A new strategy in the hunt for Bin Laden, War on Terror, NewAgeIslam.com

War on Terror

A new strategy in the hunt for Bin Laden

In interviews, the officials attributed their failure to find Bin Laden to an overreliance on military force, disruptions posed by the war in Iraq and a pattern of underestimating the enemy. Above all, they said, the search has been handicapped by an inability to develop informants in Pakistan's isolated tribal regions, where Bin Laden is believed to be hiding.

With CIA officers and U.S. Special Forces prevented from operating freely in Pakistan, the search is taking place mostly from the air. The Predators, equipped with multiple cameras that transmit live video via satellite, have launched their Hellfire missiles against four targets in the past month alone. Since January, the reconnaissance drones have killed two senior Al-Qaida leaders with $5 million bounties on their heads.

Still, debate persists among both U.S. and Pakistani officials over the merits of this aggressive approach, which has resulted in higher civilian casualties and strained diplomatic relations. "Making more effort and flailing are different things," said a senior Pakistani security official.

http://newageislam.com/a-new-strategy-in-the-hunt-for-bin-laden-/war-on-terror/d/722

Workable Terrorism Trials, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

Workable Terrorism Trials

A special federal court could balance fundamental rights and

national security needs.

An editorial in The Washington Post

July 27, 2008; Page B06

Modelled after the court that processes surveillance warrants under the auspices of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a national security court could be based in Washington and staffed by federal judges from around the country who would sit part-time on the court for a set number of years. Unlike the FISA court, where only the government routinely argues before the panel, a national security court would be fully adversarial. Detainees would be represented by lawyers with security clearance to review classified information being used against their clients. Detainees would have the right to review a broad range of evidence, or at least as extensive a summary of the evidence as was practicable. The defence could present evidence and witnesses to counter government allegations. Judges would conduct periodic reviews to test the government's rationale for continued detentions. Judges would also have the power to order releases that would be coordinated with the White House and State Department to ensure the detainees' transfer to their home countries or to acceptable third countries. Decisions of the national security court would be appealable to a panel of other Senate-confirmed federal judges serving fixed terms.

http://newageislam.com/workable-terrorism-trials/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/d/324