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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:
Losing the "War on Terrorism"

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

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1. World

In Pyongyang, Chinese and British delegations are holding intensive talks regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons program. These efforts are greatly hampered by South Korea's revelations first that it had enriched a small amount of uranium and this week that it had extracted small amounts of plutonium. South Korea insists the experiments were unauthorized and not intended for military application but the North says that South Korea's nuclear experiments were military in nature and warned of an arms race, with the North determined to have its own program.

Transatlantic Trends is a public opinion survey from the German Marshall Fund and the Compagnia di San Paolo that, each year, reviews American and European attitudes towards foreign policy concerns. The 2004 report shows a huge gulf with 76 percent of Europeans disapproving of US foreign policy, up by 20 percent over two years. There are also deep divisions over when and under what circumstances to use force. In another new poll, by GlobeScan and the University of Maryland, 30 of 35 countries polled showed a two to one preference for Kerry over Bush in the upcoming presidential election. Only the Philippines, Nigeria, Poland and Thailand gave a margin of support to Bush. http://www.transatlantictrends.org/ http://www.globescan.com

The World Bank's annual review of regulatory performance and reforms in 145 countries finds that Slovakia and Colombia were the world's most successful investment climate reformers over the past year. On the other hand, administrative procedures in poor countries make it twice as difficult to start, operate or close a business compared to rich countries. On average, it takes a business in a rich nation six procedures, 8 percent of income per capita, and 27 days to get started; in a poor or lower-middle-income economy, the same process takes 11 procedures, 122 percent of income per capita, and 59 days. more than a dozen poor countries, registering a new business takes more than 100 days.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20250634~menuPK:34463~pagePK:64003015~piPK:64003012~theSitePK:4607,00.html

Commemorations on the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks in the US were held in the US and other countries whose citizens were caught up in the disaster. Considering other al-Qaida attacks since 1998, The Guardian asks what has terrorism done to the lives of ordinary people from Casablanca to Karachi? Nine people living in the shadow of the bombers told their stories in "Life after Terror": http://www.guardian.co.uk/alqaida/story/0,12469,1301483,00.html

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2. Africa

Algeria's main Islamic militant organization, Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) has selected Abou Mossab Abdelwadoud as their new leader. A former science student and renowned bomb maker, Abdelwadoud replaces Nabil Sahraoui, who was killed by the army in June.

Angola deported several hundred more illegal diamond workers in a continued crackdown against trafficking. The country is eager to leverage the diamond industry for development as they recover from more than ten years of war.

Burundi's elections and long-term stability are under threat from the continued delay for the various political groups to agree to a transitional power-sharing constitution. Demobilization has also been postponed, pending lists of the combatants. The army denied preliminary UN findings that they were involved in the Gatumba camp massacre. Their insistence that National Liberation Forces (FNL) rebels were responsible received backing in a report from Human Rights Watch, "Gatumba Massacre: War Crimes and Political Agendas" http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/09/07/burund9312.htm

Eritrea and Ethiopia are still in stalemate over border resolution. Although there has been no uptake in violence, there has been military buildup and closure again of a key supply route.
http://ods-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N04/474/54/PDF/N0447454.pdf?OpenElement

Guinea has returned the disputed village of Yenga that it had occupied since 1998, to Sierra Leone.

Kenya has resurrected its controversial Suppression of Terrorism Bill despite concerns that as constructed it violates both Kenyan and international laws and may lead to human rights abuses.

In Port Harcourt, Nigeria, militia fighting over the past month has killed at least 100 and displaced more than 6,000.

Somali warlord Mohammed Hersi Siad Hersi ("General Morgan", "Butcher of Hargeisa") marched on the southern port of Kismayo that is now controlled by the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) faction. Following an agreement by regional mediators to pay his debts run up during peace talks at a 5-star hotel in Kenya, he has agreed to stop the march to the port and rejoin peace talks.

The Sudanese government did not meet the UN deadline for ending atrocities in Darfur; in fact they have continued and worsened over the past week. Debate is now underway over what actions to take. The US State Department published "Documenting Atrocities in Darfur", a report the concluded the situation in Sudan was genocide and required immediate international action. Senate hearings on the subject were also held. Sudan denies the charges, insists that the numbers of people killed or displaced has been wildly exaggerated, and refuses to acknowledge any outside authorities over its internal affairs.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/36028.htm
http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2004/hrg040909a.html
http://www.sudanembassy.org/default.asp?page=viewstory&id=318
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11867&Cr=sudan&Cr1=

In Uganda, infantry forces killed 14 rebels and captured 18 in a battle in southern Sudan. Lord's Resistance Army representatives have temporarily called off talks for fear of being attacked.

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3. Americas

In Argentina, thousands of people rallied in protest against the recent acquittal of five people suspected of involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center.

Chile held commemorative services to mark the 1973 death of President Salvador Allende in the military coup led by Augusto Pinochet. Several thousand people were participating in the annual march to the cemetery when violence broke out. Protesters threw molotov cocktails and rocks and police responded with tear gas and water cannons; there were several injuries.

Colombia's attorney general has ordered the arrest of three soldiers and a civilian connected with the death of three trade union leaders. They had been accused of membership in the ELN but an investigation determined there were no such connections and that the accused were trying to cover up a homicide.

In Haiti, illegal militias threaten the country's stability and it is essential that government control and a national police force exert control across the country.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11891&Cr=haiti&Cr1=

Communities in the US and abroad commemorated the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

The New York, Port Authority is joining a lawsuit against Saudi Arabia, charging them with providing financial aid to al Qaeda. The Port Authority owns the World Trade Center site and lost 84 employees in the 9/11 attacks.

New documents posted by the National Security Archives show the US tried 33 times to get the Taliban to expel bin Laden. http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB134/index.htm

An unnamed man held at Guantanamo Bay for nearly three years will be repatriated after a military tribunal determined he is not an enemy combatant.

The US House Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, has held a number of hearings on the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and on September 8 heard about the Health Effects of the attacks, hearing that monitoring efforts are insufficient. http://reform.house.gov/NSETIR/
On this topic, the Government Accountability Office released a report on their findings, used in testimony at the hearings. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-1068T

Governors in a number of states have received envelopes rigged with matches to ignite when opened. The envelopes had a return address from two inmates in a maximum-security prison in Nevada but it is unclear that they are responsible and investigations are underway. There have been no injuries.

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4. Asia Pacific

Australian Prime Minister Howard warned that there had been warnings of terrorist attacks and that this week's bombing of its embassy in Indonesia would not be the last. Security measures, particularly in the transportation sector and at embassies, have been enhanced.

Voters in Hong Kong are for the first time directly electing 30 of the 60 members of the Legislative Council. The other half of the seats are appointed, and actual power resides in the Chinese administration. In the run-up to the September 12 elections human rights groups accused China of intimidating the pro-democracy opposition; China has taken a hard line against the increasing number of protesters.

In Taiwan, three men have been charged in connection with the pre-election shooting of President Chen but they are not accused of the shooting itself. Taiwan's parliament wants an independent investigation.

In Jakarta, Indonesia, a massive car bomb exploded outside the Australian Embassy, killing nine and injuring more than 170. There was at least one suicide bomber and possibly as many as three. Jemaah Islamiah (JI) has claimed responsibility in a statement posted on a web site; it fits the pattern of other JI attacks.

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5. Europe

Irish Prime Minister Ahern and British Prime Minister Blair are meeting to review their strategy ahead of negotiations next week over Northern Ireland, whose devolved government remains suspended.

In Moldova's breakaway Transdniestria region the new school year started without resolution of the issue of Moldovan Latin script teaching. More than a thousand students are not in school.

Details of the Russian school siege continue to unfold. At least 330 died and hundreds more were injured. The number of nationality of the attackers is still disputed, but President Putin has announced a parliamentary commission to investigate the attack. He has ruled out an independent inquiry. Putin has named Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev the responsible leader; the government is offering substantial financial rewards for information about the attackers.

The Spanish parliamentary commission investigating events into the March 11 Madrid train bombings plans to call additional witnesses and says that the investigation could extend for weeks or months before they are ready to present their conclusions. Spain has assigned a special force of 1700 security agents to focus on preventing nuclear, chemical or biological attacks. Basque separatist group ETA has claimed responsibility for detonating explosives in nine coastal towns last month, targeting Spanish economic and tourist interests.

In the UK at least 30 letter bombs, made of plastic food boxes filled with lighter fluid and sometimes other substances or devices, have been sent to a number of homes in Bedfordshire and elsewhere. A suspect, Justin McAuliffe, is wanted for questioning.

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6. Middle East

Israeli forces launched a week of operations in Gaza in response to last weeks' suicide bombings and to stop rocket attacks. The operations have been among the deadliest this year, starting with helicopter strikes against a Hamas camp that killed 14 militants and wounded more than 20, including bystanders. Hamas has vowed revenge and Prime Minister Qurei said that a response by Hamas would be justified. Israeli forces firing into a refugee camp shot a 10-year-old schoolgirl in the head when a random shot went into the classroom window. Next, tanks, bulldozers and attack helicopters sealed off parts of northern Gaza to target rocket launches. Clashes during these operations killed at least 12 Palestinians and injured more than 60, including a 10-year-old boy shot by a tank-mounted machine gun while he played. Among the dead were a member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and a member of Hamas. The 4-day operation ended but borders are sealed for the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

Iran has reiterated its right to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is preparing to deliver its latest report, and it is likely to lead to some form of Security Council action. .

In Iraq, the death count continues to rise. The toll of US military personnel killed now exceeds 1,000, All but 140 of the deaths occurred after US President Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" and an end to "major combat operations". Nonetheless, this represents less than a tenth of Iraqi fatalities. http://www.iraqbodycount.net/ http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2004/d20040907cas.pdf

Fighting this week centered on Sadr City although violence occurred throughout the country. The US is considering diverting a portion of funds targeted for development to security and has suggested that elections may be held with the exclusion of some particularly violent areas. US forces have already withdrawn from Falluja, Samarra and Ramadi, leaving these three major cities under the control of local sheiks and clerics. The Financial Times editorial of September 10 said that "US forces are part of the problem rather than the solution" and it is time to consider withdrawal.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/ 1a93c6de-02ca-11d9-a968-00000e2511c8.html (registration)

International staff working for the United Nations in Iraq are "operating at the outer limit of acceptable and prudent risk," Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, promising to "do everything possible, as circumstances permit, to support Iraqi efforts in the political and economic reconstruction of their country". His new report to the Security Council warns that the UN presence in Iraq is limited because of insecurity, with no country committing to provide any security staff for UN workers. http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2004/710

At a West Bank checkpoint a booby-trapped car exploded, killing the Palestinian driver.

Yemen says its forces have killed rebel Shia cleric Hussein al-Houthi and a number of his aides, putting an end to his 2-month-old rebellion.
http://www.sabanews.net/view.php?scope=f9129&dr=4138db66-414215e5&ir=&id=77812

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7. South Asia

Afghan governor and powerful warlord Ismail Khan of Herat refused President Karzai's offer of the post of minister of mines and industries and has been dismissed as governor of Herat. Following his ouster there has been widespread violent unrest including an arson attack against the UN compound. At least seven people have been killed. This is just the most recent example of a pattern of insecurity and intimidation that threaten October's presidential election. In another twist, Ayman al-Zawahri, bin Laden's deputy, provided a tape claiming that mujahedeen control much of Afghanistan have drive US forces into trenches, leaving an open field for the holy fighters. Despite all this, the presidential campaign was kicked off, with the first and only female candidate, Dr Massouda Jalal, opening the race.

The Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and the Maoist rebel People's War Group have reached an impasse but it is believed that the current ceasefire will be extended beyond September 16.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, a landmine explosion killed two Indian paramilitary soldiers and in a gunfight two soldiers and two militants were killed. Talks between India and Pakistan ended with promises but no progress as the stalemate over Kashmir continues.

India and Nepal held talks over combating the Maoist rebels in Nepal in which India promised more military aid. Meanwhile, the curfew in Kathmandu has been lifted and an inquiry has been launched into last week's violent protests over the murder of 12 Nepalese hostages in Iraq.

Pakistan conducted operations against a suspected al Qaeda training base occupied by Chechen, Uzbek and Arab militants. The bombings reportedly killed 50 militants but there are also reports of many civilian casualties. In the gunfight that followed a landmine attack against an army vehicle, six militants were killed.

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

At celebrations commemorating the 20th anniversary of DNA fingerprinting, Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, its inventor warned that DNA databases should expanded to prevent false positives, and therefore false identification. Police today normally record ten DNA markers but with a current British police database of 2.5 million people this method is no longer foolproof. The use of 15 or 16 markers would reduce the chances of two people sharing a profile to one in a trillion. http://www.le.ac.uk/press/20thAnnivofDNA.html

"Army rebuilds networks after hack attack: Hackers access Fort Campbell's network, spurring a massive fix" is the subject of a News Briefing by Frank Tiboni in the September 6 issue of Federal Computer Week. The article covers a network upgrade that could cost as much as $30 million for the single installation. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/0906/news-campb-09-06-04.asp

US federal bank, thrift and credit union agencies released a brochure with information to help consumers identify and combat phishing frauds. http://www.ots.treas.gov/docs/7/77437.html

WinZip has released a patch for a highly critical security flaw that could allow a remote attacker to execute malicious code and case a buffer overflow. http://www.winzip.com/upgrade.htm

Apple has released a Mac OS X update that fixes 15 security fixes including a critical flaw in Kerberos authentication. http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxcombinedupdate_10_3_5_.html

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9. Finance

The investigation into financing of the Equatorial Guinea coup plot has spread even further afield. Authorities in Guernsey have been asked to force a bank to provide payment details of accounts held by alleged coup ringleader Simon Mann. A list written by one of the men involved allegedly names the people, mostly prominent businessmen, who financed the coup plot. The "wonga list" includes, London-based Lebanese oil millionaire Ely Calil, his associate Karim Fallaha, property dealer Gary Hersham, South-African-based businessman David Tremain, and Mark Thatcher, son of the former prime minister, who was arrested in August. Author Jeffrey Archer has also made payments to Mr. Mann's company. http://www.guardian.co.uk/equatorialguinea/story/0,15013,1301405,00.html
Special Report: http://www.guardian.co.uk/equatorialguinea/0,15013,1291350,00.html

The Bank of Ireland has been fined GPB 375,000 for failing to have in place systems to detect suspicious transactions worth approximately GPB2 million. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) found that between 1998 and 2002, 40 bank drafts were issued for cash for one of the branch's largest customers. The cash used to purchase the bank drafts was deposited in an internal branch account without first passing through the customer's account, allowing the customer to use it as a deposit account and disguising the true owner and source of the funds. Bank staff was aware these activities were outside normal bank practices but did not understand how to recognize them as specific transactions presenting a risk of money laundering. The abuse was discovered during a March 2003 branch audit that showed GBP 1.8 million in outstanding drafts. These are now being investigated by law enforcement. http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/press/2004/077.html http://www.aib.ie

The US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated the US branch of the Saudi Arabia-based Al Haramain Islamic Foundation (AHF) and Suliman Al-Buthe, one of their directors, as a specially designates global terrorists. Treasury alleges that they engaged in money laundering and criminal tax offenses connected with concealing the movement of funds intended for Chechnya by omitting them from tax returns and misstating their use, which they claimed was for the purchase of a prayer house in Springfield, Missouri. http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1895.htm
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20040909.shtml

Nigerian President Obasanjo may have decided to reduce pressure for debt forgiveness after a World Bank finding that funds stolen by government officials had increased from $50 billion in 1990 to $170 billion in 2003. http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/nationalx/nr229082004.html

The US Office of Foreign Assets Control will begin using new automated procedures to create the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) File beginning with the next update. http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20040903.shtml

Brazil's Justice Minister Bastos discussed the fight against corruption and money laundering in an interview with Sao Paulo O Estado de Sao Paulo. The government is beginning a system to prevent corruption in government procurement.
http://www.ds-osac.org/view.cfm?key=7E4356404451&type=2B170C1E0A3A0F162820

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10. Human Rights

The US Senate Committee on Armed Services held hearings on the report of the Independent Panel to Review Department of Defense Detention Operations and the Investigation of the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade at Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq. During the course of the testimony it emerged that the US may have secretly held as many as a hundred secret "ghost" detainees - far more than previously thought. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to whom this practice was attributes, was said to have refused to provide information about the detainees.
http://armed-services.senate.gov/e_witnesslist.cfm?id=1293
http://armed-services.senate.gov/e_witnesslist.cfm?id=1294

The Women's League of Burma report "System of Impunity" says that the military government sanctions sexual violence including rape as a tool of the armed forces used to subdue ethnic minorities. The military junta has denied the accusation. http://www.womenofburma.org/Statement&Release/SI_Press_releaseSept_04.doc

Australia's High Court ruled that under the Citizenship Act just being born in Australia did not grant citizenship and that Parliament had the authority to determine the regulations that currently require that at least one parent is an Australian citizen or permanent or long-term resident.

Gender equality in Asia-Pacific was the subject of an intergovernmental meeting last week, identifying persistent challenges including the disproportionate number of women among the poor, low levels of women's participation in all levels of decision-making, high HIV/AIDS prevalence, and violence against women including trafficking. http://www.unescap.org/ International Literacy Day, marked on September 8, also focused on issues of gender inequality. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11865&Cr=literacy&Cr1=

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11. Law and Legal Issues

Yigal Amir, convicted assassin of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, secretly married in late August and is now appealing to the Israeli Supreme Court against the ban on his conjugal visits.

Sven Jaschan, who confessed to authoring the Sasser and NetSky worms, has been charged in Germany with computer sabotage.

Simon Mann, the alleged mastermind of the Equatorial Guinea coup plot, was sentenced to seven years prison by a Zimbabwean court for attempting to illegally purchase weapons. 65 other suspected mercenaries was sentenced to 12 months in jail and the two men who flew a plane to Zimbabwe to pick up weapons were sentenced to 16-months.

Johan Meyer was arrested last week in South Africa under the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and the Nuclear Energy Act after 11 shipping containers containing components of a gas centrifuge and related documentation were seized from his factory. Following his agreement to cooperate in a broader investigation into Abdul Khan's "nuclear supermarket" the charges were dropped.

Slobodan Milosevic refused to cooperate with the two lawyers appointed to conduct his defense in light of the state of the defendant's health. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has granted counsel's request to appeal their appointment. http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2004/p893-e.htm

Arturo Montano Torres has been indicted in the US on charges of attempted murder and use of a weapon of mass destruction, a grenade, in a November 2003 attack at a popular entertainment and shopping area aimed against US nationals. Montano was arrested in Colombia after the attack and is currently in Colombian custody. He is believed to be a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). http://www.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel04/farc.htm

Ladislav Niznansky, accused of massacring 146 people in two Slovakian villages in 1945 and ordering the execution of 18 Jews, including children, is on trial in Munich. As those involved in WW II age, this could be the last such war crimes trial. Niznansky is 86.

Alfredo Stroessner's extradition from Brazil to Paraguay has been requested so he can face charges connected with his military rule from 1954 to 1989. During that time he was involved in Operation Condor, a campaign by regional military dictators to put an end to any opposition. Stroessner has political asylum in Brazil.

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12. Transportation

Nigeria's Chief of Naval Staff disclosed that the country loses $10 million each week to illegal oil bunkering and accused Nigerian police of complicity in the disappearance of a vessel that had been impounded by the navy for illegal bunkering. The House of Representatives Committee on Navy is investigating the disappearance of the vessel that had carried 15,000 barrels of crude oil. http://allafrica.com/stories/200409090496.html

Miami International Airport employees discovered a young woman hiding in a wooden crate after shipping herself to the US from Nassau, Bahamas. The case is under investigation. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/08302004.xml

Defense chiefs of the Five Powers security pact members Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK met to discuss cooperation in combating unconventional security threats including terrorism. They launched the Ex Bersama Lima joint counterterrorism exercise in which more than 31 ships, 60 aircraft, 2 submarines and other elements will perform joint operations in a multiple threat scenario that will be completed September 25. http://www.mindef.gov.sg/display.asp?number=2215

Poland and the US signed the Immigration Advisory Program (IAP) to screen passengers on direct flights between the two countries, so reducing problems related to invalid or expired visas or other defective documents. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/09082004.xml

The US Transportation Security Administration announced a partnership with funeral homes to ensure safe transportation of cremated remains through airport security checkpoints. In addition to documentation provided by the funeral home, containers must be made of a material that can expose the contents through the X-ray machine. The funeral home can provide a temporary container for transportation then obtain a permanent container at their destination, with a free transfer of the remains. http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=44&content=09000519800ca4ec

Border Security in the US has been criticized in reports from the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General. The Biometric Visa Program is being implemented on schedule but without guidance on how to use it and the IDENT database. GAO says "For example, officers are unclear about whether fingerprints of visa applicants should be collected before or during the visa interview, whether information on visa applicants from the DHS database should be considered buy the visa-adjudicating officer during or after the interview, and who should have responsibility for reviewing the IDENT information before visa issuance". The Inspector General reports that 9 of the 10 Homeland Security officials assigned to a special counterterrorism program directed towards Saudi Arabian citizens did not read or speak Arabic and that overall the officials lacked the necessary skills to evaluate the visa applications.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-1001
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-1080T
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0326.xml

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13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

Russia has increased security at nuclear plants following the Beslan school attacks. Russia participates in the Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) program to reduce the threat of Russia's aging nuclear submarines and other environmental effects. However the Government Accountability Office (GAO) suggests US investment in this program be reviewed. AMEC's May 2004 strategic plan proposed improving security of Russian nuclear submarine bases and spent fuel but these goals could be contrary to the US policy precluding assistance to most operational military sites containing nuclear weapons. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-924

Riverkeeper is calling for the immediate closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plant following their report that claims that a terrorist attack or accident so close to Manhattan could have devastating effects. http://www.riverkeeper.org/

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is holding an International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management to address an aging nuclear workforce without a corresponding influx of appropriately qualified younger replacements. The recent trend has been for fewer students to study nuclear science, nuclear engineering and related fields at university level, and for universities to give up nuclear education programs altogether. http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2004/knowledge.html

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO warned that high quantities of toxic chemical waste from unused or obsolete pesticides present a ticking time bomb in many poor regions of the world. Stocks include: 50,000 tons in 53 African countries; 19,500 tons in Ukraine; 10,000 tons in Macedonia; 15,000 tons in Poland; 6,600 tons in Moldova; 10,000 tons declared in the Middle East and Latin America; and 6,000 tons in Asia excluding China. The stockpiles built up as products previously used to control pests were banned. http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2004/50119/index.html

Thailand's Ministry of Health confirmed a human death from avian influenza H5N1 in another sign that a human pandemic is on the horizon. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_09_09/en/

The US Postal Service relied on public health officials to determine the level of risk during the 2001 anthrax mailings. These risks were underestimated. In addition guidance in dealing with such crises needs to be updated to improve accuracy and clarity and incorporate proactive measures and similar practices. These were the findings of a new GAO report: http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-239

The US National Research Council (NRC) released a report, "Seeking Security: Pathogens, Open Access, and Genome Databases" that finds the benefit of free interchange of information outweighs risk in access to genome data on microbial pathogens, including potential agents of bioterrorism. http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11087.html

The US ban on assault weapons is set to expire on September 13. The ban against military-style weapons had been put in place under the Reagan administration.

For the first time, a US gun manufacturer has agreed to pay damages for negligent distribution of its weapons. Victims of the Washington DC sniper shootings and their families were awarded $550,000 from the manufacturer Bushmaster Firearms, who also agreed to educate dealers on gun safety. The dealer who sold the rifle used in the shootings, Bull's Eye Shooter Supply, paid the victims $2 million. http://www.bushmaster.com/

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14. Recently Published

Paul Goldenberger, "Up From Zero: Politics, Architecture and the Rebuilding of New York" Random House

Bob Graham with Jeff Nussbaum, "Intelligence Matters" Random House

Jussi Hanhimaki, "The Flawed Architect: Henry Kissinger and American Foreign Policy" Oxford University Press

Sam Harris, "The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason" WW Norton

Michael T Klare, "Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Petroleum Dependency" Metropolitan

Chris Mackey and Greg Miller, "The Interrogators: Inside the Secret War Against al-Qaeda" Little Brown

Jonathan Randal, "Osama: The Making of a Terrorist" Knopf

Imam Samudra, "I Fight Terrorists", Bambang Sukirno (autobiography of the convicted Bali bomber) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3634264.stm

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FEATURE ARTICLE: Losing the "War on Terrorism"

Put aside the policy spin and look at the facts. Terrorism is a greater force in the world today than at any time in recorded history. Rather than reducing the threat of terrorism the "war on terrorism" has instead provided a spark that, riding on the back of globalization, spreads farther and grows more deadly with each passing day.

Modeling the risk of terrorism, like other low frequency, high impact events, is more akin to game theory or weather prediction than to the cold logistics and balance of force posed by more traditional events that are either manmade or frequent enough to have some level of statistical predictability. Complacency in the US that there has not been a domestic attack since 9/11 is misplaced at best. The fact that Florida had not seen a truly devastating hurricane for more than a decade was irrelevant this season, where damages have already exceeded the 1992 record set by Hurricane Andrew. Hurricanes, unlike terrorists, announce their presence in advance and run their course within known parameters.

Foreign Policy in Focus, a joint project of the Institute for Policy Studies and the Interhemispheric Resource Center, has released a new Terrorism Task Force report. "A Secure America in a Secure World" finds that "The Bush administration's 'war on terrorism' reflects a major failure of leadership and makes Americans more vulnerable rather than more secure". Acknowledging improvements in airline and border security, measures against terrorist financing, international intelligence sharing, arrest of al Qaida figures, and disruption of attacks, the report goes on to cite six factors that have made US citizens more - not less - vulnerable:

Another report from the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team to the UN Security Council provides a detailed technical analysis that is even more damning. Their review of the sanctions program finds that the threat from al Qaeda is as great as ever and has taken on a new form through which, "Using minimal resources and exploiting worldwide publicity, they have managed to create an international sense of crisis". Rather than a command and control operation, al Qaeda has "become a global network of groups unbound by any organizational structure but held together by a set of overlapping goals..... Perceived injustices and images of violent confrontation have ensured a steady flow of new supporters".

In this context, the findings of terrorist financing present a frightening reality:
"Al-Qaida operations are not characterized by high cost. Only the sophisticated attacks of 11 September 2001 required significant funding of over six figures. Other Al-Qaida terrorist operations have been far less expensive. The simultaneous truck bombings of the United States embassies in Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania in August 1998 are estimated to have cost less than $50,000; the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole in Aden less than $10,000; the Bali bombings in October 2002 less than $50,000; the 2003 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarts about $30,000; the November 2003 attacks in Istanbul less than $40,000; and the March 2004 attacks in Madrid about $10,000."

With such low capital requirements, it is easy to see why efforts to combat terrorist financing have limited success. Unfortunately, other measures are also flawed. One of the most serious is associated with sharing information used to control travel and for other similar purposes. The report points to problems with the consolidated list of individuals and entities connected with al Qaida and the Taliban. These include the dependence on States to submit names, problems with list maintenance, and technical issues such as the lack of detail in many entries. For example, "Many entities lack basic identifiers, such as date of birth, nationality and passport information, which makes enforcement action virtually impossible. Several States have also noted inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the spelling and transliteration of names, and seek a standard approach."

How to deal with these threats? This report makes technical recommendations for improvement including updates to controls on finance and travel to reflect current al Qaida methodologies and further measures to achieve greater international cooperation.

The Foreign Policy in Focus report suggests a new framework for operating as "terrorism is an ongoing threat that needs to be tacked through a strong, coordinated strategy focused on strengthening civilian public sectors and enhancing the international cooperation necessary to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks. Although the military has a clear role to play, it is a supporting actor in the fight against terrorism and Washington must restructure the military in ways that enhance its capacities to respond to the threat posed by international terrorism". There are four parts to this framework:

This framework is one useful way to begin to construct policy alternatives and to understand the risks of the current policy. Links, to the full reports and other materials that look at the costs and risks associated with the current "war on terrorism" policy, are cited below.

Above all, it is important to understand that terrorism is rooted in chaos and relies on unpredictable, asymmetric actions to meet its goals. Terrorism is not war and, particularly today when we face a decentralized international threat, it cannot be combated solely through traditional military actions. The 9/11 Commission said that the largest failure in events leading up to September 11 was a failure of imagination. A Chinese proverb puts it more clearly:
Insanity is doing the same thing in the same way and expecting a different outcome.

Further Reading:

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