News and Analysis (2/28/08)

As former intelligence officials and civil liberties experts debunk Bush’s fearmongering in pursuit of continuation of warrantless wiretapping, names on the Terror Watch List are expected to surpass one million in July:

• Bush, Congress Wrangle Over Domestic Spying (Inter Press Service)

• U.S. Terror Watch List Surpasses 900,000 Names, ACLU Estimates (Wired.com)

Bush names his envoy to Muslim nations to “burnish” US image, but terrorism analyst Marc Sageman argues America needs to deflate the hype surrounding Muslims and terrorism and pursue wiser policies:

• Bush Names Envoy to Muslim Nations (Associated Press/New York Times)

• The Fading Jihadists (Washington Post)

Amnesty International reports the Iranian government targets activists supporting greater women’s rights, meanwhile lingering questions over Tehran’s nuclear program remain in the minds of non-proliferation experts:

• Iran ‘Targeting’ Women Activists (BBC News)

• Questions Persist On Iran’s Nuclear Plans (Christian Science Monitor)

Rejection of draft law on regional powers lands a major blow against achieving political reconciliation in Iraq:

• Sadr Anger Over Iraq Law Setback (BBC News)

Alejandro

Alejandro Beutel is program assistant for the Minaret of Freedom Institute with expertise in religious freedom, democratization and security issues.