SubscribeTaking 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)
Israel launches new satellite to spy on Iran
January 21, 2008
“Israel today launched a powerful spy satellite to keep watch on Iran, its main threat in the region.
The TecSar satellite has an advanced radar system that should allow Israeli intelligence officials to gather material at night and in cloudy weather, a capacity beyond current Israeli satellites.” (Guardian)
Iran defiant after Israeli missile test
January 17, 2008
“Israel tested a missile on Thursday, prompting Iran to vow retaliation if the Jewish state carried out recent veiled threats to launch strikes, possibly atomic, against Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
Israel is widely assumed to have nuclear warheads and missiles able to hit Iran. It gave no details of the trial. A defense official said it was “not just flexing its muscles”, three days after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledged to consider “all options” to prevent Iran building nuclear weapons.” (Reuters)
U.S. Embassy limits staff movement after Beirut bomb
January 16, 2008
“The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon restricted its staff movements and urged Americans to avoid popular areas, a day after a bomb damaged a U.S. diplomatic car and killed three people in a Christian suburb north of Beirut.
The bomb blast coincided with President George W. Bush’s weeklong tour to the Middle East and came amid political conflict in Lebanon between the U.S.-backed governing coalition and the Damascus-backed opposition.” (Reuters)
