IRAN REPORTS * Iranian Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is calling on Iran to "resist all pressures and threats," a likely reference to the IAEA deadline. * Iran is the primary backer of Islamic Jihad along with Syria, but Khatami isn't worried about the prospect of airstrike by Israel. * Newsweek is reporting that hundreds of Ansar al-Islam members who fled the US bombing campaign have escaped into Iran and established a base of operations at the Kurdish refugee camp of Baramawa. They appear also appear to be receiving at least some support (not to mention medical assistance and weapons) from the Iranian government, which implies a tacit approval of their activities. U.S.A. HOMELAND SECURITY BRIEFING * The Washington Post recently documented the intricate web of Saudi-financed institutions that are spreading Wahhabism (and by extension Salafist organizations like al-Qaeda) in the United States. Fred Pruitt and Paul Maloney weigh in with their own thoughts here. * Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi, a US Muslim activist charged with having illegal dealings with Libya, may be a money courier for Syrian-based terrorist groups. * In what easily the dumbest thing I've ever heard of out the federal government (and that's saying a lot), there are now allegations that the FBI send money to Hamas. The rationale? To see if they would use it for terrorist attacks ... * Speaking of Homeland Security, it appears to be sorely lacking at US nuclear facilities these days. What a comforting thought ... THE WIDER WAR * Middle East Newsline is reporting that the Algerian military has the GSPC HQ under seige in the Babour mountains - with the leadership still inside. While I tend to share Joe's skepticism about the GSPC casualty figures, this may well turn out to be a key victory in the war on terror. * The Australian intervention in the Solomon Islands has brought an end to the days of warlords in that part of the Pacific. Good work, mates! * Acting Chechen president Anatoly Popov was apparently poisoned, making him the first high-ranking Russian official to be successfully poisoned by the Chechen terrorists rebels led by Shamil Basayev. * Somali gunmen have killed Annalena Tonelli in an act of pure malice. While it could easily be any warlord's thugs, one should not rule out the involvement of al-Ittihad al-Islamiyyah. * Videos of Osama bin Laden containing instructions on bombmaking are disturbingly popular among British Muslim fundamentalists. * Three Filippino policemen and one Abu Sayyaf member are dead after an escape attempt by Abu Sayyaf member Buyungan Byngkak. The Manila Times recounts the bravery of Filippino Arvin Garces, who was killed by Byngkah while helping to get the wounded Filippino police officers to safety. * According to Indian security forces, over 211 terrorists have been killed and 20 captured during the month of September, more than 80% of them described as "foreign mercenaries" - a probable reference to Pakistanis or Arabs. * Factional fighting has broken out yet again in Afghanistan, this time between rival warlords Atta Mohammed and Abdul Rashid Dostum. This latest round of the power struggle between the two men has left 60 dead. * The Taliban are amassing a force of 2,500 fighters to cross into Afghanistan to fight the US and the Afghan government - and they're being assisted by a coalition partner in the Baluchistan provincial government. * We try to close on a lighter note if possible. Sometimes the media makes unfortunate mistakes, like the New York Times's decision to rely on Greg Packer as the source for dozens of "man on the street" quotes. Still, it's always nice when people can swallow their pride and acknowledge their mistakes.