Terrorism

Boston has faced deep cuts in counter terrorism dollars under the Bush Administration's funding scheme

12/19/2007 -- Washington, DC – Senator John Kerry today announced that legislation he introduced over the summer requiring the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress on state homeland security funding was approved as part of the overall omnibus spending bill. This legislation was co-sponsored by Senator Kennedy.    » read more »

Measure Would Empower Victims to Pursue Assets of Countries Like Iran That Sponsor Terror

December 14, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today approved landmark bipartisan legislation authored by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) to provide justice for victims of state-sponsored terrorism by giving them their day in court and helping them pursue the assets of countries that support terrorism. The legislation was included in the final conference version of the FY 2008 Department of Defense Authorization bill.    » read more »

13 December 2007 -- A federal jury in Florida has cleared a man accused of plotting terrorist attacks in the United States, but said it was unable to agree on a verdict for six other defendants.

A judge in Miami declared a mistrial for the six other men, which leaves open the possibility that prosecutors can seek another trial.

The seven defendants were accused of plotting to join forces with al-Qaida and blow up FBI offices and topple the tallest building in the United States, the Sears Tower in Chicago.    » read more »

12 December 2007 -- Vietnam has released three of the four Vietnamese-born United States citizens it arrested in November and accused of involvement in terrorism. The release comes a day after the U.S. ambassador criticized the detentions. Matt Steinglass reports from Hanoi.

Vietnamese television reported Wednesday morning that Leon Truong had left Vietnam, bound for his home in the United States. Truong had been arrested in Ho Chi Minh City November 17 with five other activists from the Viet Tan party, a U.S.-based pro-democracy group.    » read more »

12 December 2007 -- Iraqi police say three car bomb explosions in the mainly Shi'ite southern city of Amarah have killed at least 26 people and wounded about 100 more.

Police say the blasts occurred within minutes of each other. They say the explosives-laden vehicles were placed in a garage, a market and near a local police station.

Amarah is the capital of Maysan province, which borders Iran. Violence has been on rise in the region since the British military handed over security responsibilities of the province to Iraqi authorities about eight months ago..    » read more »

Senators Urge Libya To Pay Victims' Families of Libyan Terrorism

December 10, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a coalition of eight Senators, led by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking her to use an upcoming diplomatic visit to urge Libya to fulfill its obligations to American victims of Libyan terrorism. Lautenberg was joined by Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Chris Dodd (D-CT).    » read more »

December 10, 2007 -- Washington, DC—Today, a coalition of eight Senators, led by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking her to use an upcoming diplomatic visit to urge Libya to fulfill its obligations to American victims of Libyan terrorism. Lautenberg was joined by Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Chris Dodd (D-CT).    » read more »

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Should Consider Threat of Terrorism, Earthquakes, and Adequate Evacuation Plans; Westchester County, A.G. Blumenthal Join Filing

NEW YORK, NY (December 3, 2007) – New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, and Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano today announced the submission of papers to deny the relicensing of the Indian Point nuclear power plant.    » read more »

November 14, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC-On the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) addressed the issue of nuclear security and the need to improve efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism. Since arriving in the Senate, Senator Casey has identified the threat of nuclear terrorism as one of the top long-term challenges faced by the United States. The full text of Senator Casey’s speech is below.    » read more »

WHITE PLAINS, NY (November 15, 2007) - New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he and the Attorneys General of five other states have submitted a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) expressing serious concerns about the NRC’s continued disregard of safety issues - including susceptibility to earthquakes or terrorist attacks - when deciding whether to renew the operating license of a nuclear power plant beyond its initial 40 year term.    » read more »

November 14, 2007 -- International cooperation is needed to keep a new generation of advanced conventional weapons now under development from falling into the hands of terrorists, according to a RAND Corporation report issued today.

Such efforts should focus on making security forces aware of the emerging threats posed by the weapons and developing safeguards that would render the most potent of the weapons inoperable to anyone other than intended operators, according to researchers.    » read more »

08 November 2007 -- Interpol has put five Iranians and a Lebanese man on its most wanted list for the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires. In Miami, Jewish community leaders says the effort will pressure the Islamic government to stop supporting terrorist activities.    » read more »

United States Must Tie Aid to Restoration of Freedoms

7 November 2007 -- Atlanta -- The Carter Center condemns recent actions by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to suspend the country's Constitution and proclaim a state of emergency. In the process, members of the independent judiciary, news media, and human rights defenders have been abused and imprisoned. Many activist lawyers demanding restoration of the Pakistani Constitution and rule of law have also been arrested.    » read more »

November 7, 2007 -- This morning President Bush called President Karzai of Afghanistan to express his deepest sympathies regarding the horrendous suicide bombing in Baglan province yesterday.

The cold blooded killers targeted innocent schoolchildren and lawmakers who were there to celebrate the opening of a new sugar factory.

The President said that the murderous act reminds all of us about the brutality of the enemy we are facing.    » read more »

November 6, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:    » read more »