Iran & the Middle East

• Israeli forces killed a terrorist in the West Bank town of Anabta after their patrol came under fire from two gunmen belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. A seperate raid in the West Bank city of Tulkarm resulted in the death of another terrorist. Several other shootouts in the West Bank took place as well.

• UPI Editor Martin Walker reviewed John Bradley's book Saudi Arabia Exposed this past week, calling it the most "revealing and important book on the real Saudi Arabia to have been published in years."

• Saudi security forces have arrested 13 terror suspects in a residential area of Riyadh. The men are believed to be members of the Al-Qaeda terror network. In related news, Prince Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz has been named the new Saudi intelligence chief, ending the nine month vacancy.

• The Institute for National Strategic Studies has published a lengthy paper (PDF) entitled Reassessing the Implications of a Nuclear-Armed Iran. The paper deals with two larger questions: the European Union's diplomatic efforts to curtail Iran's nuclear program, and Israel's perception of an Iranian nuclear threat and its options in dealing with what it describes as the greatest danger to its security today.

• According to reports, Israel is dropping the campaign to have Hamas excluded from parliamentary elections in January, but remain opposed to the terrorist groups participation. The move comes after the recent Bush-Abbas meeting in which the U.S. President failed to reiterate the opposition of Hamas participation.

• An anti-Christian demonstration in Alexandria, Egypt, a week ago has been turned into anti-Christian video-propaganda by jihadist groups. Video film of Wednesday's protest appeared on Friday on a forum much used by al-Qaeda aligned groups. Gateway Pundit has a report on more riots in Alexandria just this past Saturday.

• A witness in a Jordanian court testified that seven defendents on trial had links to al Qaeda, and were trying to recruit terrorists to send to Iraq.

America Domestic Security & the America's

• Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced plans to station his own representatives in New York City in an effort to improve communications and formulate a unified response.

• Former Canadian ambassador to Yugoslavia James Bissett writes that "the most serious threat to North American security comes from Canada’s lax asylum system". Bissett says the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a dangerous terrorist group, have not been placed on Canada's terrorist list. Canada's Muslim population has more than doubled since 1990.

• The Colombian army destroyed 135 kg of explosives belonging to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The explosives were in 27 footballs. FARC numbers close to 20,000, and is considered a terrorist group by the US. Eight FARC members were killed in armed clashes last week.

• A report released Thursday is critical of the FBI and other intelligence agencies, saying they have made little progress in key areas they must reform, putting the nation at greater risk of a successful terrorist attack. The report is especially critical of the FBI and its slow pace of change. (The report is available here in PDF).

• Writing for the Jamestown Foundation, Chris Zambelis warns of the "potential threat of al-Qaeda using the Caribbean Basin as a base of operations". Al Qaeda may be recruiting from among local Muslim extremist groups.

Russia & South/Central Asia

• A Russian Interior Ministry official said "no more than 200 militants" attacked Nalchik on October 13-14. Thirty-five security and police personnel were killed in that attack. According to Russian officials, 91 of the attackers were killed and 36 captured in counter operations, which continued into Friday.

• A deputy provincial police chief and one of his bodyguards were killed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, by a car bomb. Elements of the Taliban were blamed. An aid worker was killed in another attack.

• A two hour gun battle in Afghanistan late Friday left eight police and four terrorists dead. The government sent 200 police reinforcements into the area to hunt down the attackers.

• With most of the election results in, at least half of Afghanistan's lower house of Parliament will be made up of religious figures or former fighters, including four former Taliban commanders. Political analysts predict a deeply divided and confrontational body.

• A Russian military observer was detained on suspicion of terrorism in the Georgian city of Gori on October 21. The Russian Foreign Ministry lodged a protest with the Georgian ambassador. On Sunday a Russian official said the man had been released.

• India Daily reports from Bangladesh that "Islamist militants are...regrouping in the remote hills of the Tangail district, about 62 miles northwest of the capital, Dhaka". Hundreds have been arrested following the numerous August 17 bomb blasts. There are indications a major Al-Qaeda figure is leading the Jihadists.

• Tuttehida Majlis-e-Amal, an alliance of six pro-Taliban religious parties, is calling for children orphaned in the recent earthquake be sent to them rather than "Christian missionaries and the Aga Khan Development Network."

• Operation Pil is a seven day, battalion-reinforced operation aimed at disrupting enemy activities and sanctuaries in Afghanistan’s volatile Kunar province. U.S. troops from four military branches joined together for the operation, which has seen about 12 engagements.

Far East & Southeast Asia

• Authorities in Indonesia have arrested four suspects and seized a large shipment of explosives being smuggled from Malaysia. According to the report, 175 kg of explosives had already been made into bombs and were ready for use.

• On Saturday a special US envoy said that the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group in the southern Philippines posed a serious threat to that entire region. The group possesses technical skills such as bomb-making, and has been blamed for the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings. Henry Crumpton also said a peace deal in the works with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front may put pressure on the Jemaah Islamiyah group.

• South Korea and the United States agreed yesterday to "appropriately accelerate" discussions on Seoul's efforts to gain greater control of its national defense, including operational command of its forces in wartime. In their joint news briefing, Yoon and Rumsfeld noted that North Korea's continued development of weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles along with other dangers were the root of serious security concerns in the region.

• Filipino troops tracking Abu Sayyaf terrorists on Jolo Island came across a large marijana plantation, numbering 3,000 fully grown plants, that authorities believe belonged to Abu Sayyaf.

• Thailand is tightening security along the border with Malaysia after reports indicated terrorists were planning to smuggle weapons across ahead of a new wave of planned attacks.

• The shoot-to-kill order has generated controversy in Australia, and it now appears that Prime Minister John Howard is considering a compromise on the counterterrorism legislation.

Europe

• Italian authorities say that Al Qaeda operatives are making their way from North Africa to Northern Europe through safe houses operated by a Naples-based organized crime network. Italian investigative sources say Al Qaeda operatives disembark almost daily from ships connecting Italy to the Arab countries of North Africa.

• Three men suspected of international terrorism have been arrested after raids on addresses in London and Kent. The Metropolitan Police said the arrests were not connected to bomb attacks on London in July.

• Police in England have arrested a 27-year old man in connection with the July 7 London bombings. The man was arrested Saturday in the Dewsbury area of West Yorkshire "on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".

• French judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere has declared Iraq "is quite a black hole sucking up all the elements located in Europe, and pushing them to leave Europe and go to Iraq," and then warned of those returning to Europe with jihadist skills.

Africa

• Anarchy in Somalia is overwhelming the new government of that country. At least one Al Qaeda cell is present in Somalia, and homegrown Islamist militias move about freely. Famine is exacerbating the problem.

• A Maltese-registered ship was attacked by pirates last Wednesday off the coast of Somalia. The pirates are demanding $700,000 in ransom for the ship and crew. International maritime officials say Somali waters are some of the world's most dangerous.

• South Sudan has formed an autonomous government as part of a January peace deal that ended more than two decades of civil war in Africa's largest country, a senior official said on Sunday. The former southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed the deal with the Islamist northern government.

• Sixty Algerian terrorists are preparing to surrender as part of a government reconciliation program implemented last month, aimed at ending the lengthy and violent insurgency that has engulfed Algeria for more than a decade.

The Global War

• According to some reports, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has expanded his network of contacts to 24 terrorist groups spread throughout 40 nations.

• Hastings College (in Hastings, Nebraska) is holding a symposium on terrorism through Wednesday. However, judging from some of the speakers, this may be something Cindy Sheehan would not be entirely uncomfortable attending.

• British Home Secretary Charles Clarke gave a lecture titled Contesting the Threat of Terrorism, in which he makes the case that the best way to contest terrorism "is by building and strengthening the democracy of our society, by isolating extremism in its various manifestations, by strengthening the legal framework within which we contest terrorism, and by developing more effective means to protect our democracy."

• Izmir is the location of a small US air base on the Aegean coast of Turkey. Since shortly after 9/11, with a few exceptions, dependents have not been allowed along on a one-year tour. There is a desire to once again make it an accompanied tour.

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