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CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR:

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. Books of the Year

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

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1. World

While 2004 was the year in which natural disasters overwhelmed those that were manmade, 2005 has been the year in which the magnitude of extreme weather events was fully appreciated. From the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season and the South Asian earthquake, disasters over the last year have had a profound impact on the social and political environments in which they occurred. As the full effects of climate change emerges, the repercussions will spread even further, ranging from a new class of environmental refugees to major changes in settlement patterns and economic growth. These relationships were investigated in news reports and feature articles during the year, including:

With terrorist attacks doubling every year since the US-led invasion of Iraq, the evolution of al Qaeda to an international network of affiliated interests that has spread across the world was profoundly illustrated by suicide bombings in London, Jordan, India and Bangladesh. The deadliest attack of the year, and the deadliest since the invasion, was a suicide car bomb outside a health clinic in Hilla, Iraq on 28 February. The attack, by al Qaeda in Iraq, killed at least 125 people and injured more than 140. News of the attacks were covered in TerrorismCentral's weekly News Highlights, accompanied by a number of analytical articles:

Despite the demonstrated failure, both historically and at the present, to address effectively terrorist threats through military means, regional and international leaders failed to reach agreement even on the definition of terrorism, and no progress was made on the deadly threat of radiological and nuclear materials coming into terrorist hands.
"Counterterrorism at the 2005 World Summit"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/091805.html#FeatureArticle
"The Madrid Summit"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/032005.html#FeatureArticle
"Mapping the Global Future: the NIC 2020 Project Report"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/011605.html#FeatureArticle
"Opening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conferenc"e https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/050805.html#FeatureArticle
"Closing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference" https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/052905.html#FeatureArticle

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2. Africa

Positive economic developments in Africa, with average annual growth of five percent, has been somewhat overshadowed by stagnation of personal income, falling life expectancy, and moves away from democracy in several countries, including Ethiopia and Uganda.

Northwest Africa was identified as critical in counterterrorism efforts. This was reviewed in a Feature Article, "Terrorism in the Maghreb and Sahel" in April:
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/041705.html#FeatureArticle

In Algeria militants with the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) and other groups continued attacks against a variety of targets, primarily directed against government and security forces. The largest suspected GSPC attack was an explosion that killed 13 government guards travelling by truck. This and other attacks the first half of the year killed more than 80 people. Militant activities are unlikely to be reduced following a successful government referendum for reconciliation, granting amnesty to security forces associated with the 1990s civil war in which some 6,000 citizens disappeared. Berber groups achieved concessions including official status for their language.

Botswana denied accusations of ethnic cleansing against the Bushmen of the central Kalahari, where diamond deposits have been identified.

Burundi continued its efforts to ensure a lasting peace under the terms of the 2003 agreement that ended the civil war. In March, a power-sharing constitution was approved and the head of the Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD), Pierre Nkurunziza, was elected president. The National Liberation Forces (FNL) continue operations, refusing to engage in peace talks with the new government.

Chad and Sudan are at daggers drawn over border incursions and widespread abuses at the hands of government and rebel militias. Chad supports massive numbers of internally displaced persons and refugees from Sudan's Darfur region and other areas. A recent rebel attack undertaken by Sudanese Janjaweed rebels who killed a hundred people in Chad, has greatly escalated tensions.

Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) eastern area is in active conflict. Government and UN troops have been undertaking operations against rebel groups in the area. Internal displacement is a serious problem, and the security situation limits provision of aid. In other parts of the country, repatriation (including Rwandan rebels) is ongoing. A large majority approved the new constitution. Ugandan rebels with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have used DRC for operations, leading to Ugandan army incursions. Prior Ugandan incursions and plundering during DRCs civil war will be subject to compensation under a recent International Court of Justice decision.

Equatorial Guinea's President Obiang Nguema remains in power after the failed 2004 coup plot, involving an international cast that included Mark Thatcher, the son of the former British Prime Minister, and other international figures. Some 60 of those involved in the coup were repatriated from Zimbabwe to South Africa, six Armenians were pardoned, and some two dozen defendants, mostly military officers, were jailed.

Eritrea, angry that Ethiopia had not acceded to the UN border commission's delineation, began taking punitive action. They have banned UN helicopter flights, limited movement, and ordered peacekeepers from North America and Europe expelled. There are significant troop buildups at the border. Eritrea was found guilty of starting the long-running war with Ethiopia by attacking first.

Ethiopia held its elections in May, but protests over alleged fraud led to persistent violence in which more than 80 people were killed. Thousands of people, including opposition politicians and journalists, were detained. About 80 of them have been charged with treason and genocide. Ethiopia has refused to remove its troops from the town of Badme, over which the war with Eritrea began, and has built up troops at the border.

Guinea-Bissau held presidential elections in which the former military ruler Joao Bernardo Vieira was declared the victor. Tensions rose after the results were disputed but have largely subsided.

Ivory Coast remains divided between the rebel-held north and southern regions under control of a provisional government. In the divided country, violence has been increasing and elections have been delayed. Peace mediators supported a new government led by newprime minister Charles Konan Banny, an economist who will organize elections and undertake disarmament and reintegration efforts.

Liberia held presidential elections in November, making Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf the first woman elected head of state in an African country. Clashes followed the defeat of football star George Weah, but he has dropped his electoral challenges for the sake of peace. Stability is threatened by the lack of governance and by the continued abuse of natural resources in exchange for arms, leading the UN to continue sanctions.

Morocco's truth commission investigated human rights abuses under King Hassan II (1956-99) and reported that 592 people were killed. There has been no resolution of the situation in Western Sahara, a disputed region with a desire for independence. Moroccan troops shot dead six Africans among hundreds attempting to migrate by entering Morocco and storming the borders of the Spanish enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta. Hundreds of illegal migrants were deported.

Nigeria's constitutional reforms resulted in little change and have not addressed the issue of shariah law in the north. There have been a number of clashes in the north, most recently in connection with a ruling that women could not ride in a cab driven by an unrelated male. In the oil-rich Niger Delta, there are serious conflicts including attacks by militants against foreign gas and oil firms that have not provided the promised investments in local communities, criminal gangs, and ethnic rivalries. Oil production was badly affected by a pipeline ruptured by militants.

Rwanda marked the 10th anniversary of the genocide. Legal actions against those responsible have been taking place in both local gacaca courts and, for the most serious abuses, the international court. Many of those who fled and established militia groups in DRC have begun disarming and are being repatriated for reintegration.

In Sierra Leone the last UN peacekeeping troops have left the country, ending their 5-year mission to restore order at the end of the civil war.

Somalia's transitional government, inaugurated in Auguts 2004, returned from its exile in Somalia. Bitter disagreement over whether parliament should sit in the capital, Mogadishu, or in a less dangerous area continued to divide the government. Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi survived at least two major assassination attempts, including one in May that killed ten people and one in November that killed six. Militia groups continue operating, and levels of piracy have increased, hindering aid.

Sudan reached a comprehensive peace deal in January with the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). A power-sharing constitution was signed in July. SPLA leader John Garang died in a helicopter crash in July, igniting riots that left 130 people dead. He had played a crucial role in the peace process. Now, the most serious conflict in Darfur, where Sudanese-backed militias continue to attack villages and are joined with criminal gangs in also attacking aid workers. There are widespread human rights abuses, including murder, razing of villages, and serious abuse of women and children.

Tanzania and the semi-autonomous Zanzibar held elections accompanied by serious levels of political violence. In October, the governing party won elections in Zanzibar, though elections in Tanzania had been postponed due to violence. In December the ruling party candidate, Jakaya Kikwete, won the presidential election.

Ugandans in the north suffered dozens of attacks from the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), involving hundreds of casualties. Civilians were the main target, including children, many of whom are abducted and forced to act as soldiers and in other abusive roles. Civlians have also been killed during army operations. Uganda's parliament amended the constitution to eliminate presidential term limits. President Museveni now plans to run for a third term.

Zimbabwe accelerated operations against the poor, opposition politicians, journalists, and the general population. The economy is collapsing.

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3. Americas

Argentina's Supreme Court found a law granting amnesty to former military officers unconstitutional, opening the way for their prosecution for human rights abuses during the 1976-83 military regime. Argentina's government has accepted blame for failing to adequately investigate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center. Hezbollah has denied involvement in this attack. Iran has also denied involvement.

Bolivia has elected its first indigenous president, Evo Morales. He came to power after former President Mesa stepped down, blaming anti-government protests over rising fuel prices.

Brazil's Landless Rural Workers' Movement (MST) stepped up farm occupations and other protests to put pressure on the government to settle hundreds of thousands of landless peasants, often leading to clashes with landowners. A congressional inquiry determined that land invasions should be considered acts of terrorism. This determination is pending review by the full congress. Death squads, rogue police, and serious prison violence also threaten security in a country.

Canada sent the navy to the Arctic port of Churchill in an assertion of territorial claims over an uninhabited island also claimed by Denmark. Such issues are of increasing importance as the ice melts and opens access to potential new natural resources. Canada has opened an inquiry into the 1985 Air India Flight 182 disaster, following the acquittal of two men accused of the bombing. Note TerrorismCentral coverage of this incident:

Chile undertook constitutional reform and moved forward with human rights and other charges against former President Pinochet. Presidential elections face a second round in January, pitting socialist Michelle Bachelet, who had the most votes in December, against conservative Sebastian Pinera.

Colombia worked with the right-wing paramilitary United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) to disarm and opened discussions with the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN). The largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has increased its attacks, primarily targeting government forces, and have expanded their tactics to include blockades and attacks against transportation and other infrastructure targets. FARC has been responsible for dozens of attacks involving scores of casualties.

Haiti is plagued by instability, including serious political and criminal violence. Elections have been postponed three times and are likely to be postponed again because of continuing organizational problems.

Peru has begun to compensate victims of the guerilla war with Shining Path rebels, following recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Shining Path remnants continued sporadic operations, including a serious incident in December in which eight anti-drug police were killed, leading to a state of emergency in six provinces.

The United States dominance as the world's sole super power is threatened by a combination of evolving economic realities and significant declines in the respect in which the country was once held. President Bush lacks credibility and popularity both at home and abroad. The sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina, the reality of the expanding conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, a series of scandals related to prisoner abuse and abuse of presidential power, and illegal acts on the part of close administration associates have undermined the president's - and the country's moral authority. In the Newsletter, we covered additional information that emerged regarding 9/11:

Intelligence reorganization was a major theme of 2005. Among the impact, it changed the way in which the Department of State reported terrorist attacks, moving statistical analysis to the new National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
The US Congress requires that the Secretary of State provide annual country reports on terrorism each year, no later than April 30. The report must provide detailed assessments of countries in which international terrorist acts of major significance occurred, relevant information about terrorist groups, intergovernmental cooperation, international counterterrorism efforts, and foreign support of terrorist activities.
"US International Terrorism Reports"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/050105.html#FeatureArticle

Now, TerrorismCentral editor, Anna Sabasteanski has compiled the reports from 1985 to the present, and incorporated additional analysis and supplementary materials.

The Newsletter also covered
"Terror Within: Domestic Extremism in the US"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/042405.html#FeatureArticle
"Ecoterrorism"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/052205.html#FeatureArticle
"State Homeland Security"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/030605.html#FeatureArticle

Venezuela began the year with a land reform decree to redistribute large holdings. Parliamentary elections at the end of the year were boycotted by opposition parties, which gave President Chavez a large majority.

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4. Asia Pacific

Counterterrorism cooperation among Asian countries increased significantly in the past year, including joint training, exercises, and patrols. Countries including Australia and Indonesia are working on stronger anti-terrorism legislation.

Australia's experience of terrorism has largely involved attacks in which its interests and citizens were involved in other countries, particularly Indonesia. In November, police undertook a major series of raids they say foiled a large-scale attack, possibly involving a nuclear reactor. Tough new counterterrorism legislation is being debated, particularly clauses that could threaten civil liberties.

Burma's ruling military junta remains in power, although recently relocated to a new location nearer the center of the country, and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest. A series of explosions in May killed 23 people, variously attributed to the government and opposition groups. Military operations against ethnic minorities have led to significant levels of civilian fatalities and a range of human rights abuses.

China, in its rapid economic expansion, has realized that the impact on rural communities has reached a point where it must be addressed. Unprecedented protests, often violent, have taken place in response to environmental harm, land disputes, and similar changes. The government is beginning to address these issues, including relative openness regarding two serious chemical leaks that threatened large water supplies. Muslims in Xinjiang, under the guise of counterterrorism, have been subject to severe repression that some reports suggest could radicalize the population.

Indonesia was able to leverage the December 2004 tsunami disaster to resolve the decades-long conflict in Aceh. The epicenter of the disaster, the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the central government reached a peace agreement that, at the end of 2005, has achieved disarmament and troop withdrawals. Indonesia continues to suffer from sectarian violence, including the horrific beheading of three schoolgirls, and from militant Islamists responsible for another attack in Bali in which three suicide bombers killed themselves and 20 others.

Malaysia has undertaken significant operations targeting the regional Jemaah Islamiah group, but these actions have also led to accusations of abuse. Malaysia and Thailand have been cooperating to control militant attacks at their shared border.

The Philippines military released the following statistics related to fatalities from insurgent violence in 2005: 723 soldiers were killed; 1,810 members of the communist New People's Army (NPA); 171 Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremists; 118 separatists with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Deaths of police and civilians were not included. One of the most serious attacks of 2005 was a series of three Abu Sayyaf bombings in February that killed 11 and injured 130.

In Thailand sectarian violence led to hundreds of attacks, primarily in the south, most attributed to Islamic militants. Small bombs and drive-by shootings in civilian areas are common, many targeting schoolteachers. Martial law has been imposed in some areas to help control the violence.

Uzbekistan's eastern city of Andijan was the scene of large anti-government demonstrations, including attacks against prisons and other unrest. The government responded with force, and hundreds of protesters were killed. Witnesses and human rights groups called this a massacre. US criticism of the action led to the eviction of US forces from an airbase used for operations in Afghanistan.

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5. Europe

European counterterrorism cooperation, including new intelligence monitoring authorities, began after the 2004 Madrid bombings, but increased dramatically following the 7 July attacks in London, including a new focus on travel and transportation security.
"The Madrid Summit:
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/032005.html#FeatureArticle

Cyprus remains divided, but diplomatic efforts led by the UN continue, and Greek Cyprus' accession to the European Union has increased pressure for a resolution.

France conducted counterterrorism operations against a number of threats, including Basque separatists with ETA and a number of suspected Islamic militants. Riots in Paris were connected to economic disparities in migrant communities, largely from North Africa. These led to fears of increased militancy, the use of emergency powers, and tough new anti-terrorism legislation.

Georgia is still grappling with the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where there have been a number of incidents. Russian troops have begun to withdraw; a process that will be completed in late 2008.

Germany's courtroom success with terrorism trials demonstrates that legal means can be effective and that "extraordinary renditions" including that of one of its citizens, are unnecessary. Elections in September were very close, leading to a "grand coalition" with conservative Angela Merkel the first woman Chancellor.

In Greece, suspected anarchists were responsible for a few small bombs that caused a few casualties and property damage.

Ireland is working closely with the UK to restore devolution to Northern Ireland.

Italy implemented additional anti-terrorism measures and launched a number of investigations and prosecutions, including holding a suspect in the 21 July attempted bombings in London.

The Netherlands implemented new anti-terrorism laws and conducted operations against suspected Islamic radicals.

Russia experienced a number of terrorist attacks, of which the most serious took place in the Caucasus. The government relied on military operations and media controls to address the threats. Special forces killed Chechen rebel president Aslan Maskhadov in March and held "elections" in Chechnya in November. The new Chechen parliament, meant to demonstrate the effectiveness of this strategy, opened in December. Nonetheless, evidence indicates that the conflict is spreading. Major attacks included the July explosion of an armored police vehicle that killed 15 and an October attack in which hundreds of rebels targeted military and security facilities, killing scores. We also reported on:
"Beslan: One Year After the Siege"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/090405.html#FeatureArticle

Spain conducted operations targeting a range of extremists, including members of Basque separatist group ETA and Islamic militants, including several successful prosecutions. ETA was responsible for several small explosions, providing warnings in advance to help ensure minimal casualties.

Spain hosted The International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security, organized by the Club of Madrid, in March, a year after the Madrid train bombings. It focused on the underlying causes of terrorism, confronting the problem of terrorism, democratic answers to terrorism, and the role of civil society.
"The Madrid Summit:
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/032005.html#FeatureArticle

Turkey improved human rights practices in accordance with its desire to join the EU in the future, including liberalizing its treatment of the Kurdish minority. These efforts didn't persuade separatists with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which undertook several attacks in tourist locations. There was also a serious incident in which Turkish intelligence officers believed responsible for an extrajudicial killing were attacked, sparking regional violence.

Ukraine's new president Viktor Yuschenko was sworn in as president in January after the Supreme Court rejected a challenge from the losing candidate.

The United Kingdom was the scene of one of the most significant terrorist attacks of the year. On 7 July, three suicide bombings took place on the London underground and a fourth on a bus. The discovery that four men born and raised in Britain, could undertake such horrific attacks - the first of their kind in Europe - had wide-ranging consequences. The bombings killed 52 people and injured about 700. Two weeks later, four more bombings were attempted but failed. The Newsletter put this in context in:
"London Bombings: the modern history"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/071005.html#FeatureArticle
and, in a different way,
"The Gunpowder Plot"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/110605.html#FeatureArticle

In the aftermath of the London bombings, on 28 July, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) announced the formal end of its armed campaign:
"The End of the IRA's Armed Campaign"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/073105.html#FeatureArticle

We also noted the growing threat of "Ecoterrorism"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/052205.html#FeatureArticle

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6. Middle East

Middle Eastern countries discussed a range of counterterrorism activities of which efforts against financing were perhaps the most successful. The largest regional concern remains the conflict in Iraq, which is beginning to spill over, as evidenced by the bombings in Jordan.

In Egypt there sere several attacks against tourists, of which the most serious was on 23 July, when coordinated attacks were launched against tourist targets in the Sharm El-Shekih resort area. Two car bombs, one bomb in a suitcase, and a large truck bomb killed 88 people and injured 200 injured. "Terrorism in Egypt" provided context for these attacks.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/072405.html#FeatureArticle

Gaza became the first region under Palestinian control following Israel's withdrawal. Following the withdrawal, chaos has reigned, interfering with urgently needed economic recovery efforts. The Palestinian Authority has split, security forces are unable to secure even police and election offices, kidnappings are on the rise, and continued rocket attacks against Israel has attracted a powerful and deadly response, including the establishment of a new no-go zone. Israel has also renewed their policy of targeted killings, particularly against Islamic Jihad, which has refused to participate in the informal ceasefire.

Iran has a new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The religious conservative's victory was a surprise, and his lack of experience has been evident in several internal conflicts, his statements regarding Israel and the West, and determination to continue nuclear development despite international pressure.

Iraq was the scene of the largest number and deadliest terrorist attacks of 2005. For the entire year, there were more than 2000 incidents and over 13,000 casualties. The deadliest of these are mentioned here. The worst incident occurred on 28 February, when a massive car bomb in Hilla killed at least 114 people. Also in February, insurgents attacked a police station in Mahawil shooting dead 22 Iraqi security forces and 14 attackers. In March, a suicide bomber connected with the Soldiers of the Prophet's Companions killed 53 and injured more than 100 people during a Shiite funeral. In April a group of Sunni militants took up to 150 people in the town of Madaen hostage. Fifty bodies were found several days later. An Ansar al-Sunnah Army suicide bomber killed 60 and injured 150 outside a police recruitment center in Kurdistan. They claimed other suicide attacks against police targets that killed dozens more. A suicide bomb attack in Suwayra killed 31 and injured 45. Al Qaeda in Iraq was responsible for 98 fatalities and 200 injuries when a suicide bomber exploded near a fuel tanker in front of a Shiite mosque in Musayyib and, in July, for a suicide attack in front of an army recruiting center that killed 52 and injured 93. Also in July, a suicide bomber near a police station killed 39 people, most civilians, and injured 30. Insurgents launched three coordinated bombings in July in Baghdad that killed 43 and injured 85. Increasing sectarian violence was reflected by an August kidnapping and murder by men disguised as police officers, who killed 36. A series of attacks in Baghdad, including a large car bomb, killed 182 people. A suicide car bomb in October killed 36 and injured 95 in a Shiite mosque. Al Qaeda in Iraq was responsible for another attack in November in a restaurant frequented by police, killing 35 and injuring 25. Suicide bombers killed at least 74 people at mosques in Khanaqin. We discussed those responsible for such attacks in "Insurgents in Iraq"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/100205.html#FeatureArticle

The US-led military campaign also continued. There have been at least 2,178 US fatalities, 98 British, and 103 from other coalition partners. Among Iraqi security forces, about 3,869 have perished. (icasualties.org figures) Civilian deaths have been estimated at a minimum of 25,000, based largely on media reports compiled by the Iraq Body Count, to more than 100,000 according to a scientific investigation published in the Lancet.

Despite the appalling security situation, political progress was made. In January, elections for the Transitional national Assembly were held, and in April parliament selected Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani President and Ibrahim Jaafari, a Shia, was named Prime Minister. In October, a constitutional referendum was successful, and paved the way for parliamentary elections in December - with final results due in January, probably giving a large majority to the governing Shia alliance.

Israel completed its withdrawal from Gaza and some parts of the West Bank, part of an effort to establish Israeli borders and secure the state. There were many attacks during the year, but suicide bombings present the most visible indication of terror. These include a February attack outside a Tel Aviv club that killed four and injured 30, a May attack at a bus station in Beersheba that injured ten, and the August attack at a Hadera market in which five people died. Shopping centers in Netanya were the target of attacks in July and December which killed two and five, respectively.

Jordan returned its ambassador to Israel in March, after a 4-year absence, and King Abdullah, working with Prime Minister Badran, accellerated the pace of government reforms. Following coordinated suicide bombings at three hotels in the capital, Amman, Jordan called for all out war on terrorism. 57 people were killed, most Jordanians, and dozens injured. The attacks came on 10 November. Al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for this very unusual event, which was analyzed in "Terrorism in Jordan"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/111305.html#FeatureArticle

Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a massive car bomb in Beirut in February. The assassination has had a major regional affect, sparking huge anti-Syrian rallies and international pressure that forced the withdrawal of Syrian military and intelligence forces from the country. A series of bombings has taken place, many in Christian areas, and the deadliest targeting opponents of Syria, including journalist Samir Qasir, former Communist Party leader George Hawi, and parliamentarian and journalist Gibran Tueni. A UN investigation has implicated Syria in the assassination.
"Who Killed Hariri?"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/022705.html#FeatureArticle
"Who Killed Hariri, Part II: The Mehlis Report"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/102305.html#FeatureArticle

Qatar introduced its first written constitution, including some democratic reforms. In March, a car bomb near a British school killed one Briton and injured 12 people.

Saudi Arabia held its first ever nationwide municipal elections, which still excluded women. King Fahd died and was succeeded by crown prince Abdullah. The Saudi government conducted many counterterrorism raids, focused against Islamic militants, including a major fight in September in which five militants and three police officers were killed. For the first time, a list of most wanted militants was published, several of whom have since been captured or killed. Initiatives using television and other communications to urge militants to repent have reportedly been effective.

Syria came under intense international pressure following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri, leading to a full withdrawal from Lebanon. Implicated in the assassination, several senior Syrian officials have been arrested and Syria's former head of intelligence in Lebanon, Ghazi Kanaan, reportedly took his own life. Syria has undertaken operations against militants in Kurdish areas.

The West Bank, still under occupation, faces the challenges of Israeli military operations, settlement expansion, and Palestinian militant attacks. Islamic Jihad 29 December 2005, Palestinian suicide bomber has killed two Palestinians and an Israeli soldier at checkpoint in the West Bank,

Yemen fought supporters of the late rebel cleric Hussein al-Houthi, causing hundreds of casualties. Although minor clashes continue, the leader of the rebellion renounced the campaign in exchange for a pardon. Protestors challenging increased fuel costs clashed with police, leaving at least 36 people dead.

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7. South Asia

Afghanistan suffered rising levels of militant attacks in 2005. Taleban and al Qaeda remnants were responsible for more than a hundred attacks, leading to more than 1400 casualties. NATO and US forces continued security operations. US efforts were undermined by details of prisoner abuse at US detention centers. Many attacks targeted election workers, but they failed to stop successful parliamentary and provincial elections in September, and the inaugural session of parliament in December.
"Afghanistan and its Elections"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/092505.html#FeatureArticle

Bangladesh has seen increasing attacks, including a huge rise in suicide bombings, from Islamic militants, particularly those associated with Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Jagrata Muslim Janata of Bangladesh (JMJB). 2005 began with a grenade attack that assassinated former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria. After repeated attacks, the government, which had denied Islamist militancy, was forced to ban both JMB and JMJB after attacks against non-government organizations. Attacks peaked over the summer, beginning with a series of explosions on 17 August when 350 bombs went off across the nation, killing two and injuring more than 100. Another spate of bombings occurred in November, killing 12 people in Chittagong and Gazipur. The primary targets were the judicial system, including judges and lawyers, and civilians.

Bhutan unveiled a new constitution opening the path to parliamentary democracy. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck says he will abdicate following parliamentary elections in 2008, being replaced by the crown prince.

India's Maoist (Naxalite) rebels, particularly in the North, launched multiple attacks during the year, but the most serious incident occurred on 29 October when a small Kashmiri group set off three bombs that killed 62 people in Delhi.

Note coverage of Air India Flight 182, the Sikh extremist bombing that took place in 1985:
"Air India Flight 182"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/040305.html#FeatureArticle
"Air India Flight 182 Lessons To Be Learned"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/112705.html#FeatureArticle

In Kashmir there were dozens of attacks, most directed against security forces. Militant attacks paused only briefly following the disastrous earthquake, which primarily affected the Pakistan affected areas.

Maldives parliament voted in multi-party politics, inspiring a backlash against the opposition including charges of terrorism and sedition against opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed for criticizing President Gayoom.

Nepal's King Gyanendra dismissed Prime Minister Deuba and the government on 1 February. He declared a state of emergency (that was lifted in April) and assumed direct power, which he has maintained on the basis of needing to defeat Maoist rebels. The rebels, maintaining a unilateral ceasefire that began in September, have agreed on a peaceful program with opposition parties to restore democracy. There were multiple clashes between Maoists and security forces throughout the year. The government has not agreed to a ceasefire.
"Nepal's Maoist Rebels"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/020605.html#FeatureArticle

Pakistan's main threats last year came from tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, including North and South Waziristan and Baluchistan. Gas pipelines presented a major target. Sectarian attacks also occurred, and the government cracked down on religious schools and mosques after they were linked to the London bombings. These attacks, however, were dwarfed by the 8 October earthquake, which has killed tens of thousands. The winter cold is likely to increase this death toll significantly.
Note "Nuclear Proliferation in Pakistan"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/013005.html#FeatureArticle

Sri Lanka had an opportunity to follow in Indonesia's footsteps after the tsunami, but the disaster that led to increased peace in Aceh has led to increased violence in Sri Lanka. Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated in August, leading to declaration of a state of emergency. Presidential elections in November were boycotted by the Tamil Tigers, giving a narrow victory to conservative former prime minister Mahinda Rajapakse, who immediately called for review of the ceasefire. An upsurge in violence in December, including an assassination and attacks against security forces, has been blamed on the Tigers.

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

A review of trends in cybersecurity and cyberthreats was published in December:
"Cybersecurity: A Year in Review"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/121805.html#FeatureArticle

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9. Finance

Beginning with the investigation into the Northern Bank robbery, in which the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was implicated, to recent investigations into whether wanted terrorist Noordin had organized armed robberies in Indonesia to finance Jemaah Islamiah attacks, organized crime for terrorist financing was a recurring theme in 2005. We published "Serious and Organized Crime in Northern Ireland" in June.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/062605.html#FeatureArticle

Many incidents of financial fraud were connected with cyberattacks, including a case in Australia in which high school students set up a global phishing scheme for Russian and Malaysian organized criminal organizations. Related security issues led to a raft of consumer education campaigns and new financial services regulations.

Organized crime and corrupt governments also played a role in abuse of natural resources, including criminal syndicates for illegal logging, and continued use of blood diamonds, primarily in Southeast Asia and Africa. These activities were particularly prevalent in Liberia last year, which remains subject to UN sanctions.

As measures to improve governance and accountability of charities continue, an increasing number were subject to a variety of sanctions and prohibitions.

Major fines and other sanctions were assessed against financial institutions that were lax in their AML/CFT controls, including customer identification, transaction monitoring, and reporting. These included Riggs Bank, Banco de Chile, Arab Bank's US operations, Deutsche Bank, Bank of New York, UBS AG, Israel Discount Bank of New York, and ABN AMRO.

Drug cartels were also targeted, including individuals and shell or front companies. Afghanistan remains the world's leading producer of opium. In fact, the crop was so large it served to depress prices.

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10. Human Rights

In 2005, human rights abuses by the United States, the former beacon of hope for human rights around the world, dominated the news. Unease over the new designation of "enemy combatant" and unlimited detention without trial came under attack under international law and domestic judicial systems. Discovery of prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq led to further disclosures and reforms, including torture newly defined to permit gross abuses, including acts prohibited in army manuals. Detainees in Guantanamo Bay, caught in a legal quagmire that is still working its way through, have been in some cases repatriated or put in front of military tribunals. Even the Red Cross has been prohibited from visiting many of those detained. International outrage grew even further as the scale of extraordinary renditions, secret prisons, and domestic surveillance has become better understood. In 2006, many of these issues will have further hearings in courts and legislatures around the world.

China still leads the world in the number of people it executes, with the US coming in second. The US Supreme Court prohibited execution of children under age 18 when their crimes were committed. The US had been the last country in the world to officially sanction (in 20 states) the execution of children. Iraq reinstituted capital punishment.

Illustrating different international perceptions of human rights, we published "Human Rights Reports" in March.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/031305.html#FeatureArticle

Numbers of refugees have fallen, while the number of internally displaced persons has increased. This is correlated to changes in developed industrial countries in their treatment of immigrants. It has led to a rising problem, largely connected to organized crime, of "Trafficking in Persons":
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/060505.html#FeatureArticle

People around the world marked the end of the second World War with commemorations for a range of events including the liberation of concentration camps, the opening of the Nuremberg trials, and the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Rwanda marked the 10th anniversary of the genocide.

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11. Law and Legal Issues

We covered hundreds of cases each week in the Newsletter, many resolving cases that are decades old. Some of the most significant included:

Abdul Rahman Ahmad (a/k/a "Chae Kumae Kuteh", "Deraman Koteh", "Doramae Kuteh", "Jae Ku Mae Ku Tae") was arrested in Malaysia on suspicion of masterminding attacks in southern Thailand. There is no extradition treaty between Malaysia and Thailand and diplomatic wrangling over his fate continues.

Sami al-Arian, a university professor in Florida, has been cleared in US court of eight of 17 charges connected with funding Islamic Jihad. The jury deadlocked on other counts and he remains in custody pending a possible retrial. Codefendant Hatem Naji Fariz was found not guilty on 24 counts, and the jury deadlocked on eight. Sameeh Hammoudeh and Ghassan Zayed Ballut were acquitted of all charges. The US had publicized this as a major victory in the "war on terrorism".

Yevgeny Adamov, a nuclear physicist and former Russian atomic energy minister, was arrested in Switzerland on a US money laundering indictment related to diverting nuclear security funds. The US and Russia both asked for his extradition. Russia was particularly concerned to protect its nuclear secrets. The case went to Switzerland's highest court, which decided against a lower court ruling that the US warrant had precedence, and Adamov will be sent to Russia.

Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik were found not guilty on all counts, in connection with the Air India bombing that killed 329 people while en route to Canada. The dissatisfaction with this outcome finally led to a public inquiry.
Air India Flight 182
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/040305.html#FeatureArticle
Air India Flight 182 Lessons To Be Learned
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/112705.html#FeatureArticle

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, a prominent Islamic cleric, was cleared of terrorism charges related to the Jakarta Marriott hotel attack, but the Supreme Court has upheld his original 30-month sentence for conspiracy over the 2002 Bali bombings.

Metin Kaplan, a radical Muslim cleric known as the "Caliph of Cologne", was sentenced by a Turkish court to life in prison following his conviction on charges of planning to crash an explosives-laden airplane into the Ataturk mausoleum and overthrow the secular government. However, procedural errors and inadequate investigation led a Turkish appeals court to order a new trial.

Edgar Ray Killen was convicted of manslaughter for masterminding the murder of three civil rights workers in 1964. The 80-year-old former Ku Klux Klan leader and preacher was sentenced to 60 years in prison, 20 years for each death.

Mounir al-Motassadek, was found guilty in German court of belonging to a terrorist organization and sentenced to seven years in prison. He had been convicted of involvement in the 9/11 plot, and was friends with three of the 9/11 suicide hijackers, but this conviction was overturned when a court ruled there was no proof he knew of the plot. The year-long retrial included extracts from suspected al Qaeda prisoners held in the US, but interviews and other evidence was not permitted by US authorities, contributing to the German court's decision that there was insufficient evidence to connect him to the 9/11 plot.

Zacarias Moussaoui's appeal to the US Supreme Court for access to US-held al Qaeda suspects was refused a hearing. This lets stand a ruling that written summaries of evidence could be used instead of personal testimony, allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty, and opens the way for the case to continue.

Hussain Osman was extradited from Italy to London, where he was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and two explosives offences in connection with the failed July 21 London bombings.

Jose Padilla was held as an "enemy combatant" in the US for several years. At the time of his detention he was associated with planning a dirty bomb attack in the US. The question of whether the US could hold US citizen arrested on US soil indefinitely without charge worked its way through the courts. Just before reaching the Supreme Court, the US justice department issued charges of conspiracy to murder, kidnap and maim persons in a foreign country, conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists, and providing material support for terrorists as part of US based cell. These charges had no connection with the original. The appeals court declined to waive its previous decision permitting use of the enemy combatant designation, believing that it was merely an excuse for the government to evade a Supreme Court decision. The government is now appealing to permit it to proceed with these new charges in criminal court.

Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto was found guilty in Indonesian court with participation in the murder of human rights activist Munir. The pilot is generally believed a small part of a wider plot that involves Indonesian intelligence and security forces.

Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, ringleader of the USS Cole bombing, had his death sentence upheld by a Yemeni appeals court. He is currently in US custody. Jamal Mohammed al-Badawi's sentence was reduced to 15 years in prison. Three others will serve 5-10 years and a fourth was commuted from eight to five years.

Fawaz al-Rabeei, an al Qaeda suspect originally given a 10-year jail term for killing a Yemeni policeman, has now been sentenced to death for the Limburg oil tanker attack and other attacks on western targets. The Yemeni court upheld another death sentence, raised from 10 to 15 years the jail terms for two and upheld jail terms of three to 10 years for 11 other suspects.

Eric Robert Rudolph has pleaded guilty in a plea bargain, to US federal charges stemming from a series of bombings, including the fatal attacks at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics and at a Birmingham, Alabama family planning clinic in 1998. He has disclosed the locations of hidden bomb and dynamite and will serve multiple life terms without parole.

Mark Thatcher, son of the former British Prime Minister, was fined and sentenced to four years in prison in South Africa for paying GBP 150,000 to mercenaries involved in an attempted coup against Equatorial Guinea. The prison sentence was suspended. Thatcher was only one of the prominent Britain's involved in the plot.

Frans van Anraat has been sentenced in Dutch court to 15 years in prison for complicity in war crimes connected to selling the chemicals used in Iraq for the 1988 gas attacks on Halabja. He was acquitted of genocide. Prior to reaching this decision, the court had do decide whether the Halabja attack amounted genocide. It found that the Halabja attack met the Geneva Convention definition of genocide and that the Kurdish populations met the requirements to be considered an ethnic group.

Britain, in considering new anti-terrorism legislation, considered examples in other countries that we summarized in "Counter-Terrorism Legislation: Case Studies" in October.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/103005.html#FeatureArticle

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12. Transportation

Aviation security received enormous attention following the 9/11 attacks against the US. Now, a consensus is building that security in place is sufficient, and that further expenses cannot be justifies. The US Transportation Security Administration has relaxed rules for carry-on items. Areas of continued concern include possible missile attacks. We also reported on "Air Cargo Security" in November.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/112005.html#FeatureArticle

Concern about security of mass transit systems increased after the March 2004 Madrid bombings, but reached fever pitch following the 7 July attacks in London, including buses, rail lines, and underground trains. We discussed "Rail Security in October.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/100905.html#FeatureArticle

Immigration and border control issues focused on policy changes and new technologies, particularly biometric identification. These efforts have had limited success and the US delayed implementation of biometric-enabled passports while outstanding issues are resolved. We described "Identity Cards: Evaluations of the UK approach" in July.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/070305.html#FeatureArticle

In 2006, we expect that more attention will be paid to maritime security, including containers, ports, piracy and associated vulnerabilities and threats. The economic impact of a disruption in the maritime supply chain would be many times greater than that of 9/11 or any similar incident.

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13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

60 years after the atomic bomb was used against Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear proliferation and the risk that radiological and nuclear material could fall into the hands of terrorists is one of the greatest potential threats we face today. Despite widespread acknowledgment of this threat, governments have been unable to reconcile widely divergent views of how to approach nuclear weapons, failing to agree on any concrete actions at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference and other regional and international meetings. These issues were reviewed in several articles during the year:
The Nuclear Century
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/080705.html#FeatureArticle
"Israel's Bomb and Nuclear Nonproliferation"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/121105.html#FeatureArticle
Opening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/050805.html#FeatureArticle
Closing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/052905.html#FeatureArticle

Efforts to develop nuclear energy in North Korea and Iran, and the possible diversion to weapons manufacturing, were ongoing issues throughout the year and will continue into 2006. Both countries received secret support from abroad, in particular we looked at "Nuclear Proliferation in Pakistan".
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/013005.html#FeatureArticle

Bioterrorism took on a new meaning as the threat of an influenza pandemic has increased. We discussed an exercise simulating a deliberate smallpox attack, finding the same vulnerabilities in naturally occurring public health emergencies.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/012305.html#FeatureArticle

We also discussed the threat of "Agroterrorism"
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/051505.html#FeatureArticle

This year "SIPRI Yearbook 2005: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security" found that for the first time, in 2004 global weapons expenditures exceeded the $1 trillion mark. We described their findings in "Breaking the Trillion-Dollar Mark" in June:
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/061905.html#FeatureArticle

Increasing numbers of terrorist and other attacks occur in urban settings where the use of lethal force can have widespread consequences for the safety of the general public as well as first responders. A range of less lethal tactics and weapons are available or in development, but their use has also raised questions of safety and security, particularly since the number of fatalities associated with these weapons has been increasing. We wrote about "Less Lethal Weapons" in August.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/082805.html#FeatureArticle

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14. Books of the Year

Marking the 60th anniversary of "The Nuclear Century" that followed the use of atomic weapons on the towns of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we published an article on the topic with extensive references and expanded the "Newly Published" section to include a range of contemporary and historic writings, both fiction and non-fiction, and including children's books, on the events.
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/080705.html

We enjoyed Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon, "The Nest Attack: The Failure of the War on Terror and a Strategy for Getting It Right." Henry Holt
http://www.henryholt.com/holt/nextattack.htm
Reviews and interviews:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/books/review/25powers.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/03/AR2005110301823_pf.html
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20060101fareviewessay85111/richard-a-falkenrath/grading-the-war-on-terrorism.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4984551
http://www.campusprogress.org/features/666/live-chat-with-daniel-benjamin

That book focused on the "war for the mind" as well as the changing nature of al Qaeda. We also appreciated practical advice published in a number of books, many focusing on responses to extremely rare events, including biological attacks. Mike Davis' book, "The Monster at Our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu" (New Press) provides excellent insight into this far more likely biological threat. And for emergency preparedness, the Red Cross still provides the best starting point.
http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_239_,00.html

Finally, although it may seem self-serving:
The US Congress requires that the Secretary of State provide annual country reports on terrorism each year, no later than April 30. The report must provide detailed assessments of countries in which international terrorist acts of major significance occurred, relevant information about terrorist groups, intergovernmental cooperation, international counterterrorism efforts, and foreign support of terrorist activities. This methodology and format persisted for nearly 20 years, but problems surfaced last year, when the 2003 report undercounted the number of incidents, forcing a revision of the report. The report for 2004, published in April 2005, included only the country reports. Statistical data was later provided separately by the new National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2005/050105.html#FeatureArticle
Now, TerrorismCentral editor, Anna Sabasteanski has compiled the reports from 1985 to the present, and incorporated additional analysis and supplementary materials.

You can also purchase Terrorism Annual 2005, the reorganized and indexed collection of weekly news and feature articles, with additional statistical analysis and supplementary reports and reference materials

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