Search

Examines how the United States is spending millions in the war on terrorism to change the very face of Islam. How the U.S. government has embarked on a campaign of political warfare unmatched since the height of the Cold War; Campaign to influence not only Muslim societies but Islam itself--from military psychological operations teams and covert operatives to openly funded media and think tanks; Views of many U.S. officials that the U.S. can no longer sit on the sidelines as radicals and moderates fight over the future of a politicized religion with over a billion followers; Growing effort to influence what officials describe as an Islamic reformation.

The articles observes how events in the Middle East represent some of the most promising democratic developments in the region in years. After protesters prompted Lebanon's Syrian-backed prime minister to resign--itself an unprecedented event--they continued protests demanding an end to Syria's military occupation. In the wake of a historic Palestinian election, the Palestinian parliament threatened to topple the government unless the new prime minister replaced corruption-tainted aides, a first in the Arab world. Saudi Arabia's monarchy is permitting first-time municipal elections. Egypt's president, Hosni Mubarak, made called for a constitutional amendment to allow multicandidate presidential elections. And after months of pushing for greater democratic reforms in the Middle East, the U.S. President George W. Bush administration helped Iraq stage its first free parliamentary election. U.S. officials are beginning to compare these developments to the wave of democratization that swept eastern Europe in 1989 after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. But some critics warn that an abrupt transition to democracy in the Mideast could bring deeply religious and even radical elements to power. INSET: A CHANCE TO VOTE.

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 resignation of U.S. Central Intelligence Agency director George Tenet. Discussion of the controversies surrounding Tenet and the CIA during his seven-year tenure as director; Details of the challenges Tenet faced when he took over the post in 1997; Tenet's achievements as director; Claim that Tenet is particularly proud of the CIA's work in the war on terrorism, the Middle East peace process, and the agency's unraveling of the nuclear black market that stretched from Pakistan to Libya and North Korea; Comparison between Tenet and the last long-serving CIA director, William Casey; Discussion of the CIA's biggest blunders under Tenet: the agency's failure to stop the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and its flawed intelligence on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; Speculation about whether the CIA will be able to regain its status as the world's leading intelligence agency after these and other glaring failures; Speculation about why Tenet resigned last week; Speculation about who will replace Tenet.

The article questions whether General Michael Hayden can reform the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the same way he did the National Security Agency (NSA) after the Cold War. As President George W. Bush's appointee for the position of CIA director, Hayden is set to undo the mistake of predecessor Porter Goss. His nomination is contentious, the main concern being his role in implementing the warrantless wiretaps and information mining that comprise the NSA's domestic surveillance program.

The article discusses recent events in U.S. politics. Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, a conservative Republican, will announce his intention to run for President in 2008 within the month, as will outgoing Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's opponents have launched a website criticizing her possible 2008 Presidential bid.

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 reviews various news briefs related to U.S. politics as of February 13, 2006. A groups of new tapes featuring former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon discussing his political strategy were discovered. New information regarding the diplomatic relationship between North Korean and Iran is reviewed. The conflict between the U.S. Navy and chaplain Lt. Gordon Klingenschimitt is also reviewed. Other news briefs are included.

Looks at the debate within the United States government concerning its anti-narcotics program in Afghanistan. Reports that policymakers have been wrangling over how to curb Afghanistan's exploding drug trade for two years; Resignation of the U.S. State Department's top narcotics control officer Robert Charles, the assistant secretary for international narcotics and law enforcement; Charles' view that the U.S government has failed to confront an Afghan drug problem that is rapidly spinning out of control; Suggestion that the country's growing opium trade may destroy the nascent government of Hamid Karzai.

Presents news briefs related to politics in the United States. Plans of Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2008; Potential for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade if President Bush is able to choose two Supreme Court judges during his second term; Attendance at the new Clinton presidential library in Little Rock, Arkansas; Others.

Presents news briefs related to recent political developments in the United States. Report on the decision of Commerce Secretary Don Evans to commute from Texas instead of residing in suburban Virginia; Views of Democrats on Ralph Nader; Efforts by John Kerry to strengthen Democratic Party credentials in the area of military and foreign affairs; Others.

Presents news briefs related to politics and government in the United States. End to the Office of Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Opium harvest in Afghanistan and the reaction of U.S. State Department officials; Bill Clinton's testimony before the commission investigating the attacks of September 11th; Others.

Presents news briefs relating to U.S. politics. Support for presidential candidate Howard Dean from white supremacists; Possibility that former ambassador Joe Wilson will run for Congress; Fashion statement by Maria Shriver, wife of California governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger; President George W. Bush and the issue of a ban on gay marriage; Others.

Presents news briefs related to United States politics as of September 15, 2003. How U.S. diplomat Robert Blackwill was allowed to meet with only midlevel foreign officials on his trip to India; How actor Warren Beatty offered advice to California Governor Gray Davis regarding some of his political speeches; Consideration of how ocean activists are concerned about the influence of the U.S. Navy on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Others.

Speculates the U.S. President George W. Bush will not be able to help weak Republican candidates win elections during the 2002 elections. Statement from Republican Party Chairman Marc Racicot that Bush has no coattails; Statements from Democrat Terry McAuliffe; Coattails of Ronald Reagan; Number of House seats that the Democrats picked up when U.S. President Bill Clinton faced impeachment.

Reports news items related to political events in Washington, D.C. Letters from the U.S. that were mailed to Osama bin Laden; Speculation that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York will be the Democratic vice presidential nominee if Senator John Edwards of North Carolina gets the 2004 nomination for president; Comments on the tactics of Texan representative and House Whip Tom DeLay; Others.

Gives news briefs relating to U.S. politics and government as of August 5, 2002. Behavior of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell while on the board of directors for AOL Time Warner; Political strategy of Republicans to send aides, lawyers, and lobbyists to key House districts to promote GOP candidates; Government spending plans in light of the attitudes of voters.

Presents news briefs related to United States politics as of April 8, 2002. View of Republican senator John Warner concerning a campaign finance bill; Trend of U.S. Secret Service agents to seek private security jobs; Outlook for the policies of U.S. senators Dianne Feinstein and Mitch McConnell concerning Yasser Arafat; Others.

Offers news briefs related to United States politics and government of December 10, 2001. Intelligence files given to the U.S. by Sudan; Plans of the U.S. Postal Service to give out bonuses to executives; Resignation of Republican Party Chairman Jim Gilmore; Others.

Presents brief articles related to United States politics and government as of November 19, 2001. Report that the Taliban has granted Afghan citizenship to the terrorist Osama bin Laden; Increase of the number of people taking the U.S. State Department's Foreign Service exam to apply for diplomatic service; Mention of how the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is amassing a database of unsoliticed electronic mail messages for possible use in litigation; Others.

The article discusses several recent events in politics, including Democrats and Republicans urging President George W. Bush to push for a diplomatic solution to the war in Iraq. Arguments are made for the claim the that independent voters now hold the balance of power in American politics. The rapid increase in recruiting at the Central Intelligence Agency is also discussed.

The article discusses singer Pat Boone's trip to Washington, D.C., for his first ever address to the conservative Heritage Foundation. Boone, a long-time financial supporter of the group, plans to push his memoir, "Pat Boone's America: 50 years," and lobby Congress in favor of a flag-desecration ban and higher obscenity fines. Boone's intention to visit with friends such as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch.

The article reports on the surprise resignation of CIA director Porter Goss, after two tumultuous years in the position. Goss was brought into an agency reeling from the intelligence failures surrounding 9/11 and the Iraq War. A number of valuable covert officers resigned rather than work with Goss's staff. In spite of assurances of progress in the agency from Goss and President George W. Bush as late as a week before his resignation, a panel has been considering replacements for months.

The article reports that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza is focusing her attention on budget and management issues at the State Department after setting records for worldwide travel during her first year in office. It is suggested that Rice is personally figuring out how to staff dangerous embassies in Baghdad, Iraq and Kabul, Afghanistan. According to the author, Rice is also reworking how U.S. diplomats are assigned to foreign posts. Comments from an unnamed aide to Rice are included.

The article looks at how several reports containing criticisms related to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have been withheld from the CIA's Center for the Study of Intelligence website. According to the author, the Center for the Study of Intelligence is known for its openness. Details of the reports are reviewed. The reports are reportedly available through the CIA's public-affairs office.

The article presents news briefs related to current events and politics in the United States. President George W. Bush has launched a political campaign to improve his public image and raise public support. Vice President Dick Cheney is warning that there are big challenges ahead in Iraq. The two candidates for the role of House Majority Leader are Roy Blunt and John Boehner.

The article offers news briefs related to politics in the United States. A public opinion poll found that President George W. Bush's approval rating has risen with the public's confidence in the economy. Bush is planning to campaign for Republican candidates in 2006. A top al Qaeda terrorist, Abu Hamza Rabia, was killed.

Presents news about politics and activities in Washington, D.C.. Involvement of Karl Rove in key decision-making in the White House; Assertion that Virginia Senator George Allen may run for president in 2008; Efforts that will be made to gain the approval in Congress for a deal to resume sales of F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan; Description of bombings in Bangladesh and who is thought to be responsible; Selection of Cristeta Comerford as the new head chef in the White House.

Presents news briefs related to the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. View of some administration officials that Bush does not have the political strength to pull off the variety of battles he's taken on, especially Social Security reform; Interest of U.S. President George W. Bush in North Korean political prisons believed to hold 200,000 prisoners, and his tendency to use more respectful language towards North Korean leader Kim Jong Il; More briefs.

Offers news briefs related to United States politics. Preparations by various members of Congress to vote against items on the agenda of U.S. President George W. Bush in response to looming military base closings; Critique of the Bush administration's foreign policy from Richard Haass, former director of policy planning at the State Department; Change in terminology relating to the war on terror from "global war on terror" to "war against Islamic extremism."

Reports on an attempt to rate the effectiveness of campaign ads for presidential candidates John Kerry and George W. Bush. Report that, according to political ad expert Frank Luntz, focus groups preferred Kerry's sound bites and his ads overall; Speculation by Luntz that Bush may still have the advantage because he is nicking away at Kerry's credibility.

Presents quotes on U.S. politics drawn from the previous week's news. Comparison by President George W. Bush between baseball card collections and the Baseball Hall of Fame; Comment by Martin Kaplan of the Norman Lear Center on how Jennifer Aniston's endorsement could help Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry; Comparison by liberal talk show host Randi Rhodes of the Bush and Corleone families.

Discusses how Attorney General John Ashcroft is proposing legislation that would take away the authority of the U.S. government to investigate bombings from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). How all bombings cases will be handled by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under the new laws; Consideration of the difference between criminal and terrorist acts; Role of the ATF in the investigation of bombings that occur in the U.S. annually.

Discusses U.S. President George W. Bush's relationship with the White House press corps. Press conference in the Rose Garden; Encounter that was planned by Bush and his senior aides, including press secretary Scott McClellan; Team that decided in advance which journalists Bush would call on; Notice that journalists were given; Ploy to prevent journalists from preparing their questions too carefully.

Discusses the politics of United States President George W. Bush. Popularity of Bush; Comparison of the policies of Bush to traditional Republican actions; Outlook for the Republican party.

Focuses on the outlook for the legacy of United States President George W. Bush's presidency. Indication that his response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S. are his benchmark issue in American foreign policy; How the legacy will be used for domestic politicking.

Presents news briefs relating to politics and government in the United States. Political plans and aspirations of U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.); Efforts to convince Major League Baseball to hire New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as commissioner; Donations from U.S. citizens to the Central Intelligence Agency; Others.

Speculates whether Elizabeth Dole will run for the United States Senate. The health of North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms and possibility he may retire; Her decision not to announce her candidacy until Helms makes up his mind about a re-election bid.