The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report
Feb. 9, 2004 -- — A letter seized in a raid on a known al Qaeda safe house in Baghdad reveals a proposal by an operative in Iraq urging followers to wage a "sectarian war" there in the next few months, the New York Times reported today. The Times, which obtained the document on Sunday, states that officials have confirmed the identity of the author, whom they believe to be Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a long sought-after Jordanian wanted for his involvement with al Qaeda and its offshoot group, Ansar al Islam. A Coalition Provisional Authority intelligence source has confirmed this story and the accuracy of the quotes from the letter attributed to Zarqawi to ABCNEWS.
THE WAR IN IRAQ
U.S. Says Files Seek Qaeda Aid in Iraq Conflict
U.S. officials have obtained a proposal that they conclude was written by an operative in Iraq to senior leaders of al Qaeda, asking for help to wage a "sectarian war." (NY Times)
ABCNEWS' Analysis of the Seized LetterThe discovery of the documents provides a significant insight into the current role of al Qaeda in insurgency in Iraq. Zarqawi claims credit for "overseeing, planning, preparing" all the suicide operations in Iraq. It is clear that Zarqawi is frustrated that these attacks have not been more effective in evicting Coalition troops from Iraq or weakening U.S. resolve to stabilize the country. He is also obviously disturbed with the lack of enthusiasm among Iraqi Sunnis for the jihad. He cites difficulties in recruiting Iraqis for suicide operations and their reluctance to provide safe houses to the mujaheddin. The solution Zarqawi is proposing to the al Qaeda's inner circle is that they adopt a dramatic shift in strategy and attack Shiites with the goal of provoking a sectarian war and awakening the "sleepy Sunnis" and prolonging the conflict. In effect the writer is arguing that if the insurgents do not alter course soon and provoke all-out sectarian war, the extremists will be suffocated and democracy will become entrenched. (ABCNEWS Investigative Unit)
Bush Concedes Flaws in Iraq Weapons Data
The president stands by his decision to go to war, calling Hussein a 'madman' who posed 'a grave and gathering threat' to the U.S. (LA Times)
Bush Sets Narrow Limits On Inquiry
President Bush has established a narrow charge for his new independent commission on U.S. intelligence capabilities, directing the panel to focus on flawed prewar intelligence assessments of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and other nations. (Chicago Tribune)
U.S. Disables Rockets Aimed at Iraq City
U.S. disables rockets aimed toward city North of Baghdad; four arrested with manuals on bombs. (AP)
Found $300M Could Be Saddam's Money
The United States believes it has found at least $300 million Saddam Hussein hid in banks, yet doesn't have enough evidence to get countries such as Syria and Switzerland to hand over the money, U.S. and European officials told The Associated Press. (AP)
Baghdad Leaders Reveal That Coup Plot Duped MI6
Julie Flint explains how rumors of Saddam's overthrow caused British intelligence to miss vital information about Iraq's weapons program. (The Observer)
Iraqis, U.N. Discuss Elections
U.N. experts met with Iraqi leaders for the first time Sunday to discuss the chances of holding early elections. (Washington Post)
Coalition Gains Insight Into Iraq's Foreign Insurgents
The young Saudi drifted about the lawless Iraqi-Syrian border in the chaotic aftermath of the fall of Saddam Hussein, seeking a place where he could channel his urge for holy war. (LA Times)
Ansar Al Islam Member Arrested, Says Kurdish Source
A member of Ansar Al Islam's legislative and religious edicts committee, Ali Warzir Wali Ali Abdel Rahman, has been arrested, a Kurdish security source told Al Hayat newspaper. Members of this committee are believed to be the most senior leaders of the group. Abdel Rahman was allegedly headed to the Sunni triangle to participate in operations against the coalition forces. (Al Hayat)
Iraqi Militias Resisting U.S. Pressure to Disband
Several of the biggest political parties in Iraq say they are determined to keep their well-armed militias despite American opposition to the idea. (NY Times)
Japanese Troops Begin Their Controversial Mission in Iraq
The first contingent of Japan's main army deployment to Iraq arrived at its camp Sunday to take part in Tokyo's most controversial and risky military mission since World War II. (LA Times)
Document For Sale In Iraq Contains Names of Kuwaitis Involved with Saddam
A document found in the official Iraqi records containing the names of more than 60 Kuwaitis who were involved with the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is offered for sale for $100 thousand, according to a source in the Iraqi National Congress, reports Asharq Al Awsat. (Asharq Al Awsat)
THE WAR ON TERROR
REGIONAL THREATRegional Terrorist Groups Pose Growing Threat, Experts WarnThe landscape of the terrorist threat has shifted, many intelligence officials around the world say, with more than a dozen regional militant Islamic groups showing signs of growing strength and broader ambitions, even as the operational power of Al Qaeda appears diminished. (NY Times)
INVESTIGATIONS
Arab Newspaper Says Al Qaeda Has Ukrainian Nukes
A pan-Arab newspaper said Sunday that the al Qaeda organization led by Osama bin Laden bought tactical nuclear weapons from Ukraine in 1998 and is storing them in safe places for possible use. (Reuters)
Terrorist Bid to Build Bombs in Mid-Flight
Intelligence reveals dry runs of new threat to blow up airliners. (The Observer)
United States
Nearing Bin Laden?New intel in the bin Laden hunt. (Time)
Bush Won't Commit to Interview with 9/11 Panel
President Bush would not commit on Sunday to being questioned by the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. (Reuters)
Ireland
Security Fear As Al Qaeda Suspect is Held in Belfast
An MI6 tip-off after a four-month manhunt led to the arrest of a cleaner from the Philippines in Belfast, it was revealed yesterday. (The Observer)
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Defends Yemen Border 'Screen' Plans
Saudi Arabia said on Monday it was building a security "screen" on its southern border with Yemen aimed at curbing the flow of militants and weapons, but rejected any comparison with Israel's West Bank barrier. (Reuters)
Prince Abdul Aziz Raps Al Jazeera
The newly appointed assistant to the director of intelligence has accused Al Jazeera satellite channel of inciting terrorism for airing a terrorists' video about the November suicide attack on a residential compound in Riyadh. (Arab News)
Sources: No New Information for Saudi Security in Terror Tape
The tape of a November terrorist attack in Riyadh released on the internet Thursday did not contain any new information for the Saudi authorities, sources told Al Hayat newspaper. The villa that appeared in the video is known to Saudi security forces and has been under surveillance, added the sources, assuring that no terrorist training is taking place in that location. The same sources also said that the group appearing in the video is known to Saudi security forces and insisted that "it follows al Qaeda's style and methodology." Meanwhile, Asharq Al Awsat interviewed a Saudi owner of a media production company who said the 90-minute tape could have been produced by only one person. (Al Hayat)
United Kingdom
Qaeda Sympathizers Turn to Rap to Battle 'Infidels'
Al Qaeda's newest weapon against the West is a violent English-language rap tune urging young Muslims to wage holy war. (Reuters)
COUNTER-TERRORISM
Pakistan
All Set For Another Operation in South Waziristan
The federal government has decided in principle to initiate another crackdown against the al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists allegedly hiding in the Afghan-bordering tribal area of Southern Waziristan agency. (Pak Tribune)
LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS
Germany
Germans Blame U.S. for Qaeda Acquittal
Americans refused to supply evidence. (NY Times)
Indonesia
Bali Explosives Man Gets Life Sentence
Islamic militant Suranto Abdul Ghoni has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the October 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people. (Laksamana.Net - Indonesia)
United States
Court Appearance Scheduled This Morning For Terror Suspect
A 30-year-old Minneapolis college student charged with having ties to al Qaeda will be back in federal court in Minneapolis today for a hearing. (AP)
Linking Lawmakers, Scientific Knowledge Grant to fund source for data on terrorism. (Washington Post)
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Ignorance Is No Excuse
The premise for this war was not security but politics - and it is our politicians who should be in the dock. (The Guardian)
Lost in Credibility Gulch
The question: What can we believe? (NY Times)
Commissions and Clarity
President Bush, his credibility in the balance, has appointed a commission to investigate the failures of prewar intelligence on Iraq. (Washington Post)
How Spies Chose The Intelligence That Justified War
A little-known book by an-ex CIA officer gives an extraordinary insight into the way politicians are fed data they want to hear. (The Observer)
A Success Worth Noting in IraqSanctions are not the perfect tool. But, as seen in Iraq, under certain conditions… (NY Times)
American Policy Gave Hussein Reason to Deceive
If Saddam Hussein had few or no weapons of mass destruction, why did he act as if he possessed arsenals of them? Why did Iraqis harass U.N. inspectors, bar their entry into certain buildings and sneak trucks out the back gates of compounds if there was nothing to hide? (LA Times)
Terrorism Expert
Whenever I hear the statement "terrorism expert" I pull my pen out, just like Al Capone used to pull his gun out when he heard the word culture. There are more experts than terrorists. (Al Hayat)
Regional Terrorist Groups Pose Growing Threat, Experts Warn
The landscape of the terrorist threat has shifted, many intelligence officials around the world say, with more than a dozen regional militant Islamic groups showing signs of growing strength and broader ambitions, even as the operational power of al Qaeda appears diminished. (NY Times)
The Wrong Time For Equal Rights?An accused Sept. 11 accomplice is freed as Europe struggles to find a balance between thwarting terrorists and protecting suspects' legal rights. (Time Magazine)
A Jihad Warrior in London
When German police uncovered an al Qaeda cell planning a devastating bomb attack, they caught a young Algerian who had lived in Britain for nearly a decade. Now serving a 12-year sentence, Salim Boukhari tells Peter Taylor how in London he learned to be one of Osama bin Laden's 'mujads' (The Guardian)
The Insider Daily Terrorism Report (DTR) is a summary of major news articles and broadcasts relating to international terrorism and the war in Iraq. The DTR is edited from foreign and U.S. sources by Chris Isham, Hoda Osman, and Brinda Adhikari of the ABCNEWS Investigative Unit. The outside views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ABCNEWS.