SubscribeEU Plans Biometric Border Checks
February 13, 2008
“It is a very 21st century conundrum: how can modern, open democracies provide basic homeland security in a world with nearly limitless mobility? On Wednesday, the European Commission tried to answer that by unveiling a border management plan calling for fingerprinting all foreign visitors to the European Union.
E.U. Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said the electronic register scheme — which could be in place by 2015 — was needed to protect the E.U.’s external borders now that travelers can cross national boundaries without checks between the 25 E.U. countries that are part of the border-free ‘Schengen’ zone. (E.U. members Ireland and the U.K. aren’t in the zone, which does include non-members Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.)” (Time)
Spain sees growing terrorist threat
February 11, 2008
“As the terrorism suspects congregated in the largely Pakistani neighborhood here over the past few months, they were joined by a young man who called himself Asim. He had come from the Pakistani borderlands where Al Qaeda’s leadership is said to have regrouped.
The suspects, he later told Spanish investigators, envisioned a wave of spectacular attacks: Coordinated suicide bombings would start in Barcelona’s vast subway system and then sweep through Portugal, Germany, France, and Britain if certain demands were not met.” (Boston Globe)
Taliban, Al-Qaida Threaten Pakistan
February 6, 2008
“Military and political analysts in Pakistan are expressing growing concern that al-Qaida and Taliban-linked insurgents are now emerging from their traditional strongholds along the border with Afghanistan and are becoming a serious threat to the entire country. The number of terrorist attacks in populated areas is skyrocketing and analysts say government efforts to stem the violence are not working.” (Voice of America)
Taking North Korea Off the U.S. Terrorism List
February 5, 2008
“For more than two decades, it has been branded a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States. Now, however, North Korea has reason to hope it can get itself off that list of designated pariahs—a label that brings international ostracism and broad U.S. economic sanctions that inhibit business contacts with other countries.” (US News & World Report)
Libyans advance in Al Qaeda network
February 5, 2008
“The death of Abu Laith al Libi, a Libyan Al Qaeda chief, has cast a spotlight on the rise of Libyan militants in a network dominated by Egyptians and Saudis, Western anti-terrorism investigators say.
Al Libi was killed last week in an American missile strike on a hide-out in Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan, officials say. In addition to overseeing a paramilitary campaign in Afghanistan, Al Libi had become a top figure in a propaganda barrage on the Internet, according to experts.” (LA Times)
U.S. officials: CIA kills top al Qaeda terrorist in Pakistan
January 31, 2008
“Abu Laith al-Libi, a wanted al Qaeda terrorist, was killed in Pakistan by a CIA airstrike, three U.S. officials told CNN Thursday.
Al-Libi was described as a senior al Qaeda leader believed to have plotted and executed attacks against U.S. and coalition forces, including a February 2007 bombing at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan during a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney.” (CNN)
Pakistan says its nuclear weapons are secure
January 27, 2008
“Facing mounting international concern over how Pakistan safeguards its nuclear arsenal, military officials Saturday insisted that their system was fail-safe and that the weapons would never fall into the hands of extremists.
Retired Lt. Gen. Khalid Kidwai said his nation’s nuclear security apparatus is “second to none,” with a strictly controlled military chain of command, checks and balances, and monitoring of scientists and others with sensitive knowledge.” (LA Times)
Beirut blast kills anti-terror chief
January 25, 2008
“An explosion in Beirut has killed four people, including Lebanon’s top anti-terror investigating officer, sources with the Lebanese Internal Security Forces and a government minister told CNN.” (CNN)
Iran vows to follow nuclear path despite sanctions
January 24, 2008
“Iranian leaders vowed on Wednesday to press on with Tehran’s disputed nuclear work regardless of any new U.N. sanctions, one day after world powers agreed the outline of a new resolution.
“The Iranian nation has chosen its path and will continue with it,” President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the student news agency ISNA.” (Reuters)
Musharraf: Pakistan Isn’t Hunting Osama
January 22, 2008
“Pervez Musharraf says he still gets the question a lot: When will Osama bin Laden and his top deputy be caught? The Pakistani president insists it’s more important for his 100,000 troops on the Afghan border to root out the Taliban than search for al-Qaida leaders.
That bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri are still at large “doesn’t mean much,” the former general said Tuesday on the second day of a swing through Europe. He suggested they are far less a threat to his regime than Taliban-linked militants entrenched in Pakistan’s west.” (AP)
