Report: Bush Rejected Spying Legislation in 2002
INVESTIGATIONS
U.S.
White House Dismissed '02 Surveillance Proposal
The Bush administration rejected a 2002 Senate proposal that would have made it easier for FBI agents to obtain surveillance warrants in terrorism cases, concluding that the system was working well and that it would likely be unconstitutional to lower the legal standard. (Washington Post)
Iran
Iranians Accuse British Military of Aiding Bombers
Iran accused the British military on Wednesday of cooperating with bombers who killed eight people in southwest Iran, an allegation Britain described as ludicrous. (Reuters)
China Backs Iran Compromise Plan
Chinese officials back plans to enrich uranium in Russia for use in Iran, but call for renewed global diplomacy. (BBC)
Iran Welcomes Russia's Offer to Enrich Uranium Jointly; Details Remain
Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said here on Wednesday that he welcomed a Russian proposal to defuse the confrontation between Iran and the West over its nuclear programs by establishing a joint venture to enrich uranium in Russia. But he indicated that no agreement had been reached and that significant details remained to be negotiated. (NY Times)
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Seeks US Help to Combat Terrorism
Mainly Muslim Bangladesh, struck by a wave of bomb blasts blamed on Islamist militants over the past five months, on Thursday asked the United States to help it fight terrorism. A spate of bomb blasts, including suicide bombings that have killed at least 30 people and wounded 150 in Bangladesh since August, have raised international concerns. (Reuters)
Belgium
Dawn Anti-Terror Raids In Brussels
Federal police raided 20 homes in the Brussels region at about 5am on Thursday in an anti-terrorism operation. (Expatica)
Lebanon
Special Report About Possible Ties Between Lebanese Groups and Al Qaeda
Al Hayat publishes today the first of two reports investigating militant groups in Lebanon and how close their ties to al Qaeda are, particularly al Qaeda in Iraq and Abu Musaab al Zarqawi. It's based on interviews with groups who were sending volunteers to Iraq. Two weeks ago the Lebanese authorities uncovered a "terrorist network" which according to media reports was affiliated with al Qaeda. Lebanese authorities however believe the suspects probably came from Syria. The network included Lebanese, Jordanians, Syrians and Saudis. Al Hayat notes that tens - maybe even hundreds - of Lebanese are believed to have left the country to fight in Iraq. Many of them carried out suicide attacks, says the paper. An Iraqi official source also told the paper there were tens of Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners in Iraq. (Al Hayat)
Guantanamo
Members of German Intelligence in Guantanamo
An interview with the German justice minister today confirmed that members of the German intelligence service participated in interrogations in the U.S. prison in Guantanamo. The minister said it would have been better for members of German security forces never to go to Guantanamo. There were unconfirmed reports about members of the German intelligence traveling to Guantanamo to participate in the interrogation of a Turkish man suspected of having been a member of the Taliban. It's unknown whether their mission was limited to interrogation of this suspect. (Elaph)
IRAQ NEWS
Iraqi Journalist Killed In Ramadi
An Iraqi TV journalist was killed while filming clashes between insurgents and US forces in central Iraq on Tuesday, his station said. (BBC)
U.S. Military Announces Release of 420 Iraqi Detainees
Number Includes Five Women; Insurgent Attacks Repelled. (Washington Post)
Hostage Colleagues 'Still Held'
A British journalist held hostage for five days in Baghdad in December says US forces who rescued him are still holding his translator and driver. (BBC)
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Hamas Victory Clouds Peace Outlook
Hamas won a huge majority in parliamentary elections as Palestinian voters rejected the longtime rule of the Fatah Party, throwing the future of Mideast peacemaking into question, officials from both major parties said Thursday. (AP)
Iraq's WMD Secreted in Syria, Sada Says
The man who served as the no. 2 official in Saddam Hussein's air force says Iraq moved weapons of mass destruction into Syria before the war. (New York Sun)
Tehran Stands Its Ground
I don't think anyone in the Arab world objects to Iran's acquisition of nuclear technology. Israel has nuclear bombs and threatens to use them, something to which the international community invariably turns a blind eye. The Arabs have forfeited their right to develop atomic technology and weapons, but that is their own business. (Al Ahram)
Where Iraq Goes Now
The Bush administration must deal with the election results it has, not the results it wanted. (Washington Post)
Jill Carroll and Arab Hypocrisy
The terrorists who kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll thought they would win Arab sympathy if they demanded the release of Iraqi women detained by U.S. forces. (Asharq al Awsat)
The Lesson That The West Must Learn from The Moscow Rock
Spying will always go on, but governments that mix it with their efforts to promote democracy are asking for trouble. (The Guardian)
Osama Is Losing, US Isn't Winning
Reading about the latest tapes by Osama bin Laden and his sidekick Ayman al-Zawahiri, my gut reaction is that they sound like a couple of burned-out rock stars who keep recycling their greatest hits in hopes of catching on one last time as the lounge duo in some Las Vegas hotel. "Now Appearing at Caesars Palace, It's the Monkees! And at the Aladdin, Ayman and Osama!" (Asian Age)
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.