USA
Iran is the most active of seven states that sponsor terrorism, the State Department told Congress in an annual review released Tuesday. Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Syria, North Korea, and Cuba also made the list, which remained unchanged from last year. While the number of terror attacks declined in 2001, those that did happen claimed a record number of lives, mainly due to the events of Sept. 11, the report said.
In other terrorism-related developments:
New York's Brooklyn Bridge (above) was briefly closed to traffic Wednesday as the city went on high alert over an FBI warning of "general threats" against its landmarks.
Defense Secretary Rumsfeld warned Tuesday that terrorist networks "inevitably" will acquire weapons of mass destruction from allied rogue states that possess them, adding to a chorus of dire predictions by senior administration officials.
The House was expected to approve $29 billion in anti- terrorism spending, and the Senate Appropriations Committee planned to vote on a more costly $31 billion version that has drawn criticism from the White House.
The head of the new Transportation Security Administration rejected a proposal to arm commercial airline pilots against hijackers. But John Magaw said he hadn't decided yet whether to allow them to bring nonlethal weapons, such as stun guns, into the cockpit.
Vice President Cheney and White House aides were subpoenaed by a Senate panel investigating bankrupt Enron Corp., for documents on contacts with the energy trader. The Bush administration has strongly resisted disclosures of its contacts with business leaders. The chairman of the Government Affairs committee, Joseph Lieberman (D) of Connecticut, said "I have finally concluded that we were being slow-walked, at least, and stonewalled at worst." (Related story, page 2.)
Before leaving for Europe, President Bush called on the Senate to grant him long-sought trade promotion authority, saying it would send "a strong, positive message" during his six-day trip. Approval of the bill, which would make it easier for a president to negotiate trade deals, was expected by today.
The discovery of human remains in Washington's Rock Creek Park prompted speculation they could be those of Chandra Levy. The congressional intern has been missing since May 1, 2001.
All 43 people aboard were rescued from a Navy research submarine that caught fire 100 miles off California's coast, the Navy said. Only a few minor injuries were reported for the crew of the USS Dolphin, which holds the record for deep dives more than 3,000 feet.
