enter Country (UPDATED 7-19)

By Andrew Cochran

Tony Blair's government cannot have it both ways. They cannot promise to now get tough about homegrown Islamic terrorists after the attacks by proposing to ban "indirect incitement to terrorism" and then allow Yusuf al-Qaradawi to enter the UK next...

NBC's "Dateline" Examines "Blood Diamonds" With Douglas Farah & Dennis Lormel

By Andrew Cochran

Sunday's edition of NBC News's "Dateline" program is scheduled to examine the "Blood Diamonds" issue with Douglas Farah & Dennis Lormel. The program runs from 7 to 8 pm Eastern time....

Walid Phares: "Jihad Leads to Leeds"

By Andrew Cochran

Walid Phares asked me to post the following: "Back in November of 1999, I was on a trip to meet leading members of the House of Lords in London to discuss the �Jihad threat to minorities in the Middle East�...

Picture of London Bombers Released - British MI5 Misjudged Bomber's Threat

By Andrew Cochran

British authorities have released this picture of the four bombers with backpacks entering the Luton train station on the morning of the July 7 attacks: The Sunday Times is reporting, "One of the four suicide terrorists behind the London bomb...

Arrest in London Terrorism Attacks Case - El-Nashar's Leeds University Bio Here (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

The suspected bombmaker in the London attacks, Magdy Asi el-Nashar, a 33-year-old chemist, has been arrested in Cairo, and Pakistani security detained 4 suspects there. El-Nashar is a former North Carolina State University graduate student who has been teaching at...

Terrorist Financing: Emerson & Lormel Testify - US, Libya, & Saudis - Bank Secrecy Act Changes

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson and Dennis Lormel testified yesterday before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee (Acrobat files), chaired by Sen. Richard Shelby. At the hearing, Steve stated that "We are now behind the curve" in pursuing terrorist financing, and he described the...

Douglas Farah: "London and the Possible Bosnia Connection"

By Andrew Cochran

Doug Farah asked me to post the following: There is one intriguing detail in the emerging picture of the London bombings that are almost entirely overlooked: The possibility that the high-level explosives came from the Balkans. For several months, Western...

London Terrorism Investigation Heading Towards Pakistani Terrorist Camps - Just Like the Lodi Case (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Several articles about the London attacks on the Sky News website remind me of the Lodi, CA terrorism case. Of particular interest to me is the biography of 22-year-old Shehzad Tanweer, son of a native Pakistani. Sky quotes "a neighbor...

London Terrorist Attack News Stories & Columns, July 13 (UPDATED)

By Andrew Cochran

NEVER FORGET: Shahara Akther Islam, 20, from Plaistow, east London, a bank cashier who lived with her parents, and was both fully Westernised and a devout Muslim. THE TEACHER BOMBER - Sky News: "It is thought that the explosives originated...

London Terrorist Attack News Stories & Columns, July 12 (CRITICAL UPDATES)

By Andrew Cochran

(NOTE: I edited this paragraph at 4 pm Eastern time for changed or inoperative links since last update.) Scotland Yard press conference: Transcript posted on London TimesOnline website - Warrants executed today in search for info on 4 men who...

Steven Emerson on British permissiveness towards Islamic radicals & on sleeper cells in U.S.

By Andrew Cochran

In a Saturday interview on Fox News Channel's "Heartland" program with host John Kasich, Steven Emerson commented on the permissive attitude taken by British authorities towards Islamic radicals. An excerpt (emphasis mine): "KASICH: Steve, they say in Britain that the...

Zeyno Baran Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

We're pleased to announce Zeyno Baran, Director of International Security and Energy Programs at The Nixon Center in Washington, is joining us today as a Contributing Expert. Ms. Baran is an expert on Central Asian terrorism and has written important...

Contributing Experts Steven Emerson & Dennis Lormel to Testify on Terrorist Financing - List of This Week's Open Congressional Hearings

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson and Dennis Lormel will testify this Wednesday before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on money laundering and terror financing issues in the Middle East. Senior officials from the U.S. Treasury and State Departments and an expert on Islamic...

London Terrorist Attack News Stories & Columns, July 11 (UPDATED)

By Andrew Cochran

The dead and missing - names and pictures - because we should never forget Fingerprints found on London bomb materials (text & video) - "A former senior U.S. official tells NBC News that British investigators...have picked up fingerprints from the...

Michael Cutler: U.S. Visa Waiver Program Should End

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments about the Sunday Times article on Al Qaeda's recruitment in Britain: I just received this article and again I am going to raise an issue I have been raising for many years....

London Terrorist Attack News Stories & Columns, July 10

By Andrew Cochran

London has been crossroads for terror - NYT story reprinted elsewhere Islamic radicals find British haven - Knight-Ridder story on same theme Leaked No 10 dossier reveals Al-Qaeda's British recruits - "Al-Qaeda is secretly recruiting affluent, middle-class Muslims in British...

London Terrorist Attack News Stories & Columns, July 9 (UPDATED)

By Andrew Cochran

Suspects Emerge in London Bombings - "Police radically revised the timing of the deadly blasts that tore through the London Underground, saying Saturday that the bombs were detonated just seconds apart � not 26 minutes as first reported. The explosions...

Douglas Farah: "On Terror Financing, in London and Beyond"

By Andrew Cochran

Doug Farah is on travel and asked me to post his comments on the London terrorist attacks: "It has become almost conventional wisdom--pushed in part by the 9-11 Monograph on Terror Financing--that the money used by terrorists is a small...

Michael Cutler on terror-linked migrants entering U.S.

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments on the Associated Press article, "Terror-Linked Migrants Crossing Into U.S.", about the thousands smuggled into the U.S. from countries identified as state sponsors or supporters of terrorism: The biggest challenge we face...

London Terrorist Attack News Stories, July 8 (UPDATED)

By Andrew Cochran

Links to news on the London terrorist attacks (updated with thanks to Jeffrey Imm): Hunt for missing as London toll rises Subway bombs said triggered by timers Small, crude bombs likely behind London blasts An 'inevitable' attack surprises just the...

Wall Street Journal: British Seek Moroccan Man in London Attack Investigation

By Andrew Cochran

The Wall Street Journal reports that the British are seeking a Moroccan man, Mohamed Guerbouzi, in connection with the attacks. Text: "A Brussels-based European police official said British police have asked their European counterparts for information on a Moroccan man,...

Contributing Experts in the Media on London Attacks

By Andrew Cochran

I'm posting the Contributing Experts' planned media appearances for tonight and tomorrow in the "Media, Events, & Hearings" box in the left sidebar as they tell me. Many of them are doing over 20 appearances or interviews today alone, so...

Michael Cutler on London Attacks and Our Lack of Immigration Enforcement

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his full comments: A lack of jail space plus a lack of special agents to enforce the critical immigration laws from within the interior of the United States are enabling aliens from virtually every...

Steven Emerson on MSNBC on London Attacks (UPDATED)

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson appeared on MSNBC this morning (full trasnscript now available) to discuss the London terrorist bombings and asked me to post the highlights: "Increasingly it's looking as a British intelligence official told me this morning not more than an...

Multiple Terrorist Bombings in London (July 7, UPDATED during day)

By Andrew Cochran

ABC News now reports that British officials told U.S. law enforcement that they found 2 unexploded bombs in London. Iran, Syria, Hamas, and Hezbollah all condemn the attacks. London evening rush hour ends with no problems. Four separate bombs on...

Remembering Brave Men and Women Fighting Terrorists on July 4th

By Andrew Cochran

President Bush used his weekly radio address to thank people serving in the armed forces, the people who are "taking the fight to the terrorists overseas." The president asked U.S. citizens find a way to thank fellow citizens in the...

Alleged Video from Terror Leader al-Zarqawi

By Andrew Cochran

Jihadist web sites have posted a showing attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces, allegedly narrated by terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. News reports indicate that the 46-minute video opens with old footage of bin Laden, then shows suicide attacks against...

GAO: Homeland Security - Actions Needed to Better Protect National Icons and Federal Buildings from Terrorism

By Andrew Cochran

GAO has issued Report Number GAO-05-790 regarding the need to improve protection of monuments and federal buildings at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05790.pdf The report addresses: The Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, Hoover Dam Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Mt. Rushmore,...

Jeffrey Imm Joins Us As Visiting Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

Jeffrey Imm of United States Action is joining us as a Visiting Contributing Expert to help me to manage news links. His site is an excellent source for up-to-the minute news links, and we really appreciate the collaboration....

Contributing Expert Matthew Levitt Testifies at Sami Al-Arian Trial

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Expert Matthew Levitt testified yesterday at the Sami Al-Arian trial in Tampa, on the concept of "economic jihad" that he discussed here on June 16. Matthew also identified several founders of PIJ, including Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, a former Tampa...

Walid Phares: "Lebanese Elections: The Bottom Line" (UPDATED 6-21)

By Andrew Cochran

Walid Phares asked me to post his assessment of the Lebanese elections: By sheer numbers, the assessment first: Lebanese Parliament has 128 seats, half Muslims, half Christians. (1) A Coalition of pro-Saudi Sunni Saadeddine Hariri, anti-American Druse Walid Jumblat, and...

Light Schedule of Congressional Hearings (UPDATED)

By Andrew Cochran

A very light schedule for open terrorism-related hearings this week in the U.S. Congress (Word file), with the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee discussing nuclear material detection technology and an Oil-for-Food hearing at the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee....

U.S. Marines Find Iraqis Tortured by Terrorists: WHERE ARE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, SENIOR DEMOCRATS, AND OTHER MEDIA ELITE (and what about Larry Johnson?)

By Andrew Cochran

Well, what a big surprise - U.S. Marines have uncovered one of the Iraqi terrorists' torture chambers in Iraq, and the terrorists forgot to conduct their usual cleanup before leaving - they left the surviving prisoners there. The New York...

CT Blog Added to "Intelligence, Homeland Security & Counter-Terrorism WebRing"

By Andrew Cochran

We really appreciate the invitation today to join the Intelligence, Homeland Security & Counter-Terrorism WebRing, which his hosted by IntelligenceSummit.org and led by top terrorism expert and Fox News terrorism consultant John Loftus. The IHSCT WebRing site is now in...

What Spain's Arrests of Al Zarqawi Associates and Madrid Bombing Suspects Portend for Europe & U.S.

By Andrew Cochran

Walid Phares and I discussed the arrests of 11 Al Zarqawi associates and 5 Madrid bombing suspects yesterday on MSNBC - you can read the interview transcript and see the video on the MSNBC site. The stories on the Spanish...

Michael Cutler on The Madness of the "Catch & Release" Program

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post the following comments: I spoke with the reporter who wrote this story in the San Diego Union-Tribune last week and thought I would share it with you. He interviewed me in preparation for this...

Bill West on Deporting Terrorist Suspects: "Al Qaeda and Al Capone"

By Andrew Cochran

In a column in FrontPage Magazine today, Bill West defends the use of immigration law to rid the U.S. of those suspected of terrorists, and Bill reminds us that it was on an income tax evasion charge that mobster Al...

Light Week for Congressional Terrorism-Related Hearings - U.N. Reform Act Scheduled for U.S. House Floor Action

By Andrew Cochran

With the U.S. House scheduled to act on several appropriations bills and possibly the "Henry J. Hyde United Nations Reform Act" (Acrobat file), it's a light week for open terrorism-related hearings (Word file). The House and Senate homeland security committees...

Michael Cutler on Lodi arrests: Another Case of Immigration Violations

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments on the case: Here is another article about the arrest of two men in Lodi, California (a father and son) on criminal charges and two other men, religious leaders who are citizens...

More Media Appearances Today by Contributing Experts

By Andrew Cochran

The expanding California case, the Sami Al-Arian trial, and the normal pace of events are keeping us busy again today. Walid Phares was on Fox News and ABC Radio this morning; Evan Kohlmann is quoted in this week's "Terror Watch"...

Contributing Experts on TV Today About New Al Qaeda Arrests, Sami Al-Arian Case (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Many of us will be on TV today to discuss the new California case, the Sami Al-Arian case, and other matters. I was on MSNBC at 1:45; Walid Phares was on Fox News at 3:40; Matthew Levitt is taping an...

Steven Emerson on the Sami Al-Arian case: "Islamic Jihad on Trial"

By Andrew Cochran

Steven Emerson, with terrorism analysts Brian Hecht and Tally Aharony of The Investigative Project on Terrorism, are covering the Sami Al-Arian trial and prepared the following report for The Counterterrorism Blog: The widely anticipated trial against former USF professor Sami...

British MP George Galloway is an apologist for Islamic terrorists and a liar (UPDATED 6/8)

By Andrew Cochran

British MP George Galloway, who had the media elite eating out of his hand when he barked at Sen. Norm Coleman's last Oil-for-Food hearing, appeared on Al Jazeera on June 1 and let it fly. Fortunately, the good people of...

Michael Cutler on Islam's growth south of the border as potential terrorist breeding ground

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post the following comments for him: I received this news article from an old friend, former colleague, and fellow Contributing Expert, Bill West. As you may know, "Der Spiegel," the source for the linked article,...

Sami Al-Arian's Defense Targets Contributing Expert Matthew Levitt (UPDATED with defense motion)

By Andrew Cochran

The defense in the upcoming terrorism trial of Sami Al-Arian has filed a motion to block the testimony of Contributing Expert Matthew Levitt (downloadable Acrobat file), thus indicating (to me, at least) their deep concern over the impact of Matthew's...

Congressional Schedule This Week: May 11 Washington Evacuation Incident Among Topics

By Andrew Cochran

This week's schedule of terrorism-related hearings in the U.S. Congress (downloadable Word file) includes a review of the evacuation of White House and Congress on May 11, as reported here as it occurred, as a result of a private pilot's...

Victor Comras's op-ed in Washington Post: "Following Terrorists' Money"

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Expert Victor Comras's op-ed in today's Washington Post, "Following Terrorists' Money," (free registration required) points out that the lack of long-term success in stopping terrorist financing is due, in part, because "Turning intelligence into actionable evidence for civil designation...

USA Patriot Act Applied to Regulate Jewelers and Dealers, Recognizing Diamonds-Terrorism Link

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN") has issued interim final rules to force "dealers in precious metals, stones, and jewels" (large Acrobat file) to establish anti-money laundering programs, pursuant to the Patriot Act and the Bank Secrecy...

Fox News: The UN Unjustly Fired Joseph Stephanides

By Andrew Cochran

Fox News has researched the charges that led to the UN's firing of Joseph Stephanides (the only person fired thus far in the OFF scandal) and found them wanting. Fox News reporters reviewed documentary evidence that Stephanides had acted on...

Al Zarqawi death rumor (FINAL UPDATE 6-4)

By Andrew Cochran

Bill Roggio tells me that the AKI (Adnkronos International) site reports that AZ is dead. I had just finished a MSNBC interview, and they have picked that up but won't run it without more solid info. As I posted below,...

Newsweek's Reminder: Al Qaeda Financier Had Ties to Saddam Hussein

By Andrew Cochran

As Doug Farah and Victor Comras discussed yesterday, the Al Taqwa organization was heavily involved in funding Al Qaeda and other Islamic extremist groups. Newsweek's story on the Al Taqwa case discusses ties between Youssef Nada, founder and head of...

U.S. Financial Regulator Announces Bank Secrecy Act Agreement With States - But What About the Cops and Prosecutors?

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN") has announced a series of agreements with state banking agencies to improve the sharing of Bank Secrecy Act information (Acrobat file). This continues a process begun with a January 10 letter...

Michael Cutler: Stop the Companies Which Conduct Business With Terrorist-Supporting States

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments on the Bloomberg article about foreign companies which maintain operations in countries named by the U.S. as supporters of terrorism: Yesterday "Deep Throat" came out of the shadows and was revealed to...

Steven Emerson Predicts More Al Qaeda Arrests in U.S. and Discusses "Second Wave" of Al Qaeda in U.S. With Walid Phares

By Andrew Cochran

In an interview this morning on the Fox News Channel about the arrests of the two Al Qaeda sympathizers, Contributing Expert Steven Emerson said that "there are a lot more people like this unfortunately within the militant Islamic community than...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

"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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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....

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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,...

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: "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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Contributing Expert Michael Cutler to Testify & List of Congressional Hearings

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler will testify at a U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing on May 5 on the missions of the immigration enforcement agencies at the Homeland Security Department. Here is the list of terrorism-related open hearings (downloadable Word file) in the...

Dr. Walid Phares Joins Us As Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

I am very pleased to welcome Dr. Walid Phares, highly respected for his expertise on terrorism, Jihad movements, and the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, to The Counterterrorism Blog as a Contributing Expert. Dr. Phares is a professor at Florida Atlantic...

Testimony by Contributing Experts on Islamic Extremism in Europe

By Andrew Cochran

Matthew Levitt and the Investigative Project's Lorenzo Vidino testified yesterday before a U.S. House International Relations subcommittee on Islamic extremism in Europe. Matthew Levitt testified about the "crossover" between al-Qaeda and Hamas oepratives. Muhammad Zouaydi, a senior al-Qaeda financier in...

Michael Cutler on Washington Times article: More Special Agents Needed to Stop Terrorists' Entry

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments about a "Washington Times" article today. First, an excerpt from the story: "The Homeland Security Department's inspector general is investigating an incident involving 14 Syrian passengers aboard a flight from Detroit to...

Financial Regulators Release Bank Secrecy Act Guidance to Money Service Businesses

By Andrew Cochran

FinCEN and the federal banking agencies (FBAs) at the Federal Reserve System, the FDIC, the National Credit Union Administration, the OCC, and the Office of Thrift Supervision today issued interpretive guidance setting forth the minimum steps that banking organizations should...

Treasury Department Designates Victor Bout Arms Network

By Andrew Cochran

"The U.S. Department of the Treasury today identified 30 companies and four individuals linked to Viktor Bout, an international arms dealer and war profiteer. Today's action took place pursuant to Executive Order 13348, which targets family members and associates of...

Congresswoman: Saudi Prince's Visit Should Include Commitments on Terrorism

By Andrew Cochran

Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is visiting President Bush's ranch in Texas at a sensitive time. A former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia says that the Saudis have assisted the U.S. in Lebanon, increased oil production at crucial times,...

Doug Farah in today's Washington Post on Charles Taylor: "A Protected Friend of Terrorism"

By Andrew Cochran

Today's Washington Post (free registration) includes an op-ed by Contributing Expert Doug Farah on the inaction by the Bush Administration against Charles Taylor, the former dictator of Liberia and indicted war criminal whom Doug also describes as "an abettor of...

This Week in Congress: Matthew Levitt & Lorenzo Vidino Testify on Islamic Extremism in Europe

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Experts Matthew Levitt and Lorenzo Vidino will testify this week at a House International Relations Committee hearing on Islamic extremism in Europe. This week's open terrorism-related hearings in the U.S. Congress (downloadable Word file) include numerous USA Patriot Act...

U.S. Shuts Off "Dirty" Latvian Banks & Regulators Issue Important Bank Secrecy Act Letter

By Andrew Cochran

The Treasury Department and other federal financial regulators effectively shut off access to the U.S. financial system for two banks in Latvia today. By applying Section 311 of the USA Patriot Act, called "the smart bomb of terrorist financing" by...

Larry Johnson: "The Demise of Counterterrorism" (UPDATED for wire story)

By Andrew Cochran

Larry Johnson, currently on travel, asked me to post this update on the terrorism report controversy, with information about terrorism in Kashmir and a recommendation for the top State Department counterterrorism job: The recent furor generated by the State Department's...

R.P. Eddy: "Look for Nuclear Weapons in the RDD Haystack"

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Expert R.P. Eddy, former senior U.N. and N.S.C. counterterrorism official, asked me to post this for him: From a story by Bill Gertz in yesterday's Washington Times: Recurrent intelligence reports say al Qaeda terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi has obtained...

Larry Johnson's Update: "State Department Punts on Terrorism"

By Andrew Cochran

Larry Johnson asked me to post the following update to his April 14 scoop while he is on travel (links are mine): To the uninformed listener State Department spokesmen Richard Boucher offered a rational explanantion for why statistics on international...

Fallout Continues From Larry Johnson's CT Blog Scoop on State Department Report

By Andrew Cochran

Last Thursday night, Larry Johnson posted his scoop on the elimination of the publicly available statistics in the annual "Patterns of Global Terrorism" and the rise in the number of reportable terrorist incidents from 2003 to 2004. Yesterday's State Department...

This Week in Congress: List of Open Hearings

By Andrew Cochran

HERE is a single downloadable Word file of this week's terrorism-related hearings in the U.S. Congress which are open to the public. They include several hearings on the USA PATRIOT Act and an expected vote by the U.S. Senate Foreign...

Text of New Indictments in Oil-for-Food Scandal (UPDATE, 4/15)

By Andrew Cochran

HERE is the indictment of David Chalmers, Texan who runs Bayoil, and the company itself; John Irving, the British citizen; and Ludmil Dionissiev, the Bulgarian citizen. HERE is the indictment of Tongsun Park, a South Korean also indicted for acting...

"Real ID Act" Effectively Blocked in U.S. Senate

By Andrew Cochran

In March, the U.S. House of Representatives attached the "REAL ID Act" legislation, designed to address the 9/11 Commssion's "terrorist travel" findings, to the bill providing $80+ billion in supplemental war and counterterrorism funds. House Majority Leader DeLay insists that...

Change in Bank Secrecy Act Prosecutions of Banks?

By Andrew Cochran

Last year, a U.S. Attorney in Mississippi stunned the financial services sector by criminally prosecuting AmSouth Corp. for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act without a prior regulatory action by the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve System. AmSouth settled the...

Treasury Designates Al-Zarqawi Financier

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Treasury Department just announced the designation of Bilal Mansur Al-Hiyari for providing financial support to the al-Zarqawi network in Iraq. Al-Hiyari became acquainted with al-Zarqawi in 1989 when they met in Afghanistan. "According to information available to the...

Reader rebuts Associated Press story about Senators' disclosure of CIA agent's name

By Andrew Cochran

Received this from faithful reader Matthew Nolan: "The story on the right hand bar regarding Kerry and Lugar blowing the cover of a CIA agent is garbage. A simple Google search reveals this... Mr. Armstrong works for the Directorate of...

Will New Indictment Lead DHS to Include Banks on "Hit List?"

By Andrew Cochran

Today's indictment of 3 men for allegedly plotting to bomb American financial institutions might have been a big surprise to the Homeland Security Department. Two weeks ago, Justin Rood at Congressional Quarterly reported that DHS had excluded banks and other...

Terrorism-Related Congressional Hearings This Week

By Andrew Cochran

Here are the open terrorism-related hearings in the U.S. Congress this week, with several rescheduled from last week. I've added links to several key hearings, including one on the search-and-wiretap authority under Section 218 of the USA Patriot Act, in...

Plan to access banking records sure to spark Congressional review (UPDATED 4-10)

By Andrew Cochran

Today's New York Times story (registration required - see other story here) on the Bush Administration's possible plans to seek access to international banking records will surely spark many phone calls and visits to Capitol Hill. The plan was authorized...

Want a Truly Fair & Balanced Debate on the Patriot Act?

By Andrew Cochran

I understand and appreciate that there can be honest and dignified disagreements on the provisions of the USA Patriot Act - I was a counsel on one of the congressional committees involved in drafting it - but there are a...

Congressional Schedule Changing

By Andrew Cochran

If you downloaded the schedule of this week's hearings in the U.S. Congress, you can now start crossing off those on Thursday. Many Congressmen are looking for flights to Rome to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II, or...

Introducing New Contributing Expert R.P. Eddy

By Andrew Cochran

We are very pleased to welcome R.P. Eddy as our newest Contributing Expert. Mr. Eddy has served in several senior positions with the U.S. government, including Director of Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council; Chief of Staff to...

U.S. Congress This Week: Hearing Schedule (UPDATED)

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Congress returns this week and holds numerous terrorism-related hearings, including the first on the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act. Here is a Microsoft Word file of the scheduled hearings which are open to the public, and several...

Introducing New Contributing Expert Zachary Abuza

By Andrew Cochran

We are pleased to welcome our newest Contributing Expert, Zachary Abuza. Dr. Abuza is currently a Senior Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace and Associate Professor of Political Science at Simmons College, Boston. Dr. Abuza specializes in Southeast...

More Attention to Terrorists at Sea

By Andrew Cochran

Much more attention is being given in the press now to the possibility of terrorists using or pirating ships for either smuggling and transportation, or as actual attack vehicles. Newsweek has an article about it in this week's edition. James...

Introducing New Contributing Expert Michael Chandler

By Andrew Cochran

We are very pleased to welcome our first European-based Contributing Expert, Michael Chandler. Mr. Chandler was the Chairman of the U.N.'s Al Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Monitoring Group, where he worked with Victor Comras, until early 2004, and he was...

Michael Cutler on CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight"

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Expert Michael Cutler will appear tonight on CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight," which airs from 6 to 7 p.m. Eastern time, to discuss the summit between President Bush, Mexican President Vicente Fox, and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, and the...

Iraqis Arrest Suspects in March 9 Al-Sadeer Hotel Bombing

By Andrew Cochran

The government of Iraq has released a press release announcing the arrest of suspects in a March 9 suicide truck bombing attack in Baghdad. Though Al-Qaida has claimed that the attack was aimed at the Al-Sadeer Hotel (host to...

Alleged Terrorist's Lawyers Target Contributing Expert Evan Kohlmann (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

In a bizarre 25-page motion filed yesterday in federal court, the lawyers for accused terrorist Ali Al-Timimi seek to keep the government from using Contributing Expert Evan Kohlmann as an expert witness. Al-Timimi is alleged to have induced and assisted...

Contributing Expert, Former U.N. Insider, Issues Wake-Up Call

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. government should not spend one more dime on the United Nations without listening to Victor Comras. Yesterday, before the U.S. House terrorism subcommittee chaired by Rep. Ed Royce, he recounted the poor performance of the United Nations in...

No Anthrax Anywhere - anybody remember "Young Frankenstein?"

By Andrew Cochran

So much for this story...a mistake at a DOD lab resulted in false positives at two DOD facilities, and tests at the Washington V Street postal facility are all negative. Someone at the DOD lab confused a sample of actual...

Washington Anthrax story - continous updates

By Andrew Cochran

As of 18:30 today: More than 70 more tests in and around the Pentagon have failed to turn up any evidence of anthrax contamination since the initial positive test March 14, DoD?s top doctor said today. A Washington Postal Service...

Anthrax at Pentagon/other buildings (updated)?

By Andrew Cochran

Substance at Pentagon mail facility initially tests positive for anthrax. UPDATE, 3/15, 11:00 - Second set of tests on the Pentagon's mail facility (actually located in an adjacent building) were negative, but more testing will be done. Also, a sensor...

This Week in Congress: Victor Comras Testifies & This Week's Hearings

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Expert Victor Comras will testify on the U.N.'s role in the fight against terrorism on March 17 before the House International Relations Terrorism Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Ed Royce. Here is the complete list of this week's open terrorism-related...

U.S. Senators' Letter on Saudi Violations of Religious Freedom & Extremist Teachings

By Andrew Cochran

Fifteen Senators of both parties, led by Sens. Susan Collins and Charles Schumer, sent a letter today to Sec. of State Rice about Saudi Arabia's violations of religious freedom and the continued export of extremist teachings from Saudi Arabia. The...

Michael Cutler's testimonies on immigration issues this week

By Andrew Cochran

Contributing Expert Michael Cutler, a Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies and a former senior immigration agent testified twice this week on immigration issues. On March 9, he testified before the House Homeland Security Oversight Subcommittee that the U.S....

Hearing on Russia-Syria Alliance: Syria's History of Terrorism

By Andrew Cochran

In the wake of the Hezbollah-driven pro-Syrian march in Lebanon this week, it was important that the U.S. Helsinki Commission, which is co-chaired by Sen. Sam Brownback and Rep. Chris Smith, quickly put together an outstanding hearing yesterday on the...

Syria Tumult: Potential Boon for Terrorist Financing Investigators

By Andrew Cochran

The partial or complete withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon, and the stress on their alliances in the region, should present a golden opportunity for counterterrorism investigators to see how Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas manage their finances. If those...

Steven Emerson to Testify at Helsinki Commission Russia-Syria Hearing

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Helsinki Commission will hold a hearing on March 9, from 1 to 3 pm, in 226 Dirksen Senate Office building, on the Russian-Syrian connection and threats to democracy in the Middle East and the greater OSCE region. Helsinki...

This Week in Congress: Contributing Expert Testifies & List of All Hearings

By Andrew Cochran

Another busy week of terrorism-related hearings this week in the U.S. Congress. Contributing Expert Michael Cutler is testifying at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on March 9 on the potential reorganization of the Homeland Security Department, and at a...

New U.S. State Department Narcotics Report

By Andrew Cochran

Wire service stories over the weekend are referring to a new State Department report on drug production in Afghanistan and continuing money laundering through numerous countries, including the U.S. That report is the annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which...

Congressional Testimony & Two Library Additions

By Andrew Cochran

Here is the testimony of Lorenzo Vidino, Deputy Director of Steven Emerson's Investigative Project and a contributor to this blog, before a U.S. House subcommittee hearing on March 3 on terrorism in Algeria. Here is the statement by the subcommittee...

Congressional Hezbollah Bill and Hearing on Algerian Terrorism

By Andrew Cochran

The House International Relations Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation, chaired by Rep. Ed Royce, will meet at 2:00 pm on Thursday, March 3, to discuss and then pass a bill urging the European Union to add Hezbollah to the...

Kudos from Congress & Our Thanks

By Andrew Cochran

We're coming up on our two-month anniversary. We appreciate the many complimentary e-mails we receive from around the world, but one received this morning was most encouraging, and testifies to the incisive insights provided by the Contributing Experts. I started...

This Week in Congress: Multiple Hearings

By Andrew Cochran

This is the busiest week so far this year for Congressional hearings on terrorist-related subjects, including the first round of important hearings on proposed budgets for fiscal year 2006, which starts on October 1. I'll post several of the most...

Steven Emerson Interview: Militant Islam Misleads and Endangers Europe, U.S.

By Andrew Cochran

In November, Investigative Project Executive Director Steven Emerson spent a week in Berlin as the guest of the American Academy and gave briefings to German policy and government officials. Mr. Emerson was interviewed by the German newspaper "Die Welt" about...

Arab Bank Hit by Federal Regulator, But Will Bombing Victims Get Any Justice?

By Andrew Cochran

The Arab Bank, which is the subject of lawsuits over its role as a conduit for terrorists' funds used to kill Americans and Israelis, has been hit with an order by the Treasury Department's OCC, forcing it to cease most...

More Border Failures: MS-13 Leader Arrested Numerous Times in U.S.

By Andrew Cochran

It's a good thing that the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing on the Border Patrol's funding for next Thursday - the failures continue to mount. Yesterday we linked to a story on the arrest of Ebert Anibal Rivera,...

Justice Department's Newest Abu Ali Filing

By Andrew Cochran

HERE is the Justice Department's filing yesterday in the Abu Ali case, a motion for the court to detain Abu Ali without bond "on the grounds that he presents an exceptionally grave danger to the community and a serious risk...

Recent Additions: Good Sites and Documents

By Andrew Cochran

Dak Bangla is a very good site for news on terrorism in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other parts of South Asia. Northeast Intelligence Network and Terrorism Unveiled have supplied terrific news items and ideas for this blog. Dutch Report has all...

Defendant Ahmed Omar Abu Ali: Some Interesting Details

By Andrew Cochran

A December 16, 2004 decision by U.S. District Court Judge John Bates includes some interesting facts about Abu Ali: He is apparently associated with the "Virginia paintball" case, in which two men, Randall Royer and Ibrahim al-Hamdi were convicted for...

Bush Assassination Plot by al Qaeda suspect? UPDATE: Indictment Link

By Andrew Cochran

Fox News: American citizen who had been detained in Saudi Arabia as suspected terrorist charged Tuesday with conspiring to assassinate President Bush and with supporting the Al Qaeda terrorist network. Ahmed Omar Abu Ali made initial appearance in U.S. District...

Border "Minutemen" - The Sure Sign of Failure

By Andrew Cochran

Up to 500 volunteers are signing up to for something called the "Minutemen Project" to patrol a 40-mile stretch of the Arizona broder. These are ordinary citizens, organized by a decorated Vietnam vet, who are sick and tired of seeing...

Links to Today's Congressional Hearings and Testimony

By Andrew Cochran

A multitude of hearings in the U.S. Congress today: Senate Intelligence Committee with CIA Director Goss, FBI Director Mueller, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Vice Adm. Jacoby; House Armed Services Committee with Defense Secretary Rumsfeld; House Financial Services Oversight Subcommittee...

Two Contributing Experts Testify This Week

By Andrew Cochran

Matthew Levitt will testify on Wednesday at a House International Relations Committee hearing on Iran's 25-year record of state-sponsored terrorism. Douglas Farah will also testify that day, at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on terrorist responses to improved U.S....

Introducing Michael Kraft, New Contributing Expert

By Andrew Cochran

Some words about Michael Kraft, our newest Contributing Expert: He's a former senior advisor in the State Department's Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, where he worked on drafting provisions of the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act and...

Question for Senate's Oil-for-Food Hearing: What Concessions Did Kofi Annan Make to Saddam?

By Andrew Cochran

In an interview on British TV broadcast today, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said that the U.N. made concessions to Saddam Hussein to start the OFF program, because the Iraqi people needed the food, and Saddam was hesitant. To quote...

"Patriot Debates": FABULOUS new site on USA Patriot Act

By Andrew Cochran

I've found a terrific new site for a series of discussions and debates on the USA Patriot Act. It's Patriot Debates, a blog hosted by Stewart Baker, an attorney with major experience and accomplishments in the legalities of the counterterrorism...

FATF Removes Three Asian Countries From Blacklist, Welcomes China as Observer

By Andrew Cochran

The Financial Action Task Force, the international body established by the G7 which tests and certifies countries' anti-money laundering programs, has announced that it removed the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Cook Islands from its list of Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories....

Saudis: Claiming Success Against Terrorism, But a Dubious Appointment Raises Doubts

By Andrew Cochran

As I commented when posting a news link yesterday, with the Saudis, it's always one or two steps forward and one or two back. Yes, they have changed some practices with respect to charities, but not all. They promised to...

First Clarke Memo to Rice on Al Qaeda Released

By Andrew Cochran

The National Security Archive has released the January 25, 2001 memo from Richard Clarke to Condi Rice on the al Qaeda network and the need for a comprehensive strategy. The Archive has also released one Clinton-era memo on al Qaeda...

Oil-for-Food: Hearing Testimony, "List of 270," and Saddam's Assassin

By Andrew Cochran

Fox News has an excellent summary of the House International Relations oversight hearing on the Volcker report. The hearing statements and testimony can be found here (linked in the "OFF Collection" on the left sidebar). The subcommittee will issue subpoenas...

Oil-for-Food EXCLUSIVE: Text of New Congressional Letter to Kofi Annan

By Andrew Cochran

Today the House International Relations Committee expanded the OFF investigation to include other management practices at the U.N. The committee chairman, Rep. Henry Hyde, and the oversight subcommittee chairman, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, sent a letter - available here - that...

Michael Cutler's testimony on proposed budget postponed

By Andrew Cochran

EDIT: The House hearing at which Michael Cutler would testify on the Border Patrol budget has been postponed to a later date....

Kuwait PM's warning of Gulf terrorist attacks

By Andrew Cochran

A new wire story quoting the Kuwaiti Prime Minister's warning of al Qaeda attacks across the Gulf reminds me of a good EagleSpeak post on February 2 on the collective intel on that possibility, citing several sources....

Riggs Sale to PNC is...well, alive again (Update 2/10)

By Andrew Cochran

I've posted here and here that the sale of Riggs Bank to PNC in Pittsburgh could be jeopardized due to its fine and guilty plea for violations of anti-money laundering laws. Riggs called it off after PNC dropped the price,...

NEW: "Oil-for-Food Collection" Available

By Andrew Cochran

I've begun collecting important Oil-for-Food documents and stories into a single area in the left sidebar. It includes either the full text or links to the Volcker interim report, the U.N. internal audit reports, key Congressional committee hearing content, the...

Top House Committee Chairman: U.N. possibly "damaged beyond repair"

By Andrew Cochran

Rep. Henry Hyde, Chairman of the House International Relations Committee and one of the leaders in the Congressional investigations, has issued a statement saying that the revelations point towards a judgment that "the UN is damaged beyond repair." He also...

Full Text of Volcker Interim OFF Report and Comparison of Estimates

By Andrew Cochran

You can download the full text of the report here, and a comparison of four estimates of illicit income from the OFF sales here, which was also developed by the Volcker Commission. More as events develop....

Congressional Reax to Volcker WSJ Op-Ed: Yawn

By Andrew Cochran

Mr. Volcker defends his interim report in an op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal (sorry, subscribers only). But a Congressional source involved in OFF investigations describes it to me as "picking his words very carefully" and is not impressed. Congressional...

EXCLUSIVE: Background checks for Somali refugees or not?

By Andrew Cochran

MUST ATTRIBUTE: The State Department convened a high-level meeting of multiple agencies last week to discuss immigration policy for Somali refugees. The Justice Department, FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security Departments, and possibly other agencies, were present to debate whether such...

Another Riggs Bank Shoe Drops

By Andrew Cochran

Banco de Chile, the second largest bank in that country, has agreed to close all accounts of former dictator Augusto Pinochet and his attorney, and to institute a more rigorous Bank Secrecy Act compliance program, similar to what Riggs Bank...

New Contributing Expert: Victor Comras

By Andrew Cochran

I am pleased to announce that Victor Comras, Esq., is joining the blog as a Contributing Expert. Mr. Comras led the U.S. State Department's foreign policy trade control and sanctions programs for nearly a decade, and he developed the international...

Web Site Claims American GI Hostage in Iraq, Threatens Beheading (UPDATED: No Soldiers Missing)

By Andrew Cochran

(AP) - Iraqi militants claimed in a Web site posting Tuesday to have taken an American soldier hostage and threatened to behead him in 72 hours unless the Americans release Iraqi prisoners. Updated AP story names www.ansarnet.ws as the site.Reuters:...

Oil-for-Food: Iraqis "Out" Benon Sevan and Volcker Wants to Question Vincent (UPDATE: Kojo Annan Implicated)

By Andrew Cochran

The Financial Times has just reported that Iraqi officials have told Paul Volcker's U.N. inquiry staff that Benon Sevan, who ran the program, personally intervened to steer lucrative oil contracts to Africa Middle East Petroleum (AMEP), a Swiss-based oil trading...

U.S. District Court Judge: Guantanamo Tribunals Unconstitutional

By Andrew Cochran

U.S. District Court Judge Joyce Hens Green has ruled this morning that the military tribunals used to against most of the Gitmo Bay prisoners are illegal, and the prisoners are entitled to constitutional protections. Story here, the memorandum decision is...

Stingy Border Agent Budget Proposal

By Andrew Cochran

In a post on January 25, I said that the Administration's budget proposals for homeland security would have to reach a certain credibility level on the Hill, and that the first reports on the proposed budget for southern border agents...

Riggs Plea Aftermath: British Ops Sale and PNC Trouble

By Andrew Cochran

The effects of the guilty plea entered by Riggs Bank for violating the Bank Secrecy Act continue. The British branch of Israeli-based Bank Leumi is buying Rigg's UK assets and loan portfolio in London and the Jersey Isles for $37...

Photo of the Day: Iraqi Election

By Andrew Cochran

On CNN website - AP photo:...

One Great Site: StrategyPage.com

By Andrew Cochran

In the past two weeks, I've discovered StrategyPage.com, a great site for lots of military and special ops tidbits, hosted by leading military expert James Dunnigan. They post paragraphs almost daily on some aspect of the war against terrorists worldwide...

U.S. Embassy Baghdad Blast - Updated (again) for More Arrest News

By Andrew Cochran

US Embassy in Baghdad hit by rocket: 2 dead, others wounded ay U.S. Embassy. UPDATE 1, January 30: U.S. forces on Saturday captured seven suspected insurgents believed to be behind an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that killed...

Oil-for-Food: BNP Paribas has problems

By Andrew Cochran

As brave Iraqis make the transition to democracy, investigators continue to pursue the $20+ billion that Saddam Hussein stole from them through the U.N. Oil-for-Food program. Here is one unclassified summary prepared by a congressional committee of the deficiencies in...

New Report on Saudi-Sponsored Anti-American Propaganda INSIDE the U.S.

By Andrew Cochran

Freedom House�s Center for Religious Freedom released a new report today exposing the dissemination of hate propaganda in America by the government of Saudi Arabia. Here is the press release with highlights, and you can download the actual report here....

Riggs sale in trouble? (UPDATE: Maybe not)

By Andrew Cochran

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the sale of Riggs to PNC might be in jeopardy after Riggs's guilty plea yesterday. Maybe it's a negotiating ploy to lower the price, and maybe the end of Riggs won't be as...

Positive Changes at Key U.S. House Committee

By Andrew Cochran

Rep. Henry Hyde, Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, has announced major changes that, in my opinion, will result in a very forceful role on counterterrorism issues, beyond the current position as the leading House committee in the Oil-for-Food...

Dear Readers: Thanks and Invitation

By Andrew Cochran

We completed our third week yesterday. On behalf of the Contributing Experts, I want to thank the thousands of visitors to the site from around the world, especially other experts and analysts. Thanks also for your compliments, comments, and even...

Riggs Bank, the Arthur Andersen of banking

By Andrew Cochran

It has finally come to this: Riggs Bank, which used to advertise itself as "the most important bank in the most important city in the world," is finally about to plead guilty to a criminal count of violating the Bank...

Is there meat (real money) on the bone (Bush Administration plans)? (Updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Two items in this week's news that are the subject of some discussion and recent concern on the Hill: DHS Secretary Ridge admitted that the 2,000 new border agents authorized in the intel reform act won't be fully funded, and...

Treasury Designates al-Zarqawi & al Qaida Financier - Involved in Jordan Chemical Bomb Plot

By Andrew Cochran

The Treasury Department announced that they designated Sulayman Khalid Darwish, Syrian financier of the al-Zarqawi network and al Qaida, as a terrorist, and will send his name to the U.N. for further action by other countries. Jordan sought his extradition...

Malkin Exclusive on plane forced down in Texas

By Andrew Cochran

Michelle Malkin has exclusive details on the plane involving three Arab flight students tracked by the FBI. BIG kudos to Michelle....

Reminder: Saddam Used Oil-for-Food $$ for Suicide Bombers (Chart of Payments)

By Andrew Cochran

When U.S. Senators debate and vote this week on the confirmation of Dr. Rice to be Secretary of State, they should keep in mind that one clear "collaborative relationship" that Saddam Hussein had with terrorists was through the Oil-for-Food program....

Wash Post story on Pentagon intel unit (Update 1/24)

By Andrew Cochran

The networks and newswires are trumpeting today's Washington Post story (free subscription needed) on a "secret" Pentagon intel unit. Here is the Defense Department press release response (no subscription needed), which denies some of the basic points of the story....

Oil-for-Food: Second UN official paid by Saddam?

By Andrew Cochran

London Telegraph: Samir Vincent, who pleaded guilty to 4 counts inconnestion with his role in assisting Saddam, claims "that a UN official, who has not yet been named publicly, received cash payments from iraq in 1996." It is a second...

FBI press release on Boston-Chinese suspects (UPDATED 1/25)

By Andrew Cochran

Here is the FBI press release on their detainment of one of the Chinese nationals named in previous stories. She has been in custody since last November 11 and appears to have entered the country for "economic reasons." They remain...

Al Qaeda intent on attacking shipping?

By Andrew Cochran

There have been various reports since 2001 about al Qaeda's possible acquisitions of ships, and possible attacks against ships in choke points to disrupt commerce. There's an excellent post on this subject, with fresh news, at the EagleSpeak blog....

Mullah Omar, still blabbing away

By Andrew Cochran

Here's a report that Mullah Omar is urging his followers towards jihad, not talks with the U.S. His "spokesman" faxed a one-page handwritten note to Pakistani press today. Guess someone needs to show him the good news on the success...

Boston Update: A Tunnel near San Diego? Or Just Payback Time (update)?

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE, January 21: The mysterious caller who started all this might have revenge on his mind. And the Chinese nationals aren't on anybody's watch list. Here's the latest from the San Diego Union-Tribune, January 21, about the tunnel story and...

Arrests for suspected terrorist ties

By Andrew Cochran

Four people have been arrested and 12 others blocked from entering in first two weeks of 2005 for suspected terrorist ties. The AP story cites a DHS report that appeared on an online site. Also, I updated the original Boston...

Oil-for-Food Charges and Press Release

By Andrew Cochran

Here is a really good copy of the DOJ charges against Samir Vincent for his role in the Oil-for-Food scandal, and here is the DOJ press release on the case, both thanks to a congressional counsel involved in the OFF...

First Oil-for-Food charges & convictions

By Andrew Cochran

Samir Vincent, American involved in drafting OFF program and identified in the Duelfer report, pleaded guilty to 4 counts in federal court today. Allegedly received $3-5 million from Saddam....

Catholic Archbishop Freed in Iraq

By Andrew Cochran

Good news to start the day...

Reporters worked for Saddam and Arafat - but the Media Elite ignored it

By Andrew Cochran

First, the Washington press corps became exorcised about the news that a conservative columnist was secretly paid by the Bush Administration to promote its education policy. Next came the news that one or more liberal bloggers who just happened to...

The NIC report on terrorism in Iraq

By Andrew Cochran

The National Intelligence Council's "2020 Project" report, available in full here, is sparking the debate on whether the Iraq war "created" some breeding ground for terrorists that supposedly didn't exist before the war. Stephen Hayes of The Weekly Standard has...

US military ops in Iran? (update 3)

By Andrew Cochran

New provocative AFP wire report now linked in our news column - refers to this story in new issue of New Yorker magazine (link now available). MONDAY UPDATE: Pentagon issues severe criticism of story....

Two referrals

By Andrew Cochran

The Diplomad and Little Green Footballs are definitely worth reviewing for news about foreign affairs and terrorism, and I've added links to each. Diplomad is run by career Foreign Service officers, which makes for interesting insights into tsunami aid discussions...

New Stories of Interest

By Andrew Cochran

I've just posted many new links to stories from around the world, from the US to the Indian press and various sources in between. From the case of alleged PIJ leader Prof. Sami al-Arian, to continued terrorist attacks in the...

National Intelligence Council "2020 Project" Report

By Andrew Cochran

I've saved the direct link to the new National Intelligence Council (NIC) report in the "Counterterrorism Library" to the left (6.7 MB), and added a link to the NIC's website to the "Centers & Websites" to the right....

Bomb threats close British Embassy in Jakarta (updated)

By Andrew Cochran

Wire Report: INDONESIAN police today mobilised bomb squads and anti-terror personnel after reported threats of a possible attack near the British and Thai embassies in Jakarta. Britain said today they had closed their embassy following the threat, which reportedly said...

Robert Spencer column

By Andrew Cochran

Robert Spencer's column defending Steve Emerson includes important information about Steve's record that I think is important to policymakers and serious students. EDIT: Thanks to TypePad for your quick response (as always) to the blog problem. We're back....

Podhoretz on WWIV (again)

By Andrew Cochran

One of the more incisive pieces in the past few years on the current conflict was "World War IV" by Norman Podhoretz, released last September. He has now followed that up with "The War Against World War IV."...

Michael Cutler's piece and Treasury Announcement

By Andrew Cochran

As if on cue (no, we didn't time it), the Treasury Department has announced that it identified 15 companies and 24 individuals associated with a money laundering cell of the Arellano Felix Organization (AFO), a violent drug trafficking ring operating...

Banking Associations Seek "Clarity" & "Consistency"

By Andrew Cochran

I hope you read Dennis Lormel's and Douglas Farah's posts on terrorist financing trends. From a different perspective: On January 10, the American Bankers Association and all state banking associations, plus Puerto Rico's, co-signed a letter to the heads of...

Interesting Israeli Intel Site

By Andrew Cochran

One of my goals here is to provide a list of good websites and centers from which to obtain reliable and timely information on counterterrorism cases and analysis. A couple of the experts here suggested that I take a look...

DHS - Michael Chertoff

By Andrew Cochran

CNN and others reporting federal appeals court Judge Michael Chertoff for DHS Secretary, announcement at 10 am. Chertoff has had an interesting career as a respected lawyer, recently mixing the legal and political. He served as special counsel for the...

U.S. Embassy in Kuwait Issues Warning

By Andrew Cochran

The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait has issued a warning "because it has received credible information that an individual or individuals moving about Kuwait in a black colored small sedan intend to randomly attack Westerners." Thanks to IntelCenter.com for this one....

All OFF Audit Reports Now Available

By Andrew Cochran

The reports can be individually downloaded from here. They also released a 36-page "Briefing Paper," and you can download it here. So much for exclusivity......

Three Oil-for-Food Audit Reports Here

By Andrew Cochran

I've obtained three of the actual OFF audit reports, thanks to a Congressional counsel involved in the investigations (see link to the AP story on the audit reports on our right sidebar). Fox News released another audit report back in...

DNI & DHS Buzz

By Andrew Cochran

John Lehman has always been near or at the top of the short list, but there seemed to be an increase about him in the buzz at week's end. On Tom Ridge's replacement, however, I had two sources who should...

Translation: Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI) Threatens U.S. Homeland

By Andrew Cochran

Globalterroralert.com (1/7/05): The Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI) has issued a new communiqu� dated Jan. 2 warning, "do you know that the percentage of people who agree on attacking America in her own homeland has greatly increased? Those who were...