Free Republic

In a speech this week, former vice president Al Gore took another swing at the National Security Agency's electronic surveillance program, which monitors international communications when one party is affiliated with terrorists...But the real issue is national security: FISA is as adept at detecting -- and, thus, preventing -- a terrorist attack as a horse-and-buggy is at getting us from New York to Paris.

On 11 occasions over the past nine months, the U.S. and allies cooperating in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) have successfully prevented the spread of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or related items. At least two of those incidents involved Iran, two involved North Korea and another involved an unidentified third country, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher confirmed. Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the PSI, a project launched by President Bush during a 2003 visit to Krakow, Poland. With a focus on stopping and searching ships, planes, trains or trucks, the PSI aims to prevent terrorists and rogue states...

Agents Stop Explosive Devices at Border Border agents intercepted three people carrying explosive devices along with a gun and ammunition at a checkpoint near Las Cruces. Tuesday, September 02, 2003 -- The purpose of the explosives and weaponry was not immediately known. Agents identified them as 34-year-old Allen Riedel of Phoenix and two Sun City, Arizona, residents - 42-year-old Judy Green and 48-year-old Edward Fieldman. Federal agents say all three have lengthy criminal histories. Agents stopped the trio Sunday morning at the checkpoint and discovered the explosive devices while searching for contraband. Bomb experts X-rayed the devices and decided...

Intercepted call linked Saddam to al-Qa'ida terror cell By Andrew Buncombe in Washington 07 February 2003 He was supposed to have been a professional. He should have known better, but in the end he could not resist. Using a satellite phone, the senior al-Qa'ida operative excitedly called two associates and congratulated them on their cold-blooded assassination of an American diplomat. The call cost the man his liberty. It may yet cost him his life but, more importantly, it could have provided America with the "smoking gun" evidence it has long sought and which apparently links the Iraqi regime to an...

Hidden Scud Missiles Found; Ship May Have Been Yemen-Bound W A S H I N G T O N, Dec. 10 — A ship carrying a dozen Scud-type missiles from North Korea was intercepted in the Arabian Sea today, U.S. officials said. They said the missiles were believed to be headed for Yemen. The ship was stopped and boarded about 600 miles east of the Horn of Africa, the officials said. U.S. intelligence had been tracking the vessel closely, said U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The ship contained about a dozen short- to medium-range missiles, similar...