IRAN

• A six-year veteran of inspecting Iran's nuclear program says that the IAEA is powerless to stop the development of an Iranian bomb. He called on the UNSC to grant more powers.

• France has threatened Iran with UNSC referral - again. The mullahs aren't worried - they have allies on the Security Council.

• President Bush says that Iran has the right to a civilian nuclear program.

• Iran has offered to spread their knowledge about their 'civilian program' to other Islamic states.

• The IRGC says that Katrina has demonstrated that the U.S. can be turned in to a warzone.

THE MIDDLE EAST

• The Lebanese media is reporting that a senior Syrian security chief, wanted for questioning by UN investigators RE Harari's murder, is in Paris with his family.

• Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has spoken fondly of his relationship with Rafik Hariri.

• Lebanese security forces are on alert after threats from persons claiming to be al-Qaeda members. Bsharri MP Strida Geagea has left the country.

• Abu Mazen thanked suicide terrorists, Yasser Arafat and the Israeli left for the progress the PLO has made in "liberating" 'Palestine'.

• Despite recieving a $50m donation from the U.S., PLO media is calling for the murder of American forces in Iraq.

• The Gaza retreat has prompted PA-TV to emphasise that Israel's destruction is within reach.

• The Egyptians destroyed a tunnel in to Gaza. Now that Hamas are blasting holes in the wall, and Egypt is watching, BFD.

IRAQ AND THE GULF

• Arthur Chrenkoff has announced he will no longer be compiling the vital 'Good News from Iraq/Afghanistan' briefings. Here's his last one. Great stuff, Arthur. Your work will be sorely missed.

• An al-Qaeda group in Iraq claimed to have fired chemical weapons in to Baghdad. No confirmation as of yet.

• The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have come to an agreement on the Saudis' terms of accession to the WTO.

THE AMERICAS

• Two of the prison-plotters from LA have pleaded not guilty.

• The U.S. will promote Arabic and Sharia studies to boost understanding with the Islamic world.

• The British arms dealer who tried to sell a SAM to Somali terrorists has been given 47 years in prison.

• The National Post follows the story of Jamal al-Aql, the Windsor resident recruited by Hamas to carry out attacks in Canada and the United States.

• The Pentagon says that Muslims in the Middle East do not yearn for freedom.

• A convicted member of Hamas has been sentenced to a year in prison in Philadelphia for falsifying a visa.

• The World Tribune reports that al-Qaeda tried to infiltrate U.S. intelligence.

EUROPE

• A senior German security offical says that there may be as many as 5,000 potential suicide bombers in Germany.

• MI6 has a great idea for lowering the terror threat: spread jihadist propaganda, then use their jihadi credentials to steer potential terrorists away from violence. Not an Onion parody.

• FBI experts have testified at the trial of an 'alleged' terrorist in possession of plans to blow up airliners and other terrorist paraphernalia.

• The German BND says that both the London and Madrid bombers had contacts in Bosnia, and they have 'vague indications' that another attack in London is being planned by a cell controlled from Bosnia.

• Proud terrorist walking free. An al-Aksa Martyrs terrorist acting as a conduit for Hezbollah funds, and as a source of arms for jihadists in the territories, is living free and easy in Ireland.

• In police raids in London and Manchester, seven Algerians have been taken in to custody to await deportation. The Home Office said that their presence in the country was 'not conducive to the public good'.

• A Muslim convert who fought in Bosnia has laughed off claims that he is a terrorist. The explosive traces found in his socks were from his 'volunteer work' in Bosnia in 1995. Right. He says he recently met a man in Germany to discuss 'humanitarian aid' in Chechnya.

• The Turkish government has banned a reprint of Mein Kampf, after record sales earlier this year.

• France has expelled 13,000 illegal immigrants in the last eight months, and Sarkozy wants to expel 10,000 more by the end of the year.

• A Muslim convert claiming to be part of the Hofstadgroep was arrested after trespassing on a military training ground. Police found training grenades and bombs in his apartment.

• Fjordman looks at the descent in to lawlessness in Sweden, noting that a police station was fired on with an automatic weapon by the 'local youths' that the police are clashing with all over the country.

• No link for this, but my Belgian aunt tells me that the security staff in Belgian airports are on strike. Why? Because the government is sending people through with knives and guns to test the effectiveness of their systems.

WEST ASIA & THE 'STANS

• Tigerhawk looks at our 'friend' Hazrat Ali, the Afghan warlord, who helped Osama and Friends escape Tora Bora.

• India's prime minister says that Pakistan controls the 'flow of terror' in Kashmir during talks with President Bush.

• U.S. military officials are discussing plans to cut the deployment to Afghanistan 20% early next year.

• An interior ministry building in Grozny was attacked by gunmen - nine were wounded.

• Pakistani counter-terror agents are questioning 21 al-Qaeda suspects. Rantburg notes that previously it was 22 suspects. The terrorists were in possession of a Chinese-made UAV.

• In a veiled reference to Pakistan, Afghan President Karzai has said the U.S. and other international forces need to reconsider their strategy in defeating terrorism in the country.

AUSTRALASIA AND EAST ASIA

• Over 100 Islamic religious teachers have been arrested in Thailand since the wave of terrorism that started in October.

• The second bomber who attacked the the Australian embassy in Jakarta has been sentenced to death.

• JI are training recruits in the Phillipines.

• An Abu Sayyaf arms dump has been seized by Filipino Marines.

• Talks with North Korea are still deadlocked.

AFRICA

• Libya is already being invited to British arms shows.

• The Libyans say they are ready to restore ties with the Saudis.

• A communique from the GSPC leadership calls on Algerians to take up jihad.

• The GSPC terror wave continues in Algeria - another four soldiers killed.

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