JTAC National News Feed

WTC site will be open again to families this 9/11 (AP)

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:17 GMT

AP - Sept. 11 victims' families will be allowed to return to ground zero to mourn their loved ones on the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks, officials said Friday.

Chertoff: US helped Mexico detect drug submarine (AP)

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:57 GMT

AP - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday that U.S. intelligence led Mexican forces to a small submarine captured this week packed with 5.8 tons of cocaine.

Tunisia convicts, sentences 5 in terrorism case (AP)

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:14 GMT

AP - Two government officials have been convicted and sentenced to prison in connection with an alleged plot to carry out terror attacks and overthrow the Tunisian government, according to their lawyer and court documents.

China issues anti-terror guide for Olympic games (AP)

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:12 GMT

AP - Remain calm, don't fight back and try to send a text message to the police. That's how Chinese police have advised people to respond if captured by terrorists during next month's Olympic Games, the official Xinhua News Agency said Friday.

Saudi inter-faith conference urges global anti-terrorism pact (AFP)

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:48 GMT

AFP - Representatives of the world's great monotheistic religions Friday called for an international agreement to combat terrorism, at the end of a landmark Saudi-organised conference.

An Uncertain Deal with India

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:20 GMT

After months of deadlock, the U.S.-India nuclear deal has moved to the next stage, but numerous obstacles to the deal's passage remain.

Israel arrests 6 men over al-Qaida links (AP)

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:56 GMT

AP - Israeli investigators have arrested six men suspected of trying to set up an al-Qaida-linked terror network, including one who wanted to shoot down President Bush's helicopter, the Shin Bet security service said Friday.

Changing Tack on Iran, Unstable Pakistan, and the Pope in Australia

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:39 GMT

In Friday's roundup: Washington's change of tack on Iran; instability in Pakistan; and the Pope's visit to Australia.

China anti-terror manual to enlist Beijing residents (Reuters)

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:37 GMT

Reuters - Having deployed surface-to-air missiles, readied a 100,000-strong anti-terrorism force and instituted a series of security checkpoints, Beijing is adding Chinese residents as another layer in its shield to protect Olympics venues against possible attack.

U.S. antiterror funds sought for "comfort" pods: Post (Reuters)

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:53 GMT

Reuters - Top U.S. Air Force officials sought to spend millions of dollars in counterterrorism funds on "comfort capsules" for military planes used by senior officers and civilian leaders, The Washington Post reported on Friday.

Pope calls on religions to unite against terrorism (Reuters)

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:27 GMT

Reuters - Pope Benedict called for all religions to unite against terrorism and resolve conflicts peacefully on Friday and heard an Islamic leader urge Christians to overcome "misconceptions and prejudices" of Muslims.

Ashcroft Testifies on Interrogation Policy

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:00 GMT

Former attorney general John D. Ashcroft defended his approach to forestalling terrorist attacks but told lawmakers yesterday that he moved quickly to respond to concerns that some Justice Department memos employed shoddy reasoning.

In Obama Fundraising, Signs of a Shift From Online to In-Person

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:00 GMT

Sen. Barack Obama reversed a three-month fundraising slide by raising $52 million in June, a monthly total that has been surpassed only by his own performance in February in the history of presidential campaigns, aides announced yesterday.

Terrorism Funds May Let Brass Fly in Style

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:00 GMT

The Air Force's top leadership sought for three years to spend counterterrorism funds on "comfort capsules" to be installed on military planes that ferry senior officers and civilian leaders around the world, with at least four top generals involved in design details such as the color of the caps...

Ashcroft: 'Not hard' to reject interrogation memos (AP)

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:27 GMT

AP - Former Attorney General John Ashcroft on Thursday disavowed the now-defunct legal reasoning used to justify harshly questioning terrorism suspects, but dug in his heels to defend White House officials who pressured him while he was hospitalized four years ago to approve terror surveillance programs.

European terrorists entering US is a top concern (AP)

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:38 GMT

AP - European terrorists are trying to enter the United States with European Union passports, and there is no guarantee officials will catch them every time, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday.

Judge clears way for first Guantanamo Bay trial (AP)

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:14 GMT

AP - The U.S. can begin trying Osama bin Laden's former driver next week at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, a federal judge ruled Thursday, rejecting the defendant's plea to halt the historic first trial in the military system set up following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

The Candidates on Cuba Policy

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:05 GMT

With longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro fading from the political scene, the next U.S. president will likely need to adjust policy toward the Caribbean island nation.

Al-Qaida draws more foreign recruits to Afghan war (AP)

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:38 GMT

AP - Afghanistan has been drawing a fresh influx of jihadi fighters from Turkey, Central Asia, Chechnya and the Middle East, one more sign that al-Qaida is regrouping on what is fast becoming the most active front of the war on terror groups.

The World Next Week: July 18, 2008

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:35 GMT

A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org and The Economist.