Bin Laden hints major assassination
The Washington Times

U.S. intelligence officials say a high-profile political assassination, triggered by the public release of a new message from Osama bin Laden, will lead off the next major al Qaeda terrorist attack, The Washington Times has learned.

The assassination plan is among new details of al Qaeda plots disclosed by U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reports who, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the killing could be carried out against a U.S. or foreign leader either in the United States or abroad.

The officials mentioned Saudi Arabia and Yemen, two nations that are working with the United States in the battle against al Qaeda, as likely locales for the opening assassination.

The planning for the attacks to follow involves "multiple targets in multiple venues" across the United States, one official said.

The new details of al Qaeda's plans were found on a laptop computer belonging to arrested al Qaeda operative Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan of Pakistan.
"We're talking about planning at the screwdriver level," one official said. "It is very detailed."

Khan was arrested July 13 in Lahore, Pakistan, along with Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, a Tanzanian who was indicted in the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Africa and was on the FBI's list of most-wanted terrorists.

Osama Calling for Qaeda Attacks - Pakistan Sources
Reuters

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Osama bin Laden has called for attacks on targets in the United States and Britain, Pakistani intelligence sources said on Wednesday, but it was not clear if his appeal was accompanied by more detailed orders.

"Osama has given the go ahead to target important places and personalities in the U.S., U.K. and Pakistan," one Pakistani intelligence source said.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, played down a report on Wednesday in the Washington Times that a tape from bin Laden may surface soon that would act as a signal for planned attacks to be launched.

The newspaper, citing U.S. intelligence officials, said al Qaeda would target an American or foreign leader either within the United States or abroad.

The sketch of a plot to target President Bush surfaced on an online magazine of al Qaeda's organization in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

A one-line answer to a Saut al-Jihad (Voice of Jihad) reader's query said: "The plan you have drawn up to assassinate Bush is good but would need a lot of preparation."

"Perhaps you can take part in it, if possible, and thanks," the magazine told the reader -- named only as Madad -- without giving further details. The reader's question was not published.

FDA Approves Dirty Bomb Antidotes
AP Wire

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration approved two new products Wednesday designed to help deal with the consequences of terrorists using dirty bombs.

Acting FDA Commissioner Lester M. Crawford told The Associated Press that the products, to be available by prescription only, are designed to speed up elimination of radiation from the body.

Dirty bombs have become an increasing concern. Unlike warheads designed to kill and destroy through a huge nuclear blast and heat, so-called dirty bombs are radiation weapons. They would rely on conventional explosives to blow radioactive material far and wide. A successful bomb could make a section of a city uninhabitable for years.

The agency said the goal is to provide protection from both nuclear accidents and threats. It said the two drugs are safe and effective for treating contamination from the elements plutonium, americium or curium.

The FDA said that while these drugs have been in use on an experimental basis for several years, until this action there have been no approved drugs for treatment of internal contamination by the three radioactive elements.

Plutonium, americium or curium can enter the body through a variety of routes including ingestion, inhalation or direct contact through wounds. By removing them quickly the victim may avoid possible future effects including the development of certain cancers, which may occur years after exposure, FDA said.

Approved were:

_Penetate calcium trisodium injection, Ca-DTPA.

_Penetate Zinc trisodium injection, Zn-DTPA.

Feds Investigating Conn. Nuclear Engineer In Terror Case
WNBC.Com

CROMWELL, Conn. -- A Connecticut nuclear engineer is under investigation in a federal terrorism probe, but denies allegations he offered support to a militant Islamic Web site and said he's being targeted because he is Muslim.

Syed R. Maswood, 41, confirmed that he is the unnamed Connecticut resident mentioned last week in a federal affidavit charging a British national with supporting terrorism.

Federal agents raided Maswood's home March 17, seizing computer equipment and financial records, he said. Investigators discovered his e-mail address among files used to maintain a Web site that funneled money and equipment to terrorists, according to the affidavit, which was unsealed Friday in New Haven as part of an international terrorism probe.

From his home, Maswood runs North American Technical Services, which exports nuclear detection instruments, water treatment devices and environmental equipment to Middle East and Asian governments.

Maswood has not been charged in the case but said he has been detained and searched three times while traveling on business recently and said officials have told him he's on a U.S. no-fly list.

Maswood once strongly supported President Bush and still keeps in his living room a photgraph of the president. He also has a photo of his preteen daughter meeting Vice President Dick Cheney and has donated to several Republican campaigns.

Iran Test Fires New Missile
AP Via CBS

(AP) Iran on Wednesday test fired a new version of its ballistic Shahab-3 missile, which was already capable of reaching U.S. forces in the Middle East and has since been upgraded in response to Israeli missile development.

The Shahab-3, which Iran last successfully tested in 2002 before providing it to the elite Revolutionary Guards, is the country's longest-range ballistic missile, with a range of about 810 miles.

It has since been modified to improve its range and accuracy. Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said last week that the modifications were in response to efforts by Israel to improve its own missiles.

No details on the changes, including the new range, were provided.

"The Defense Ministry conducted the field test today to assess the latest modifications as a result of research carried out on Shahab-3," the radio said without elaborating if the test was successful.

The Iranian missile, whose name "Shahab" means shooting star in Farsi, can reach Israel and several other countries in the region, fanning fears in the Jewish state that Tehran may strike it.

Web Site Shows Apparent Beheading Tape
AP Via ABC

CAIRO, Egypt Aug. 11, 2004 — An Islamic Web site carried a videotape Wednesday that appeared to show militants in Iraq beheading a man identified as a CIA agent. The authenticity of the videotape could not be verified immediately.

The Internet site, regarded as a clearing house for tapes and statements by Islamic extremist groups, displayed footage of eight militants surrounding a seated man who wore a sign around his neck bearing his photograph and the letters CIA along with the word "visitor."

U.S., Iraqi forces prepare Najaf assault
CNN

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- With U.S. and Iraqi forces preparing for a major assault in Najaf, radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr urged his armed followers to keep up their battle even if he is seized or killed.

The potential showdown comes after nearly a week of Iraqi and U.S. troops fighting the Medhi Army, which is loyal to al-Sadr. The cleric has many supporters in Baghdad, particularly in the Sadr City neighborhood, and in southern Iraqi cities.

"Iraqi and U.S. forces are making final preparations as we get ready to finish this fight that the Muqtada militia started," Col. Anthony Haslam, commanding officer of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said in a statement.

In a statement Wednesday, al-Sadr was resolute about continuing the battle but thanked those people who he said worked to establish peace in the city.

Over the weekend, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the the United Nations was "ready to extend its facilitating role to the current crisis." Al-Sadr had said Tuesday that he welcomed the help.

Still, the violence continued into Wednesday. Over a 24-hour period that ended in the morning, 57 Iraqis in other al-Sadr strongholds were killed in clashes.