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The article discusses the Summer Hard Problems workshop (SHARP), a new aspect of the war on terror. SHARP was organized by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in order to discuss the motivations behind the spread of extremism around the globe and how to stop it. Participants in SHARP workshops include intelligence experts as well as experts from the social sciences, including anthropologists and social psychologists. The article presents an account of a SHARP meeting.

The article reports that the police across the U.S. are keeping tabs on ordinary Americans. City and county police in the name of homeland security have surveilled or harassed animal-rights and antiwar protesters, union activists, and even library patrons surfing the Web. The U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security have spent important sums of money into building up local and state police intelligence operations. INSET: When the Cops Only Saw Red.

Profiles the efforts of groups in the United States government to reform the intelligence agencies of the nation as investigations regarding the attacks of September 11, 2001 continue. Details of the programs under works by central intelligence; Efforts of the 9/11 Commission to find new information regarding Al Qaeda and the terror attacks; Role of Richard Clarke of the National Security Council; Lists and identities of CIA "spooks"; Quotes from analysts; Role of India as a nuclear power.

Reports on the reaction of the administration of U.S. president George W. Bush of criticisms of their record on terrorism by former counterterrorism czar Richard A. Clarke. Details of Clarke's testimony before the commission investigating the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; Details of charges made by Clarke against the Bush and Clinton administrations in his book, "Against All Enemies;" Report on the controversy surrounding national security advisor Condoleezza Rice's refusal to testify under oath before the commission; Speculation about whether Clarke's criticisms of Bush could raise doubts about his effectiveness as a wartime leader; Details of the media campaign by the White House to counter Clarke's charges and undermine his credibility; Response of Clarke and his supporters to the White House attacks; Potential impact of Clarke's assertions that the Bush administration failed to take seriously the threat posed by Al Qaeda prior to September 11; Potential impact of Clarke's sharp criticisms of Bush's decision to go to war Iraq; Details of the findings of the September 11 commission; Speculation about whether the CIA was serious about plans to assassinate Osama bin Laden prior to September 11; Details of testimony by CIA director George Tenet. INSET: THE TRAIL OF TERROR.

This article looks at the news that the U.S. government has been monitoring and eavesdropping on Americans without appropriate warrants. The National Security Agency and the FBI have been running counterterrorism investigations on animal rights, environmental, antiwar, and peace activist groups without warrants. President George W. Bush has authorized the warrantless searches on at least thirty occasions and plans to continue. He believes that Americans want him to err on the side of security. Civil liberties watchdogs believe that the security agencies have gone overboard. INSET: The Good Old Bad Old Days.

Considers the role of the United States Congress in overseeing the nation's intelligence agencies. Criticism of Congress by the 9/11 commission for lacking the power, influence, and sustained capability to properly oversee the nation's 15 intelligence agencies; Impact of partisanship on a collapse of the oversight system; Challenges faced by members of the intelligence committees because term limits keep them from building up the knowledge they need; Use of experience by intelligence officials to intimidate congressmen and deflect tough questions; Focus on "turf battles" in Congress.

Looks at the independent investigation being conducted on intelligence failures on September 11, 2001. A link to Osama Bin Laden and others through eavesdropping by the National Security Agency (NSA) a year before the attacks; One suspect who turned out to be Khalid al-Mihdar, one of the hijackers who would die that day; Failure to discover al-Mihdar was in the United States at the time of the tapings; Questions of why the calls were not traced and followed up; Claim by the agency that it foiled several plots over the next three years; Findings of inquiry so far; Limitations of the U.S. intelligence services.

Reports on the tension and security within the United States borders. Why the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued an advisory that they were seeking a Saudi Arabian named Adnan el Shukrijumah; Number of people arrested connected to smuggling money abroad and selling fake passports to people in Lebanon, Yemen, Pakistan and other countries; Other security measures taken by police departments across the country; Where National Guard personnel have been deployed throughout the U.S.

The article reports that intelligence agencies are turning to Internet technology such as blogs, wikis, instant messaging, and chat to assist in the war on terror. The article also discusses the search engine known as the Intelligence Value Estimation and an office of the National Security Agency known as the Knowledge Discovery Group.

The article discusses national security issues which have been raised in the United States after the announcement that Dubai Ports World, owned by the United Arab Emirates, would purchase terminals at six U.S. seaports. While the story generated a lot of political dissent and media attention, the real security issues surround weaknesses that already exist.

The article offers a discussion about executive power and the issue of whether the U.S. government should be able to eavesdrop on domestic citizens without obtaining warrants. The President George W. Bush administration faces growing concern over its exercise of executive power. Among the issues are the administration's endorsement of secret prisons, detention without trial, brutal interrogation techniques for terrorism suspects, and eavesdropping on U.S. citizens without warrants. The National Security Agency began monitoring telephone calls and electronic mail messages of Americans.

Focuses on the reforms made to the United State intelligence community. Reference to the report of the 9/11 Commission, which called for an overhaul of the intelligence community; Creation of a director of national intelligence (DNI); Comment made by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts; Formation of the National Counterterrorism Center to assess terrorist threats; Reforms related to homeland security; Claim that the changes recalibrate the balance of power over U.S. intelligence activities; Question of who will be appointed as the nation's first DNI.

As with so much in the war on terrorism, it's hard to tell if it is being won or lost.Terrorism concerns are driving much of the debate in the presidential campaign, which has unfolded amid a stream of terrorism alerts at home and attacks abroad. Yet many Americans still have only a limited understanding of who, exactly, the enemy is and whether the nation is safer. More worrisome, the nature of the enemy is changing. The al Qaeda of 9/11 is gone. In its place has emerged a more elusive foe, a loosely affiliated network linked together by local militants, the Internet, and a shared ideology of radical Sunni Islam. Al Qaeda was always a sum of many parts, relying on local groups from Indonesia to Uzbekistan. But Osama bin Laden has spread his ideology successfully enough that new, homegrown groups are emerging. One intelligence analyst sees conditions in many Muslim communities--poverty, inequality, and anger over the Israeli-Palestinian crisis--as a "petri dish for jihadists." This much is clear--the war is getting harder to fight.

Reports on talk heard around Washington. Talk that President George W. Bush's twin daughters will most likely help with his bid for re-election by working in the "Rock the Vote" program which is designed to reach younger voters; Word that John Kerry's vice presidential team is down to three finalists; Department of Homeland Security which is facing a lack of librarians to gather information and data on terrorists; Why Al Gore and Bill Clinton want people to see the new movie "The Day After Tomorrow"; Efforts by the House of Representatives to seek funding for an "Ask America" survey regarding the war on terrorism; Reports on a roast of Eliot Spitzer, the New York Attorney General famous for pursuing corporate criminals; Announcement that Virginia's Mark Warner is about to become the chairman of the National Governors' Association.

Reports on terrorist threats and national security in the United States for 2004. Warnings issued by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft regarding credible intelligence from multiple sources pointing to an al Qaeda terrorist attack; Increase of surveillance of trains and rail infrastructure; List of seven fugitives suspected of terrorist activities, including Adam Yahiye Gadahn of California; Hunt for suspected terrorist Adnan El Shukrijumah.

Discusses 9/11 commission hearings in the United States and how members of intelligence agencies are placing blaming on others for their inability to prevent the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. Way that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency have tried to defer blame from themselves by focusing on funding shortages, a lack of prioritization and management's failure to shift resources; Failures of both agencies; How the agencies can repair their shortcomings.

Offers news briefs on United States' politics as of August 2003. Threats of hijacking and terrorism that resulted in a homeland security alert; Report on the death threats against Paul Bremer who is heading the reconstruction effort in Iraq; Approach of the Secretary of Health, Tommy Thompson, to halting the U.S. obesity epidemic; Others.

Offers news briefs related to U.S. politics and government as of July 1, 2002. Probability that President George W. Bush's wish to create a Homeland Security Department will not be approved by Congress in the near future; Why House conservatives are displeased with White House Chief of Staff Andy Card; Pakistani officials who are blocking the Federal Bureau of Investigation's bid to search Islamic schools; Other news.

Several reports are offered regarding the office of U.S. President George W. Bush. Democrats are gaining points in public opinion on national security issues, following news of a sale of U.S. ports to a company operating in the United Arab Emirates. Republican activists are starting to wonder if Arizona Senator John McCain is conservative enough to warrant the 2008 presidential nomination. Also discussed are revisions to the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism, and long-term troop commitment in Iraq.

Presents tips from George Stefanopoulos, former adviser to President Bill Clinton, on what to look for in this year's presidential race. Observation that political divisions continue to play a role; Prediction that national security and terrorism will be the top issues, followed by health care; Advice to take strong positions on Iraq; Reminder that history does not always repeat itself; Importance of the Catholic vote; Importance of winning Ohio.

Reports that the producers of a new TV show, "D.H.S., the series," are getting advice from the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. Comments by "D.H.S." star Alison Heruth-Waterbury on her meeting with the real DHS; Details of the show's subject matter; Report that CBS is considering the show for the fall; Report that President George W. Bush and DHS Secretary Tom Ridge are featured in the show's trailer.

Presents a profile of former U.S. counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke, who has generated controversy with his new book, "Against All Enemies." Criticisms of Clarke made by members of the Bush administration; Details of Clarke's political affiliations; Background on Clarke's childhood, education and career as an intelligence official in the State Department; Details of Clarke's service in the National Security Council; Observations about Clarke's working habits and personality.

Examines what role Saudi Arabian officials played in the planning of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Belief of some members of the U.S. House and the Senate intelligence committees that officials in the Saudi government were involved; Discovery that money from a bank account of the wife of the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, supported two hijackers; Reports that Saudi charities and members of the royal family have funneled money to terrorists; Sketchy and inconclusive nature of the information about Saudi involvement; Efforts of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency to press the congressional panel not to include classified intelligence on the Saudis in their reports because the information is inadequate; Acknowledgement by Saudi Embassy spokesman Nail al-Jubeir that the Saudis paid the legal fees for Saudi-born citizens who were detained by U.S. law enforcement agencies investigating the attacks.

Focuses on U.S. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge. His views on paranoia about terrorist attacks following September 11; Why he feels safe in his home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; His thoughts on classroom atomic bomb tests of the 1950s.

Reports the concerns of US National Security officials on possible leaks of classified information from the Governmental Affairs Committee. Comments of Senator Fred Thompson; Classified materials relating to the peoples' Republic of China.