IRAQ REPORTS * Contrary to certain charges that the US did take not take necessary action to thwart the Ashura Massacre, General Abizaid says that coalition forces did everything they could, staging raids in Basra that prevented the tragic day's body count from being even higher. * In the wake of the Ashura Massacre, the Iranian-backed Badr Brigades appear to be staging a comeback and patrolling the streets of southern Iraqi cities instead of the police or the new Iraqi military. On a more positive note, thousands of Shi'ites and Sunnis marched the wake of the bombings to denounce sectarian violence. * Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab Zarqawi, the suspected architect of the Ashura Massacre, is still in Iraq - and the US is keeping an eye out for him. At least one of the men responsible for the bombings in Baghdad, Mohammed Hanoun Hamoud al-Mozani, is none other than a former Mukhabarat thug who was paid $20,000 by Zarqawi's deputy Abu Uthman to carry out the attack. * Ansar al-Islam military commander Ayyub Afghani has been captured by US forces in northern Iraq. Ayyub Afghani was formerly Ansar al-Islam second-in-command and has all likelihood taken control of the group with Mullah Krekar in legal limbo in Norway. * Palestine Liberation Front leader Abu Abbas has died of natural causes in US custody. In addition to hijacking the Achille Lauro and murdering Leon Klinghoffer, Abbas also acted as Saddam's intermediary to a number of Palestinian terrorist organizations. * US forces in Baquba have arrested 14 Wahhabis in connection with terrorist attacks inside the Sunni Triangle. * Farqad al-Qazwini has taken over Saddam's old mosque in Hilla and he has some interesting ideas about Islamic ecumenism and the future of Iraq. * Recent revelations indicate Russian involvement in the Iraqi missile program, assisting Saddam Hussein in developing long-range missiles in violation of the agreement signed at the end of the 1991 Gulf War. IRAN REPORTS * Iranian Supreme National Security Council head Hassan Rowhani is urging the IAEA to end its nuclear probe and demanding international acceptance for Iran as a member of the nuclear club. El-Baradei, to his credit, isn't caving in, saying that scrutiny of Iran will continue as long as questions remain on the subject of the Iranian nuclear program. * Geostrategy-Direct via Rantburg is reporting that the new Quds Force commander of the IRGC (the elite unit that is answerable only to Khamenei and is currently protecting most of the al-Qaeda leadership), Qassem Suleimani, is planning a major terrorist offensive to show Iran's strength in the wake of the destruction of the organized reform movement in Iran. If this report is true, incidentally, the planned Iranian-led terrorist offensive would likely take place just prior to or immediately following the US presidential election. * A fistfight broke out in the Majlis after reformist legislators called upon Iran's Assembly of Experts to review the conduct of Ayatollah Khamenei during the recent parliamentary election. * Iran's shadowy puppetmaster Expediency Council chairman Rafsanjani says that the events of the Ashura Massacre reveals the true nature of the enemies of Islam and is calling upon Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims to close ranks against their common enemies. Given Rafsanjani's views, however, I'm not entirely certain whether he's referring to the Wahhabis or us. Ayatollah Mohammed Emami Kashani thankfully clarifies this point to worshippers in Tehran, explaining that al-Qaeda, operates with tacit US support in Iraq. * Daneshjoo is reporting that hundreds of Iranian women have gathered at Laleh Park in Tehran in defiance to the official ban. The ayatollahs' jackboots, however, have adopted high security measures to prevent the celebration of International Women's Day. USA HOMELAND SECURITY BRIEFING * The FBI has issued a warning stating that terrorists may use pen guns filled with chemical or biological toxins. Given the discovery of such weapons in Kashmir, Saudi Arabia, and France, this is no longer simply a speculative possibility. * Adham Amin Hassoun, a Florida Palestinian believed to be associated with Jose Padilla, has been charged with lying to federal investigators and concealing his role in recruiting jihadis and taking part in an alleged assassination plot overseas. * The Christian Science Monitor seems to have noticed that the Pacific Northwest appears to have had more than its token share of al-Qaeda sympathizers and supporters. Anybody care to speculate as to why this is? * Despite a rise in the number of Arabic and Farsi linguists in US intelligence agencies, the New York Times says we're still lagging in this regard. Via Iran Filter. THE WIDER WAR * Sgt. Hook takes a look at a battle between American and Taliban forces in Afghanistan. It just isn't a fair fight. If only the same could be said for the 7 Afghan soldiers they killed in Maruf district and are said to control 70% of Zabul province. In any case, they're now short 23 fighters. * As part of its crackdown on al-Qaeda, Pakistan has arrested 15 Waziri elders suspected of harboring terrorists. This comes as Waziri elders have sent a message to renegade Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to warn him about their dilemma with the Pakistani authorities. * The Taliban, meanwhile, are claiming that bin Laden evaded the most recent raids. This comes as CNN says that he's eyeing a move from Pakistan to Afghanistan. * Al-Qaeda leader Khalid Sheikh Mohammed may have been a ruthless terrorist, but he wasn't too savvy when it came to Swisscom SIMs. * A number of impressive arrests and other anti-terrorist operations have occurred in Southeast Asia recently, including that of 2 JI operatives in South Cotabato, JI leader Amran Henry Mansor who doubled as a burger stand owner, and Abu Sayyaf gunrunner Mario Barrientos, * As a result of these and other arrests, JI's leadership is out of explosives - at least for now. * Abu Sayyaf leader Galib Andang, better known under his nom de guerre of "Commander Robot," says that Abu Sayyaf has 300 fighters and receive training from Indonesian instructors, likely members of JI. * The Washington Times has an interesting interview with Libyan leader Moammar Qadaffi on his decision to renounce WMDs. Fred Pruitt makes his usual trenchant observations. * The US has noticed al-Qaeda's interest in Africa, which I noted back in October. As a result, the US is acknowledging military cooperation with Algeria to help fight the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, better known by its French acronym as the GSPC. * This appears to be a pretty good move, the GSPC is expanding its operations into Chad - which doesn't even share a border with Algeria - and is drawing closer ties to bin Laden's network. The Algerian government recently arrested 19 of their supporters in Kabylie. * Yemen has arrested 2 high-ranking al-Qaeda leaders, including a founding member of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. The al-Qaeda leaders have been extradicted to Egypt. 4 of the detained al-Qaeda members were linked to the Cole bombing, though amazing 13 of the 32 detainees were promptly released after basically promising to be good in the future. * Dutch authorities have arrested a Moroccan national in connection with planning the May 2003 Casablanca bombings under orders from bin Laden. * 2 suicide bombers targeting a Masonic restaurant in Istanbul, killing 2 patrons in the process. It is worth noting that one of the initial al-Qaeda communiques following the first round of Istanbul bombings also referenced the Freemasons. * Russian has also secured a number of key victories in Chechnya in recent days, killing Akhmed Basnukayev, the leader of the Urus-Martan Front and a deputy to Chechen al-Qaeda leader Shamil Basayev. In addition, Magomed Khambiyev, an aide to Chechen rebel president Aslan Maskhadov, has surrendered to Russian authorities, with rumors that his boss may soon follow. 2 British Algerians were also killed in Chechnya in recent days. * The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is back after nearly 3 years - and up to no good in Central and South Asia. * Members of the Khadr family have, at long last, admitted their al-Qaeda links, including being part of bin Laden's entourage in Afghanistan. This comes as claims surface as to the bin Laden family dynamics during the 1990s in Afghanistan. * We try to end on a lighter note if possible. I've got to say, this is the strangest alibi that I've seen during my humble time in this world ...