The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report
Dec. 19 -- Arab news channel Al Jazeera broadcast an audio tape today containing a statement from who appears to be Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al Zawahiri. In the statement, Zawahiri speaks of the second anniversary of the battle at Tora Bora and on Iraq, saying that governments who supported the war there should "be ready to face the consequences and pay the bill."
Plus, authorities are evaluating a surge of information related to possible terrorist threats to a number of cities in the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C, ABCNEWS has learned. The information was received through communication intercepts. U.S. officials are currently evaluating this information and will determine how to respond within the next few days.
And in legal developments — two U.S. appellate court rulings yesterday may have an impact on future judicial proceedings in the war on terror.One of the rulings by the 9th circuit court of appeals limited the U.S. government's authority to detain a prisoner as an enemy combatant. And in a separate case, the 2nd circuit court of appeals ruled that Guantanamo detainees should be allowed access to U.S. courts. President Bush had assigned terror suspect Jose Padilla the status of enemy combatant in June 2002, after he was arrested in Chicago as part of an alleged plot to detonate a radioactive "dirty bomb."
THE WAR ON TERROR
INVESTIGATIONS, THREATS & ARRESTS
Al Qaeda Leader Calls U.S. Soldiers 'Cowards'Al Qaeda number two Ayman al Zawahri has called American soldiers cowards "with no faith in their leaders". (Al Jazeera)
United States
Terror Threat
U.S. intel evaluating credible info; threat to several cities. (ABCNEWS)
U.S. Says Catching Bin Laden DifficultU.S. officials say catching Osama Bin Laden much more difficult Than catching Saddam Hussein. (AP)
Freeh Links Iran to Khobar Bombing Former FBI director Louis Freeh testified yesterday that he believed there was "overwhelming evidence" that senior Iranian government officials financed and directed the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia. (Washington Post)
Tapes Show Abuse of 9/11 Detainees Videos show post-9/11 treatment by guards at N.Y. facility. (Washington Post)
Terrorism Drills Showed Lack of Preparedness, Report SaysA classified Bush administration report has found that the largest counterterrorism exercise conducted by the federal government since the Sept. 11 attacks was marred by communications problems, serious shortages of medical supplies and hospital rooms and confusion over where the residue of a radiological attack would spread, administration officials said on Thursday. (NY Times)
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