EDITORS
John Walcott
Zarqawi's death not a severe blow to al-Qaida, experts say
The death of terrorist leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi, while a major tactical success, is unlikely to have a significant impact on the struggle against al-Qaida and its far-flung terrorist network of spin-offs and imitators, current and former U.S. counterterrorism officials said Thursday. President Bush termed Zarqawis death in a strike coordinated by U.S., Iraqi and Jordanian security forces a severe blow to al-Qaida. But a half-dozen officials, who have decades of experience tracking and analyzing Islamic militants, offered a more cautious view. | 06/08/06 03:00:00 By - Warren P. Strobel
There's little agreement on what to do about Iran
The evidence that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons is stronger and more widely accepted internationally and within the U.S. government than the Bush administrations flawed case about Iraqs alleged weapons of mass destruction four years ago. But the question of what to do about Irans nuclear ambitions is, if anything, more hotly contested. Thats particularly true because 150,000 U.S. troops are tied down next door in Iraq and Afghanistan. | 04/14/06 03:00:00 By - Warren P. Strobel
U.S. officials: Iraqi insurgents educating Afghan, Pakistani militants
Islamic militants in Iraq are providing military training and other assistance to Taliban and al Qaida fighters from eastern and southern Afghanistan and Pakistans tribal areas, U.S. intelligence officials told Knight Ridder. A small number of Pakistani and Afghan militants are receiving military training in Iraq; Iraqi fighters have met with Afghan and Pakistani extremists in Pakistan; and militants in Afghanistan increasingly are using homemade bombs, suicide attacks and other tactics honed in Iraq, said U.S. intelligence officials and others who track the issue. | 03/31/06 03:00:00 By - Jonathan S. Landay and John Walcott
CIA missile hits compound thought to contain bin Laden deputy
A CIA-controlled unmanned aircraft fired a missile Friday into a compound just inside Pakistans border with Afghanistan after the CIA received intelligence that Osama bin Ladens top lieutenant and other senior al-Qaida members were inside, U.S. intelligence officials said. At least 17 people were killed, but it couldnt be immediately confirmed if al Qaidas No. 2 leader, Ayman Zawahri, or other top members of the Islamic terrorist network were among them, or were even present at the time, the officials said. | 01/13/06 03:00:00 By - John Walcott and Jonathan S. Landay
Questions about Chalabi pose dilemma for Bush administration
When Iraq's controversial deputy prime minister, Ahmad Chalabi, arrives in Washington on Tuesday for an eight-day visit, he'll bring a lot of baggage and a tough question for the Bush administration: Is Chalabi with us or against us? | 11/06/05 03:00:00 By - John Walcott
Letter from bin Laden lieutenant outlines hopes, strategy in Iraq
A 6,000-word letter from Osama bin Ladens second-in-command to al-Qaidas leader in Iraq outlines the terrorist groups strategy to oust American troops from Iraq, create a militant Islamic state there, use that as a base to overthrow the governments of other Muslim nations and finally destroy Israel. John D. Negroponte, the new director of national intelligence, on Tuesday released a U.S. translation of the July 9 letter from Ayman al-Zawahiri to Jordanian-born terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and took the unusual step of posting it on his offices Web site. | 10/11/05 03:00:00 By - John Walcott
Bush administration examines new measures against Syria
President Bush and his top aides are weighing new steps against Syria, according to U.S. officials involved in Middle East policy. Bushs national security team met Saturday to review policy toward Syria, the officials said. Options range from tougher economic sanctions to limited military action. One official involved in the deliberations said military action is unlikely for now. However, one option under consideration was bombing several villages 30-40 miles inside Syria that some officials believe have been harboring Iraqi insurgents. The officials said the U.S. government has complained to the Syrian government about the matter, but not received satisfactory response. | 10/01/05 03:00:00 By - Warren P. Strobel and John Walcott
Bush administration to examine new measures against Syria
President Bush and his top aides are weighing new steps against Syria, according to U.S. officials involved in Middle East policy. Bushs national security team is due to meet Saturday to review policy toward Syria, the officials said. Options range from tougher economic sanctions to limited military action. One official involved in the deliberations said military action is unlikely for now. | 09/30/05 03:00:00 By - Warren P. Strobel and John Walcott
British memo indicates Bush made intelligence fit Iraq policy
A highly classified British memo, leaked in the midst of Britain's just-concluded election campaign, indicates that President Bush decided to overthrow Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by summer 2002 and was determined to ensure that U.S. intelligence data supported his policy. | 05/05/05 03:00:00 By - Warren P. Strobel and John Walcott
Big gaps remain in intelligence on al-Qaida, report finds
U.S. intelligence agencies underestimated al-Qaida's efforts to develop biological weapons and still don't have a full understanding of the terrorist group's chemical-weapons programs, the presidential commission investigating the performance of American intelligence reported Thursday. | 03/31/05 03:00:00 By - John Walcott
Old problems dog new intelligence gathering, panel concludes
A presidential commission that's investigating U.S. intelligence failures in Iraq has concluded that many of the same weaknesses that plagued American efforts to investigate Saddam Hussein's regime are preventing the United States from collecting accurate intelligence on Iran's and North Korea's nuclear programs. | 03/29/05 03:00:00 By - Jonathan S. Landay and John Walcott
U.S. officials see gathering threat of terror attacks on Gulf bases
Concern is mounting among U.S. intelligence officials and diplomats that al-Qaida-related groups may be preparing terrorist attacks on Persian Gulf bases that support American military forces operating in Iraq. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said unknown individuals have been conducting surveillance of U.S. military and diplomatic facilities in Qatar, the Persian Gulf state that houses the forward headquarters of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. | 01/31/05 03:00:00 By - Warren P. Strobel and John Walcott
New intelligence reports raise questions about U.S. mission in Iraq
A series of new U.S. intelligence assessments on Iraq paints a grim picture of the road ahead and concludes that there's little likelihood that President Bush's goals can be attained in the near future. | 01/17/05 03:00:00 By - Warren P. Strobel
U.S. isn't winning against Iraqi insurgents, agencies warn
The CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the State Department have warned President Bush that the United States and its Iraqi allies aren't winning the battle against Iraqi insurgents who are trying to derail the country's Jan. 30 elections, according to administration officials. | 12/17/04 15:21:52 By - Warren P. Strobel, John Walcott and Jonathan S. Landay
Post-war planning non-existent
In March 2003, days before the start of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, American war planners and intelligence officials met at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina to review the Bush administration's plans to oust Saddam Hussein and implant democracy in Iraq. | 10/17/04 15:37:54 By - Warren P. Strobel and John Walcott
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