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CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

1. World
2. Africa
3. Americas
4. Asia Pacific
5. Europe
6. Middle East
7. South Asia
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
9. Finance
10 Human Rights
11. Law and Legal Issues
12. Transportation
13. Weapons of Mass Destruction
14. Recently Published

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Terrorism Warnings

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

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1. World

On August 6, 1945 the US dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Sixty years later a nuclear-free world is nowhere in sight. Rather than continuing to dismantle Cold War nuclear stocks, efforts are underway to develop new types of nuclear weapons. Current nuclear stockpiles are a persistent danger as well. Poorly secured stocks around the world present dangers ranging from accidents to trafficking with international terrorist organizations. Another negative sign is an announcement by the US Bush administration that it would oppose inspection and verification provisions in international treaties meant to control nuclear material production, a position that would weaken international nuclear security overall. Also note coverage in the section on Weapons of Mass Destruction, below.

North Korea is deploying a new missile system that could target the entire US. Jane's Defence Weekly reports on new systems for ships or submarines that are likely intended to carry nuclear missiles. In addition to making North Korea a nuclear power, the new weapons could be an attractive source of foreign currency to other aspiring nuclear powers, particularly Iran.

The Olympic Games open on August 13. The UN called on all States to observe the traditional truce during the competitions.

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2. Africa

August 7 is the anniversary of the East African embassy bombings.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2003/081003.html#FeatureArticle

Nations across the Sahel region of northwest Africa that covers a region the size of the US, face massive infestations of locusts devastating the crops. Gambia has declared a state of emergency. The swarms may reach western Sudan. http://www.fao.org/

Angolan police have resumed Operation Diamond, an operation to arrest and expel illegal diamond miners and traffickers coming from Democratic Republic of Congo and West Africa.

Botswana had discussions with Zimbabwe regarding the electric fence that Botswana wants to construct along the border. Botswana says it will restrict the movement of cattle and wildlife but Zimbabwe believes it is designed to keep out its citizens.

Another border issue is between Cameroon and Nigeria that are moving towards the most sensitive portion of the border delineation. Nigerian President Obasanjo has called for confidence-building measures as they prepare to hand over the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon in September.

Democratic Republic of Congo faces a continued threat to peace from fighting between loyalist and dissident troops in South Kivu Province. Note a Special Report on this issue from IRIN news: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42551

Ivory Coast human rights teams have uncovered further abuses, including mass graves with around a hundred bodies found near a rebel-held city, Korhogo, in the north. The New Forces rebel movement in the northern region it controls has imposed import bans on certain goods to promote the local economy. Despite these issues, rival factions have reiterated their commitment to the peace agreement and plan to start disarmament on October 15.

Five Moroccans who have been held at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay have been repatriated and will be investigated by local police.

Nigeria has resumed polio vaccinations in the northern state of Kano where they had been suspended since August 2003 following rumors of deliberate contamination. Nigerian police arrested 30 witch doctors on suspicion of carrying out human sacrifice after 50 mutilated bodies were found, as well as a number of skulls.

Somalia's transitional parliament has not been inaugurated as scheduled following continued disagreements among various clans. It is not scheduled for August 19.

South Africa is using diplomatic pressure to gain access to two nationals who were arrested in Pakistan on terrorism charges. The government has denied that South Africa is any particular target of al Qaeda or other terrorist organizations.

In Sudan the government reacted angrily to the UN resolution giving them 30 days to disarm the Janjaweed militias and stop the atrocities against non-Arab groups in Darfur. They organized large anti-western demonstrations, but foreign troops are already arriving from the African Union to bolster French troops securing the border with Chad. The Arab League are holding emergency talks regarding the crisis. Nonetheless, the UN envoy and Sudanese Foreign Minister have signed an agreement with detailed steps to reach the 30-day deadline. Further pressure comes from confirmation that the extrajudicial killings of civilians in western and southern Sudan have been mainly coordinated by the national military and militias backed by the Khartoum Government, This finding came in a report from UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Asma Jahangir.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11576&Cr=sudan&Cr1=
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11574&Cr=darfur&Cr1=sudan

Zambia has postponed local elections because they prefer to spend the $64 million elections would cost on roads and hospitals.

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3. Americas

Bolivia has signed an agreement to export natural gas through Peru. The agreement follows last month's referendum in favor of developing and exporting more resources. Peru has opened a new gas project, the Camisea pipeline deep in the Amazon rainforest.

Colombian President Uribe and US authorities have denied reports based on newly declassified US government documents that seem to indicate Uribe was a "close personal friend of Pablo Escobar" and had collaborated with the Medellin drug cartel in 1991. http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB131/index.htm At present, Uribe is trying to disarm the paramilitary groups that continue to have close ties to narco-trafficking. He has offered the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) and the Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Casanare (ACC) a safe haven in return for a ceasefire and disarmament. A report from the US Government Accountability Office finds long-term financial and management problems with nonmilitary aid to Colombia, where assistance has shown limited results and it not sustainable. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-726

In the US, the week began with a new terrorist alert with specific information about financial institution targets. As more details filtered out, the debate over threat communications began in earnest. See Feature Article, below, for more information. At the same time, the Statue of Liberty reopened, partially, for the first time since the September 11 attacks.

August 4 marked forty years since US President Johnson and other top officials chose to believe that North Vietnam had just attacked US vessels in the Gulf of Tonkin, despite alternate evidence shown in declassified materials posted by the National Security Archive. http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB132/index.htm

The US Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs began a series of hearings on the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission and US counterterrorism and intelligence capabilities. http://govt-aff.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Home

At the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Combatant status review Tribunals began last week. So far six of the 11 detainees have refused to participate. The military reviews do not permit the detainees access to attorneys. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Combatant_Tribunals.html
Three Britons detained at Guantanamo have detailed their treatment in a report, "Detention in Afghanistan and Guantanamo". It includes details of physical abuse and degradation. For extracts, see http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1275478,00.html

A Venezuelan court ordered 59 military officers be arrested for conspiracy, rebellion and instigating insurrection in connection with supporting demonstrations protesting against President Hugo Chavez in October 2002.

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4. Asia Pacific

The fourteen members of the Pacific Islands Forum are meeting to discuss security, economic and political cooperation, including a coordinated initiative to combat HIV/AIDS. http://www.forumsec.org.fj/news/news.htm

An Australian parliamentary committee reviewed draft terrorism laws, finding serious difficulties in their scope and warning they could curb legitimate religious gatherings, journalism, and other activities. http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/anti_terror_2/report/report.pdf

China and Pakistan held joint anti-terrorism military exercises in western China.

In the Aceh province of Indonesia, one soldier and 12 separatist rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) were killed last week.\

Thailand will pay compensation to the families of 32 Muslim youths who were killed inside the Krue Se Mosque in April by heavily armed security forces. This decision was made following a report on the incident:
"The Office of the Prime Minister’s appointed Independent Fact-Finding Commission on the Krue Se Mosque, Pattani Incident reported to the cabinet on the details of the incident, made comments and recommendations as followed: the perpetrators killed officials, destroy government properties, stole weaponries and seized the Mosque. Shots were fired at the Police-military personnel who came to control the situation and exchange of gunfires occurred. After a long stand off, the Mosque was stormed and all perpetrators were killed. Peaceful means would have been more appropriate said the report. However, the level of force used was based on a bona fide belief that there was an imminent threat and danger with the militants having heavier weaponry. Investigations should be pursued through the appropriate organs within the judicial system for those officials involved claiming their actions were in fulfillment of their duties. Recommendations were financial compensations for the loss of relatives on both sides marking a first step towards reconciliation. The Government should ensure that officials using force have clear and well thought out contingency plans to deal with future emergency situations and avoid the recurrence of such excesses in the future." http://www.thaigov.go.th/index-eng.htm

In West Papua, community leaders including members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) have decided to end armed conflict with Indonesia in favor of establishing an independence council modeled after East Timor's.

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5. Europe

Georgia warned that the breakaway region of Abkhazia, a subtropical resort area on the Black Sea, was a war zone not suitable for tourists and said they would open fire on any ships illegally entering its waters. The prospect of Russian cruise ships coming under attack worsened relations with Russia, but Georgia has reiterated its preference for a peaceful outcome.

In Spain, two small bombs exploded at coastal towns in the north. There were no casualties but authorities are worried that Basque separatist group ETA, who claimed responsibility, could be planning a summer attack. ETA has often targeted economic targets connected with the tourism industry.

In the UK coordinated raids across the country led to 13 men detained under the Terrorism Act. One was released very quickly and a second after questioning, but 11 are still being questioned. Although the raids were part of an ongoing investigation, the planned raids were moved forward after US authorities had announced their new findings: reports that could have alerted the targeted individuals.
http://www.met.police.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2004_0102

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights issued a "Review of Counter-terrorism Powers" that says the detention of foreign terror suspects without trial must be ended as a matter of urgency and alternatives found, such as increased use of overt surveillance rather than detention. The report said standards of proof should not be relaxed for terrorism trials and warns of unequal treatment of Muslims. It also suggests allowing phone tap evidence in court and giving prosecutors the ability to look at intelligence materials by introducing security clearances. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200304/jtselect/jtrights/158/15802.htm

The Northern Police Ombudsman concluded an investigation into a case from September 2003. It involved the acquittal of a man who faced terrorist charges arising from a gun attack on a polling station during the 2001 General Election in which two police officers and a young girl were injured. The acquittal at Belfast Crown Court occurred amid accusations that the police had put improper pressure on a forensic scientist. The investigation found no evidence of inappropriate pressure on the Forensic Service but there were significant failures in overall police handling of the forensic aspects of the incident. http://www.policeombudsman.org/press.cfm?Press_ID=83&action=detail&year=2004

The Northern Ireland Parades Commission has prohibited the Protestant Apprentice Boys parade from passing a nationalist area in north Belfast next Saturday. The march has been peaceful in recent years but recent events at an Orange Order feeder parade on July 12 motivated the decision. http://www.paradescommission.org/

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6. Middle East

In Gaza, the unsettled situation continues. The week began with attacks in a jail and hospital. Grenades were thrown into a cell, injuring six people, one fatally. When the wounded were taken to hospital, gunmen affiliated with Islamic Jihad entered and executed two men who had been previously convicted of collaboration with Israel. Three Hamas militants died when their bomb detonated accidentally. Another 17 people, including 7 children, were injured. Israeli operations killed ten Palestinians. The troops pulled out of the northern town of Beit Hanoun at the end of the week, after a month of operations to deter rocket attacks. They left more than 4,000 farm acres flattened, and houses, factories and wells were destroyed or damaged, with losses estimated as high as $100 million.

The Egypt-Gaza border crossing at Rafah was reopened after a closure of 19 days. More than 3,500 Palestinians were stranded at the border, many camping out at the terminal areas. Those affected included eleven handicapped children who were sleeping on the terminal floor there they were brought to the attention of a physicians group that treated them for diarrhea and vomiting. In Egypt, a Hamas delegation has held discussions with Egyptian officials regarding security in Gaza after the planned Israeli pullout.

Iraq's security situation has not improved. Last weekend there was a series of coordinated explosions against churches that killed 12 and injured 27, in the first attack against the Christian minority. Bombs, gunfights, and other violence continued throughout the week, but the most serious violence was in the holy city of Najaf. There was fierce fighting on Thursday and Friday between militiamen loyal to Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and US and Iraqi forces. The US reports that two Marines and 300 militiamen were killed. Other fighting continued in several cities, pushing into a third day until an uneasy calm was restored.

There are other worrying signs in Iraq, including a warning that unresolved property disputes that arose from forced displacement of Kurds, Turkmen and Assyrians in northern Iraq may precipitate a violent crisis. http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/08/03/iraq9174.htm International support is limited. UN operations have been constrained by lack of security and foreign contractors have left in response to the wave of kidnappings and beheadings. NATO has sent a team of 40 officers on a mission to train security forces.

Jordanian authorities arrested three militants, affiliated with al-Qaeda linked Kata'eb al-Tawhid ("Battalions of Monotheism"), in connection with a plot to attack government offices and the US embassy with chemical weapons. This brings to nine the number detained in the plot.

Saudi Arabia has announced national elections will start in November. These are the first elections since the 1960s.

In the West Bank, Israel has decided to let Palestinian police officers carry weapons to help them better keep law and order. This is a limited policy that can be reversed and will be implemented gradually.

Yemeni government troops now control the last stronghold of rebel leader Hussein Badruddin al-Houthi following fierce mountain fighting that has killed at least 200 troops and rebels since mid-June.

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7. South Asia

Monsoon floods have pushed the death toll closer to 2,000 in Bangladesh and several Indian states. Millions more have been affected and the UNDP estimates it will take at least a year for Bangladesh to recover.

Afghanistan is preparing for presidential elections against a backdrop of violence and the power of warlords. The voter registration program will wind down now, finishing on August 15, now that 90 percent of the electorate has been registered. More than 20 candidates have registered to run for president, including interim President Karzai, who is favored to win. There is also one female candidate, Massouda Jalal. Karzai's defense minister (leader of the Northern Alliance) is supporting the former education chief after Karzai chose a different running mate. There has been heavy military action in areas bordering Pakistan, with high casualties including US reports of up to 50 Taliban insurgents. More relief workers have been killed: the Malteser relief agency suspended Afghan operations after two of their workers were killed.

In Bangladesh, the northern city of Sylhet has experienced the latest in a series of bombings that have occurred since May. Explosions outside two cinemas killed one and injured seven. A hotel explosion injured 18. Four people have been arrested.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, al-Mansurain militants stormed a police camp, killing nine and injuring a similar number.

India and Pakistan have continued talks including a high-level defense meeting and discussions on promoting tourism and travel.

Nepal's Maoist rebels are threatening the forced shutdown of ten large businesses they accuse of exploiting workers and supporting the government. The businesses also refuse to pay extortion money. There are reports that secret negotiations between the government and rebels may be underway.

Pakistan's military operations at the Afghan border have led to a number of arrests, including al Qaeda suspects. A bomb in Karachi killed two and injured three; neither the attackers nor the motive are known. Also in Karachi, two bombs, outside a restaurant and a religious school, killed at least eight. An attempted assassination of Balochistan's chief minister left the Jam Muhammad Yousif unharmed but one police officer was killed and two injured.. The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility. A suicide bombing against the Prime Minister-designate did not harm Shaukat Aziz but killed eight people. This attack is blamed on Islamic extremists and a group calling itself the Islambouli Brigades of al-Qaeda claimed responsibility on a web site.

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

The Hungarian Zafi worm dominates Sophos's list of top ten viruses reported in July, with nearly 60 percent of all reports. Second are several versions of Netsky. http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/pressrel/uk/20040803topten.html

Vietnam has established a police unit to specialize in cyber crime and abuse. Starting in September it will be responsible for controlling internet access and monitoring email as well as investigating hacking, crime, and other crimes. Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (VNPT) reports there are about 1600 internet access points operating in Hoi Chi Minh City. http://www.vnpt.com.vn/

The Hackarmy virus that has previously claimed to show the bin Laden suicide evidence is now posing as a video of Nicholas Berg alive. http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/trojhackarmya.html

Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra announced it is taking legal action against dozens of illegitimate online pharmacies and working with law enforcement block sales of counterfeit versions. It also launched a public awareness campaign to help educate consumers about illegitimate websites, safe purchasing, and spam minimization. http://www.viagra.com
http://www.pfizer.com/are/news_releases/2004pr/mn_2004_0803.html

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9. Finance

The US Treasury has designated three more individuals and another company as members of the former Hussein regime in Iraq. They are Muhannad Juma Y. Al-Tamimi, Nabil Abdullah Al-Janabi, Abbas Khalaf Kunfuth and Bloto International Company. http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1821.htm

Following the US Department of Homeland Security's increase in the terrorist threat to "orange" for financial institutions, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has set up a telephone hotline (1-) for reporting suspicious transactions related to terrorist activities. http://www.fincen.gov/fininsthotline.pdf
Also note Treasury Secretary Snow's statement on the alert. http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1818.htm

In the Czech Republic a hand grenade exploded outside a casino, injuring 18 people. In response to this attack by a criminal gang, the finance ministry said it would strengthen licensing laws. Although only Czech companies can be licensed to run a casino, an Israeli, using two middlemen owns the one that was attacked.

US Ambassador William Wood, speaking at the Pan-American Conference on the Prevention of Money Laundering, said that between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion were laundered each year worldwide and the sums involved may be equal to as much as 5 percent of the world's cumulative gross domestic product. In Colombia, assets valued at more than $140 million were confiscated from drug traffickers in 2003 and the list of "Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers" now includes 14 heads of Colombian drug cartels, 379 businesses and 560 individuals. http://usembassy.state.gov/colombia/wwwsww37.shtml (in Spanish)

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) opened an investigation last year into alleged misuse of EU support by the Palestinian Authority. Investigators are now working with Israeli authorities to see if they can interview Palestinians in Israeli prisons in connection with this inquiry.
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/anti_fraud/press_room/pr/2003/2003_03_en.html http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=459870

The IMF 's Financial System Stability Assessment of Austria found that "Austria has made significant progress sin the past few years in bringing its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime into compliance with international standards. The overall legal and institutional framework currently in place is comprehensive, and Austria has achieved a good level of compliance with the FATF 40+8 Recommendations. Though there has been significant progress overall, the assessment identified several areas that could be strengthened, including the need for: further guidance to financial institutions on AML/CFT duties, in particular on the identification of customers, and greater clarity in some of the related legal provisions; enhanced monitoring of compliance by the supervisors; and sustained supervisory attention during the process of phasing out anonymous passbooks." http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=17606.0

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10. Human Rights

Indonesia's first execution in three years has been carried out on a 67-year old Indian drug smuggler. Two of his Thai colleagues are still on death row. On convictions related to human rights abuses in East Timor the courts have proven to be far more lenient. The appeal court overturned the convictions of Major General Adam Damiri, former military chief Colonel Nur Muis, former police Chief Commissioner Hulman Gultom and Lieutenant Colonel Soejarwo, all found guilty of crimes against humanity in East Timor in 1999. Militia leader Eurico Guterres's 10-year jail sentence was cur in half. This decision means that no Indonesian security official faces prison for the events in which more than a thousand people were killed. Of 18 original defendants the only two found guilty were ethnic Timorese. Human rights groups have responded to these events with calls for an international tribunal to punish Indonesian officials complicit in the deaths.

Australia's High Court has upheld government immigration laws that allow failed asylum seekers to be detained indefinitely. In a related judgement, they determined that harsh detention conditions did not give detainees a right to escape them. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/high_ct/2004/38.html
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/high_ct/2004/36.html

Note an interesting series by Peter King of the Los Angeles Times on "Muslims in Las Vegas" http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-vegas1aug01.story

The US state of Alabama has put to death a 74-year-old murderer who suffered from cancer, hepatitis and dementia. He is the oldest US inmate in more than 60 years to be executed.

The World Food Program has developed a color-coded electronic map to spotlight crisis points around the world. http://www.wfp.org/

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11. Law and Legal Issues

Babar Ahmad was arrested in the UK following a US extradition order. He was arrested in Britain in December 2003 but released without charge. The US claims that Ahmad used US websites and email to solicit support for terrorist acts in Chechnya and Afghanistan and that he is in possession of naval intelligence details.

Ilyas Akhmadov, foreign minister in Aslan Maskhadov's separatist Chechen government from 1997 to 1999, has been granted asylum in the US. Russia condemned the decision to grant asylum to a man whom they consider a terrorist.

Muhammed Hossain and Yassin Aref, the founder and imam of a mosque in Albany, New York, were arrested as part of a sting operation in which a government informant purported to sell a shoulder-fired missile for an assassination. They were charged with money-laundering and providing support for terrorism. http://content.capitalnews9.com/courtarrest.pdf

Angeletos Kanas and two other suspected members of the Revolutionary Popular Struggle (ELA) were released on bail under Greek custody laws that do not allow detention longer than 18 months before a verdict. Their trial is suspended for the Olympic Games.

Mamasao Naga ("Zainal Paks") and Abdul Pata ("Mohamad Amir") were arrested in the Philippines on suspicion of involvement in bomb attacks and ties to Jemaah Islamiah.

Gale Nettles, previously imprisoned for counterfeiting, was arrested in Chicago for planning to build a fertilizer bomb to destroy a courthouse.

Michael Angelo Osorio, Mark Thomas Kooms, Michael Shane McCormick, Steven Heldenbrand and Kenneth Johnsen, all avowed white supremacists, were found guilty of participating in a racially motivated assault at a Springfield, Missouri restaurant in June 2001. http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/August/04_crt_533.htm

Joseph Rodriguez faces charges of arson, weapons possession and reckless endangerment connected with a subway pipe bomb that exploded in a New York subway. Rodriguez, a former policeman, was one of the first responders to the incident.

Jope Seniloli, Vice President of Fiji, and five others have been convicted of involvement in George Speight's May 2000 coup against the former government and sentenced to prison terms of three years or less. A sixth defendant was acquitted. Speight was earlier convicted as a traitor and sentenced to life in prison.

Faris al-Zahrani, an anti-western cleric number 12 Saudi Arabia's 26 most wanted list, was arrested with no resistance at a cafe near the Yemen border.

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12. Transportation

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reports that "89.5 per cent of over 9000 declared port facilities now have their Port Facility Security Plans (PFSPs) approved, a figure which shows considerable improvement from the 69 per cent reported on the 1 July 2004 entry-into-force date of the new regulatory regime. Equally, the information available from industry sources on International Ship Security Certificates (ISSCs) issued for ships which have to comply with the new regulatory regime, indicates that the compliance rate is now well beyond the 90 per cent mark, which compares favourably with the 86 per cent of approved ship security plans reported on 1 July 2004". http://www.imo.org/home.asp

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on "Maritime Security: Partnering Could Reduce Federal Costs and Facilitate Implementation of Automatic Vessel Identification System". http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-868

The UK Passport Service (UKPS) announced new requirements for passport photographs to incorporate the facial image and data in a chip to create "ePassports" which will be read by border control equipment. Guidelines for passport photographs will be sent out as part of the passport application pack and are online at http://www.passport.gov.uk.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/n_story.asp?item_id=1049

Kyrgyzstan has also introduced a new national passport. It "has sufficient levels of protection [against forgery]. It is not filled in by hand, as was the case before. It also has a digital photo, making it impossible to stick in someone else's photo". http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42509

The US Department of Homeland Security is beginning a pilot in 20 locations including air- and seaports, of biometrically enabled automated border exit procedures for foreign visitors. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3875

The ports of Nagoya and Kobe are the 22nd and 23rd ports to become operational under the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Container Security Initiative (CSI). http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/08022004_1.xml

Operational tests of an explosives trace detection portal are underway at Tampa International Airport in Florida, US. http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=44&content=09000519800bed35

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13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

Note coverage of nuclear issues in World, above.

The EU is providing aid to Cyprus for removal of landmines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has removed three combination antiretrovirals from their list of prequalified medicines after a finding that the generic HIV medicines are not bioequivalent with the originator medicines. They include the triple fixed-dose combination pill containing lamivudine, stavudine and nevirapine in two different strengths and a lamivudine plus zidovudine tablet manufactured by Ranbaxy Laboratories of India. http://mednet3.who.int/prequal/

The Lancet Infectious Diseases offers a review article, "Confronting the avian influenza threat: vaccine development for a potential pandemic". Author Iaia Stephenson et al find that "Sporadic human infection with avian influenza viruses has raised concern that reassortment between human and avian subtypes could generate viruses of pandemic potential. Vaccination is the principal means to combat the impact of influenza. During an influenza pandemic the immune status of the population would differ from that which exists during interpandemic periods. An emerging pandemic virus will create a surge in worldwide vaccine demand and new approaches in immunisation strategies may be needed to ensure optimum protection of unprimed individuals when vaccine antigen may be limited. The manufacture of vaccines from pathogenic avian influenza viruses by traditional methods is not feasible for safety reasons as well as technical issues. Strategies adopted to overcome these issues include the use of reverse genetic systems to generate reassortant strains, the use of baculovirus-expressed haemagglutinin or related -pathogenic avian influenza strains, and the use of adjuvants to enhance immunogenicity. In clinical trials, conventional surface-antigen influenza virus vaccines produced from avian viruses have proved poorly immunogenic in immunologically naive populations. Adjuvanted or whole-virus preparations may improve immunogenicity and allow sparing of antigen." http://infection.thelancet.com/journal/journal.isa

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14. Recently Published

Daphna Baram, "Disenchantment: The Guardian and Israel", Guardian Books

John M Barry, "The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History" Viking

Courtney Angela Brkic, "The Stone Fields: An Epitaph for the Living" Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Steve Crawshaw, "Easier Fatherland: Germany and the Twenty-first Century" Continuum

I. W. Fong and Karl Drlica, editors. "Reemergence of Established Pathogens in the 21st Century" Kluwer Academic/Plenum

Melvyn C. Goldstein et al, "A Tibetan Revolutionary: The Political Life and Times of Bapa Phuntso Wangye", University of California Press

Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri, "Multitude", Penguin Press

Greg Philo and Mike Berry, "Bad News from Israel", Pluto Press

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FEATURE ARTICLE: Terrorism Warnings

On August 1, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, spoke to the United States:

It didn't take long for the questions to begin and as more details emerged, criticism and skepticism of the warning grew. What began as a specific threat gradually grew less immediate as it emerged that the information on which it was based was several years old. Criticism of releasing specific detail about the source of the intelligence swiftly followed. The warnings were purportedly inspired by information obtained while investigating the seized computer files of al Qaeda suspects arrested in Pakistan, primarily Ghailini. The public announcement of this discovery and the details of the surveillance reports forced the British government to take early action in a long-running investigation to make sure that the information revealed in the US did not tip off their suspects and prompt them to leave the UK. Others in the intelligence community questioned this public admission as giving too much information to terrorist operatives. The general public was confused: how were they supposed to respond?

Accusations of political opportunism began to take hold. The Independent, a British daily paper, offered "A Nation in Danger. Or a President in Peril?" on its front page. Opposition politicians pointed out that the warning came three days after the Democratic National Convention nominated its presidential candidate and that the announcement was timed to block any political mileage he might otherwise have garnered. Others pointed to administration inquiries into postponing elections if there was a big attack and their plans for operations if Congress was affected.

Dissatisfaction with the US warning system is not new. The Homeland Security Advisory System was established through a Presidential Directive (HSPD-3) in March 2002. It uses a set of graduated threat levels with a corresponding set of protective measures to quickly communicate information about terrorist risks. Under this directive, threat levels can be assigned for a particular geographic area, industrial sector, or the entire nation. To determine the threat level, criteria such as the credibility of threat information; whether the information is corroborated; the degree to which the threat is specific or imminent; and the gravity of the potential consequences.

Each threat condition is associated with a color code, as follows:

The national threat level is assigned by the Director of Homeland Security in consultation with the Homeland Security Council. Council members include: the President and Vice President Secretaries of Defense, Health and human Services, Homeland Security, Transportation, and Treasury; the Attorney General; and the Directors of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Central Intelligence; and the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security.

Protective measures are determined by a specific organization based on its determination of how it can best reduce its vulnerabilities.

The US has been on Yellow alert since the system was implemented. It was increased to Code Orange on the following occasions:

None of these instances had specific threats regarding targets or means of attack. The August 1 warning was the first time such specific information regarding targets had been included. Although the latest warning included information about targets and suggested that vehicle bombs might be the preferred means of attack, none of these incidents included the other critical piece of information: when.

This vague information and indeterminate guidance regarding the appropriate response feeds into allegations that such warnings are politically motivated. This approach defies acceptable practices in risk communication and serves to increase fear and uncertainty rather than to galvanize appropriate responses. Instead, it is important to follow the basic principles of risk communication.

Warnings need to be communicated through multiple methods and must be clear and specific. Recommended practices include:

Written protocols documenting threat level changes would help set expectations for federal, state and local authorities and would foster better understanding and transparency.

Despite all this, there is a simple approach to terrorist threats: be prepared. The threat level did not, in reality, change from July 31 to August 1. Federal agencies, financial institutions, and other segments of the critical infrastructure already operate in a threat environment that takes account of terrorist attacks and have significantly enhanced their protection and response facilities since the 2001 attacks. Measures beyond normal threat management should only be enforced in extraordinary circumstances since - as has been shown by the restrictions implemented in Washington DC over the last week - such measures have a very negative impact on normal operations.

Information for citizens leaves much room for improvement -- an issue that will be discussed in next week's Feature Article.

Further Reading:

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