The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report

Nov. 25, 2003 -- — U.S. General Abizaid, head of Central Command said today that attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq have dropped by fifty percent in the last two weeks as coalition forces have intensified their operations against Iraqi insurgents. At the same time, Abizaid says, the attacks against Iraqis by insurgents are on the rise.

Plus, more on the ongoing investigation of the suicide bombings in Turkey last week — the Turkish court charges nine people in connection with the attacks.

And articles on the handling of terror suspects at home and abroad — a Canadian sues Syria and Jordan for allegedly torturing him while he was in detention — he also threatens to sue the U.S. for deporting him to a country which uses torture. And the lawyer for detained army Muslim chaplain James Yee writes to President Bush asking for his client's release, saying the charges against him "do not warrant pretrial confinement of any kind."

Please note: The Daily Terrorism Report will be on break over Thanksgiving week. It will resume again on Monday, December 1. We wish you a happy Thanksgiving.

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THE WAR IN IRAQ

General Says Fewer Attacks on U.S. Forces in IraqA top U.S. general said on Tuesday that attacks on his forces in Iraq had halved over the past two weeks, while those on Iraqis had surged. General John Abizaid, head of Central Command, said U.S.-led forces had intensified operations against insurgents to counter a rise in activity by anti-U.S. fighters. (AP)

Theft of Cobalt in Iraq Prompts Security Inquiry A seeming lapse in surveillance led to the looting of radioactive capsules and at least one case of radiation sickness. (NY Times)

U.S. Rejects Report of SlashingTwo soldiers slain in Mosul were shot to death, officials say, denying claims of mutilation. One victim was from Glendale. (LA Times)

Iraq/Iran Agreement on 'Terror Groups'Sources close to the Iraqi Governing Council told Elaph, an Arab news website, that an agreement between Iraq and Iran related to the crackdown on 'terror groups' in both countries was signed during the visit of Jalal Talbani to Iran. The agreement supposedly includes the Iranian opposition group mujaheddin Khalq. (Elaph)

Video Shows Nearly Dozen Militants in DHL Cargo Jet Strike A video showing a masked militant firing the missile that hit a DHL civilian cargo jet over Baghdad, setting its engine ablaze in the first successful hit on a plane of the seven-month-old insurgency, was delivered to a French journalist a foreign news agency reported on Tuesday. (Hi Pakistan)

Iraqis Ask U.N. for ResolutionThe Iraqi Governing Council asked Monday for a Security Council resolution recognizing a new American-Iraqi agreement for a speedier transfer of power in Iraq. (NY Times)

U.S. Targets Opposition Clerics in Mosul The U.S. military is acting to stem the rising tide of radical Islamism in Iraq's third largest city and rooting out preachers held to be using their sermons to incite attacks on Americans. (The Guardian)

Some Members Propose Keeping Iraqi Council After TransitionLeaders of the Iraqi Governing Council, just days after vowing to dissolve the body when a new provisional Iraqi government is elected in June, are lobbying to stay in power and serve as a second legislative body, perhaps as a senate. (NY Times)

Terror Fears, Iraq Sour Muslims' Eid Holiday Muslims were enjoying their Eid al-Fitr holiday but festivities this year have been soured by devastating bomb attacks across the Islamic world and the violent instability plaguing war-shattered Iraq. (AFP)

THE WAR IN IRAQ — ANALYSIS & OPINION

Arab Sunnis In Iraq: Invisible DivisionsArab Sunnis in Iraq differ from the Shiites and Kurds in their stance towards the American military and political presence. (Al Hayat)

The Moral MythSuperpowers act out of self-interest, not morality, and the U.S. in Iraq is no different. (The Guardian)

Iraqi Security Forces Torn Between Loyalties Work for U.S. leaves recruits uneasy. (Washington Post)

Iraq's Security NightmareThe two car bomb attacks in Iraq last Saturday, which killed at least 18 people, have fuelled more speculation about the shadowy role being played by foreign extremists who may have infiltrated Iraq. (BBC)

Stop This GameImagine for a moment a horrifying game called "terrorist roulette." The unfortunate players are huddled in different groups and spend much of their time bickering about who got them into this mess. (Washington Post)

THE WAR IN IRAQ — FROM THE THINK TANKS

The New Bush PlanThe Council on Foreign Relations takes a look at the new Bush plan for Iraq's transition to sovereignty. (Council on Foreign Relations)

The Making of Modern IraqModern Iraq was an invention of British military and administrative convenience in the wake of World War I. (Wilson Center)

THE WAR ON TERROR

TURKISH BOMB INVESTIGATIONTurkish Court Charges 9 in Bombings ProbeTurkish court charges nine suspected accomplices in suicide bombings probe, defense lawyer says. (AP)On the investigation of the suicide bombers, sources tell ABCNEWS that one of the earlier-presumed dead bombers may in fact be still alive.

GUANTANAMO BAYU.S. Releases 20 Held at Cuban Base The U.S. has returned 20 people held at Guantanamo bay in Cuba to their countries of origin — only to bring in 20 new prisoners from an undisclosed location. (AP)

Canadian Al Qaeda Suspect Denied Entry To CanadaThe brother of a 17-year-old Canadian suspected of killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan has been released from Guantanamo Bay but is being refused entry to Canada, a lawyer representing his family says. (CBC News)

LEGAL DEVELOPMENTSTwo Sentenced in Terrorism ConspiracyThe 'Portland Seven' members who tried to join the Taliban to fight the U.S. rail against the government before getting 18-year terms. (LA Times)

Terror Suspect Fights Extradition to U.S. Canada's new anti-terrorism legislation should not be used retroactively to try to extradite a man accused of plotting to bomb the Los Angeles airport, his lawyer argued in court Monday. (AP)

Canadian to Sue Syria, Jordan for Alleged TortureA Canadian man who was deported to Syria from New York last year by U.S. agents said on Monday he was suing the Syrian and Jordanian governments for allegedly torturing him while he was in detention. (Reuters)

Lawyer Asks Bush to Free ChaplainAn attorney for Army Capt. James Yee, the Guantanamo Bay prison chaplain jailed on charges of mishandling classified documents, asked President Bush on Monday to release the chaplain from a Navy brig pending his military trial, which is scheduled for next year. (Washington Post)

Jailed Chaplain Decries TreatmentArmy captain, a Muslim who worked with terrorist suspects at the U.S. prison in Cuba, says he's been blocked from practicing his faith. (LA Times)

Australian Government Seeks Stronger Terror Laws After Brigitte Affair Australia's top lawmaker outlined plans to give spies stronger counter-terrorism powers after claiming a suspected al Qaeda member had to be deported to France to be properly interrogated. (AFP)

REGIONAL REPORTS

NorwayNorway Nixes Jordan's Extradition RequestNorway on Monday rejected Jordan's extradition request for the suspected spiritual leader of an Iraq-based Islamic militant group allegedly linked to al Qaeda. Norway said the documentation did not provide sufficient grounds to open the case for Mullah Krekar. (AP)

Fear of Terrorists Hiding Among Asylum Seekers The Norwegian Security Police (PST) fears that persons connected to terrorist networks may be hiding in the stream of asylum seekers arriving in Norway and other European countries, says acting PST Chief, Arnstein Oeverkil. (Norway Post)

United KingdomAirports Get 'Dirty Bomb' DetectorsDetectors designed to prevent a terrorist "dirty bomb" from being smuggled into Britain are to be installed at main airports. Ministers are drawing on a special £330m security fund to help pay for the sophisticated "yellow box" machines at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and all major provincial airports by 2005. (Sunday Times)

CanadaOttawa Plans to Deport Terror Suspect Soon Almrei says torture, perhaps even death; await him if he is returned to Syria. (The Globe and Mail)

AfricaProgress vs. Terror Claimed in Africa U.S. forces have disrupted several planned terrorist attacks against Western and other targets in the Horn of Africa and local authorities have killed or captured more than two dozen militants, the U.S. general in command of an anti-terrorism task force told The Associated Press. (AP)

United StatesUSC Center to Study TerrorUSC will serve as a key national center for research into potential targets of terrorism and approaches to minimize terror's effects, under a $12-million federal grant to be announced today. (LA Times)

Lackawanna Six Gave Valuable InfoSix Yemeni-Americans recruited to a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan shortly before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have filled the government in on al Qaeda leaders, their training methods and other topics, according to federal authorities. (AP)

THE WAR ON TERROR — ANALYSIS & OPINION

Al Qaeda Seen Shifting To 'Terror Consultant' Role Emerging details of last week's Istanbul suicide bombings support the idea that al Qaeda is becoming more of a terror "consultancy" and less of a direct actor, security analysts say. (Reuters)

Moving TargetsTerror wave: New bombings, and worries about a 'spectacular.' Al Qaeda is badly wounded, but far from defeated. (Newsweek)

The Istanbul MayhemWith an act of terrorism, Turkey's largest city, Istanbul saw mayhem on Thursday when almost 30 people lost their lives and over 450 received injuries as a result of terrorist bombing of the British consulate and the British-owned HSBC bank. (Pakistan Times)

Tracing the Trail of Radical TurksAs investigators continue to probe who may have orchestrated the string of deadly suicide bombings in Istanbul this month, authorities are pointing the finger at Turkish radicals with links to conflicts in Chechnya, Bosnia and Afghanistan. (CNN)

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.