Six Month Extension to Patriot Act Passed
LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS
U.S.
Senate Passes Patriot Act Extension
Senate passes six-month extension of the Patriot Act, clearing the way for final vote in House. (AP)
Appeals Court Refuses to Transfer Padilla
In a sharp rebuke, a federal appeals court denied Wednesday a Bush administration request to transfer terrorism suspect Jose Padilla from military to civilian law enforcement custody. (AP)
Syria
Ten Syrians on Trial for Joining 'Al Qaeda' and Forming a Salfist Group
The Syrian higher security court is trying 10 men for joining 'al Qaeda organization' and establishing a "jihadi group," al Hayat reports. Some members of the group were trained in Iran before going to Afghanistan to fight US forces there. The group's lawyer said they denied all accusations and said they only met to read and discuss religious books. Al Hayat reports that a man called Yasser al Saudi was the one who gave the group money and facilitated their travel. (Al Hayat)
Canada
More Terror Charges Laid Against Ottawa Man
An Ottawa man is facing five new terrorism-related charges in a case that will go straight to trial, likely testing Canada's tough new anti-terrorism laws. (CBC)
INVESTIGATIONS
U.S.
File the Bin Laden Phone Leak Under 'Urban Myths'
President Bush asserted this week that the news media published a U.S. government leak in 1998 about Osama bin Laden's use of a satellite phone, alerting the al Qaeda leader to government monitoring and prompting him to abandon the device. (Washington Post)
Australia
Aussie Cops Nab 20th Terror Suspect
Australia's anti-terrorist sweep has netted its 20th suspect with the arrest of a 21-year-old Sydney man for conspiracy to make explosives for a terrorist act. (UPI)
Lebanon
Lebanon Calm Over US Hijack Plea
Lebanon's PM insists his country will not hand over freed hijacker Mohammed Ali Hammadi to the US. (BBC)
Paraguay
Some Paraguayans Fear U.S. 'Secret Agenda'
Closer ties, including joint military exercises and a visit by Rumsfeld, have sparked rumors of American plans to station troops there. (LA Times)
Uganda
Britain Suspends Aid to Uganda over Allegations of Human Rights Abuse
The Ugandan government expressed defiance yesterday after Britain and other European countries suspended aid over alleged human rights abuses. (The Guardian)
Indonesia
U.S. Embassy Warns of Threat in Indonesia
The U.S. Embassy warned Thursday that the threat of terrorist attacks targeting Westerners in Indonesia over the Christmas and New Year holidays was very high. (AP)
IRAQ NEWS
Italy Probes US Marine for Murder in Iraq
Italian magistrates have placed a U.S. marine under official investigation for murder over the killing of an Italian agent in Iraq earlier this year, judicial sources said on Thursday. (Reuters)
Hussein Asserts U.S. Guards Abused Him, Co-Defendants
The White House calls the claims, made during his trial, 'preposterous.' His comments come after testimony alleging torture by his regime. (LA Times)
UK Troops Could Start Leaving Iraq Next Year: Blair
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on a lightning trip to Iraq, said on Thursday that the situation was entirely different from a year ago and signaled Britain could start scaling down its troop presence in six months. (Reuters)
Iraqi Parties Seek New Election
Sunni Arab and secular parties in Iraq have threatened to boycott the new parliament, complaining that last week's elections were marred by fraud. (BBC)
Iraqi Court Upset over U.S. Release of Prisoners
Tribunal says that it will take 'judicial measures' against the freed Hussein-era officials. (LA Times)
ANALYSIS & OPINION
New Life for Patriot Act Is No Bush Win
The Senate's six-month extension effectively kills a compromise that would have made key provisions of the anti-terror law permanent. (LA Times)
Divided They Stand
Saddam Hussein and his senior henchmen were listening intently in the dock yesterday as witnesses described their role in torture and other human rights abuses - an important part of setting the record straight about the bloody past of the unlamented Ba'ath dictatorship. (The Guardian)
Arab Media Unclear on Saddam Claims
The claim by Saddam Hussein that he has been tortured in custody is on the front pages of many Arab newspapers. (BBC)
If U.S. Leaves, Al-Qaeda Will Not Inherit Iraq
The Bush administration's worst-case scenario makes the present predicament in Iraq look good by comparison. Chris Preble and Justin Logan offer a corrective. (The Cato Institute)
Prelude to Disaster: The Making of DHS
Department's mission was undermined from start. (Washington Post)
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 Ellen Gustafson of the ABC News Investigative Unit. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ABCNEWS.