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During a terror raid in Manchester, England, British police officers searched an Al Qaeda member's home and discovered a manual outlining terrorists' tactics for jihad. The manual, available through the Department of Justice's Archive, is particularly interesting in its behind-the-scenes revelations about how terrorists gather intelligence about their enemy and conduct espionage in the enemy's camp. The manual offers by-example reconnaissance tactics, citing spies doing fieldwork in such diverse situations as the Tel Aviv airport in the 1970's and a British post office during World War I. My favorite is the episode involving ancient Roman spies who got the better...

The New Jersey store clerk whose tip led to the arrest of six terror suspects needs legislative protection from being sued as a "John Doe" or whistleblower, lawmakers said yesterday. "The events in Fort Dix are just another reminder of the need for this legislation," said Rep. Steve Pearce, New Mexico Republican and author of legislation to protect "John Doe" passengers being sued by a group of Muslim imams for reporting their suspicious behavior that got the imams removed from an airline flight. "We owe a debt of gratitude to this individual for alerting authorities to this potential terrorist attack...

Democrats want 'John Doe' provision cut By Audrey Hudson July 19, 2007 Democrats are trying to pull a provision from a homeland security bill that will protect the public from being sued for reporting suspicious behavior that may lead to a terrorist attack, according to House Republican leadership aides. The legislation, which moves to a House and Senate conference committee this afternoon, will implement final recommendations from the 911 Commission. Rep. Pete King, New York Republican and ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Steve Pearce, New Mexico Republican, sponsored the bill after a group of Muslim...

Be Our Guest He's your son, riding a commuter train to work. Your daughter, taking the subway to go shopping downtown. Your grandparent, boarding an airplane at JFK en route to a family reunion. Your husband or wife, working anywhere in America. John Doe is you. Me. All of us. And he's in trouble. Yesterday, members of Congress met in conference to finalize provisions of the 9/11 security bill, which implements the final recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. But as of press time, the Democratic majority was using a technicality to block the so-called John Doe amendment from being included...

The name “John Doe” has it’s origins in English jurisprudence. Landowners, wrongfully evicted from their property, would bring suit in the fictitious name of “John Doe” (rather than, say, “Kelo”) in order to regain their property and their rights. The fictional name offered some protection from retribution, especially should the offending party by anyone of greater status or title. In the centuries since, the name “John Doe” has come to signify the dispossessed and anonymous. Especially now. In November of last year, a group of Moslem clerics assembled at a midwest airport and engaged in a number of deliberately provocative...

The Senate voted against the John Doe protection amendment, my Senator was one of the dissentors... Here is my fax to him: To Senator Durbin: Regarding S.Amdt. 2340 to S.Amdt. 2327 to H.R. 2669 (College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 ) To provide limited immunity for reports of suspicious behavior and response, the so-called “John Does” amendment. Why in the world did the Senator vote no to this amendment? By what justification did he vote AGAINST a provision which would protect Americans from lawsuits for reporting suspicious terrorist activities? I have so much contempt for this Senator. He does not...

Congress fails to adopt lawsuit guards WASHINGTON, July 20 (UPI) -- Protection from lawsuits for wrongly reporting suspicious behavior has failed to pass the U.S. Congress. The legislation was inspired by a suit brought by a group of Muslim imams who were removed from a U.S. Airways flight to Phoenix before it left Minneapolis last November, The Washington Times reported. Some passengers on the plane said they had seen the imams, behaving suspiciously by praying together before boarding. The imams, who were allowed to leave after several hours of FBI questioning, sued the airline, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission...

Homeland Security: Despite overwhelming support in and out of Congress, legal protection for airline passengers who report suspicious behavior is being blocked by Democratic leaders. Wasn't one 9/11 enough for them? Were it not for the courage and sacrifice of the passengers of United Flight 93 who forced their plane into a Pennsylvania field, many in Congress might not be here today, with a gaping hole where the U.S. Capitol still stands. We wonder if this fact is appreciated by those trying to block final passage of the so-called "John Doe" provision protecting from legal action those who report suspicious...

Here’s the roll on the Senate John Doe protection amendment, which missed the 60-vote threshold by 3 votes. Interesting facts: No Republican voted against it. GOP presidential candidate Sam “Switchback” Brownback didn’t bother to vote. Hillary voted for it. Obama sat it out: Check where your Senator stands. They will try to keep this from the public but we should all know and respond.