Official Denies Reports U.S. Is Holding Iranian General

March 8, 2007 -- IRANIAN GENERAL'S DISAPPEARANCE

Official Denies Reports U.S. Is Holding Iranian General

Contradicting news accounts that a former top Iranian military official was in the custody of the United States or one of its allies, a senior U.S. official told ABC News today the United States doesn't know where he is. (ABC News)

Former Iranian Defense Official Talks to Western Intelligence

A former Iranian deputy defense minister who once commanded the Revolutionary Guard has left his country and is cooperating with Western intelligence agencies, providing information on Hezbollah and Iran's ties to the organization, according to a senior U.S. official. (Washington Post)

U.S.

Update: Hearing Highlights Vet Tracking Woes

The Department of Veterans Affairs scrapped an early effort to track returning war casualties because it was too expensive to implement, a senior official confirmed today before a congressional panel.(ABC News)

Homeland Security Revives Supersnoop

Homeland Security officials are testing a supersnoop computer system that sifts through personal information on U.S. citizens to detect possible terrorist attacks, prompting concerns from lawmakers who have called for investigations. (Washington Times)

The Wages of Fear

The alleged plot to behead New York's police commissioner and bomb NYPD headquarters, however implausible, suggests the dangers of copycat terrorism. (Newsweek)

Ex-Sailor Gets Terror Charge

A former Navy sailor is accused of supporting terrorism by disclosing secret information about the location of Navy ships and the best ways to attack them. (AP)

IRAQ

House Democrats To Unveil Iraq War Plan

In a direct challenge to President Bush, House Democrats are advancing legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the fall of next year. (AP)

U.S.: Iraqi Insurgent Attacks Intensify

Military force alone is "not sufficient" to end the violence in Iraq and political talks must eventually include some militant groups now opposing the U.S.-backed government, the new commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said Thursday. (AP)

INTERNET SCAM RING

Exclusive: Confessions of an Internet Scammer

The U.S. operative for a Nigerian Internet scam ring has turned on his one-time colleagues, providing new details of who they are and how they work, for a report to broadcast on 20/20 this Friday.(ABC News)

RUSSIAN POISONING

Mother, Daughter Return To L.A. After Being Poisoned In Moscow

A physician and her adult daughter returned to Los Angeles Wednesday after being poisoned during a trip to Moscow, the latest in a string of Russian poisoning cases that have sparked international intrigue. (LA Times)

IRAN

IAEA Governors Ratify Cuts In Nuclear Aid To Iran

U.N. nuclear agency governors on Thursday ratified cuts in technical aid to Iran over concern that Tehran might be trying to build nuclear bombs under cover of a civilian atomic energy program, diplomats said. (Reuters)

ISRAEL

PM Says Decided On Response To Abductions Months Before War

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Winograd Commission that his decision to respond to the abduction of soldiers with a broad military operation was made as early as March 2006, four months before last summer's Lebanon war broke out. (AP)

Syrian to testify before Knesset foreign affairs panel on secret peace talks

United States-based Syrian businessman Abe Soliman, who represented the Syrian position in the "Swiss channel" secret talks on a peace agreement with Israel, will testify before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on April 12 in order to update lawmakers on the discussions. (Haaretz)

MADRID BOMBINGS

Madrid Suspect Returned To Spain

A man charged with recruiting Madrid train bombers has been extradited to Spain, Scotland Yard said. (BBC)

EUROPE

EU Leaders Face Climate Challenge

European leaders are expected to commit their countries to tough new emissions targets at a European Union summit focused on tackling global warming. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will chair the summit, says Europe must lead the fight against climate change. (BBC)

JAPAN

Japan To Probe WWII Brothels

Under intense pressure from Asia and the United States, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that ruling party lawmakers will conduct a fresh investigation into the Japanese military's alleged forced sexual slavery of women during World War II. (Time)

JAPAN/NORTH KOREA

Japan, North Korea Agree To Restart Stalled Talks

Japan and North Korea agreed to reopen bilateral talks aimed at normalizing diplomatic ties on Thursday after a Wednesday afternoon session was abruptly canceled. (AP)

CHINA

China Denies It Is Threat To World Energy Security

Chinese officials on Thursday went out of their ways to counter allegations that the country was a threat to the world's energy security in view of its relentless attempts to capture oil and gas assets across the globe. (Times of India)

ITALY

Italy Vote Backs Afghan Funding

Italy's lower house has voted to extend funds for Italian peacekeepers in Afghanistan, an issue over which PM Romano Prodi initially resigned. (BBC)

ANALYSIS & OPINION

Elections In Turkey: 3 Scenarios To Help Define Future Policy

With Turkey having entered election year, it is only a matter of time before speculation turns to the likely consequences for foreign policy of the possible outcomes. (Daily Star)

'What Has Happened To Dick Cheney?'

Is the vice president losing his influence, or perhaps his mind? That question, even if it is phrased more delicately, is creeping through foreign ministries and presidential offices abroad and has become a factor in the Bush administration's relations with the world. (Washington Post)

Mideast's New Tower Of Babel

The very scope of the upcoming international conference in Baghdad, and the number of parties interested in the Iraq imbroglio, spell trouble.(Japan Times)

Denying Rights in Nigeria

A poisonous piece of legislation is quickly making its way through the Nigerian National Assembly. Billed as an anti-gay-marriage act, it is a far-reaching assault on basic rights of association, assembly and expression. (NY Times)

The Insider Daily Investigative Report (DIR) is a summary of major news articles and broadcasts relating to investigative news, including international terrorism and developments in Iraq. The DIR is edited daily from foreign and U.S. sources by Chris Isham, Hoda Osman and Elizabeth Sprague of the ABC News Investigative Unit. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ABCNEWS.