July 30, 2009
N.C. Arrests Raise Concerns about Homegrown Terrorism
Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano respond to the arrest of seven men in North Carolina on terrorism charges. Authorities claim the group was gearing up for a "violent jihad," though prosecutors haven't detailed any specific targets or timeframe.

May 21, 2009
Obama Details Strategy on Gitmo Detainees
President Barack Obama defended his decision to close the Guantanamo prison camp Thursday and pledged to work with Congress to develop a system for imprisoning detainees who may need to come to the U.S. if they can't be tried or released.

May 15, 2009
Obama to Revive Military Trials for Gitmo Detainees
President Obama plans to restart Bush administration-era tribunals for Guantanamo detainees, but offer the men new legal protections. NewsHour senior correspondent Ray Suarez reports.

May 7, 2009
Holder, GOP Spar Over Fate of Guantanamo Detainees
Attorney General Eric Holder sparred with congressional Republicans Thursday over the future of inmates currently being held at Guantanamo Bay. Special correspondent Simon Marks reports on the arguments and focuses on the fate of a group of Muslims from China, known as Uighurs.

April 17 , 2009
Release of Interrogation Memos Draws Angry Reactions
CIA interrogators who used waterboarding on terrorism suspects will not face prosecution, President Barack Obama said in releasing a series of long-secret Bush administration-era memos, which authorized the use of exceptional interrogation techniques.

Full Text of the Justice Department Memos [NPR]
President Obama's Statement [White House]
Attorney General Eric Holder's Statement [DOJ]

January 22, 2009
President Orders Guantanamo Prison Closed
In his second full day in office, President Barack Obama signed a series of executive orders Thursday morning to close the Guantanamo detention center within a year, ban the harshest interrogation methods and review military war crimes trials.

January 21, 2009
Hours After Inauguration, Obama Orders Halt in Guantanamo Trials
Just hours after taking office, President Barack Obama ordered military prosecutors to halt all pending cases in the Guantanamo war crimes tribunals for 120 days, a clear shift from the policies of the Bush administration.

December 8, 2008
Judge to Consider Sept. 11 Suspects' Confession Offers
The alleged architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four other suspects said Monday they would plead guilty to terror charges knowing their convictions would carry the death penalty. A Miami Herald reporter examines the developments.

November 25, 2008
Uncertainty Looms Over Future for Guantanamo Detainees
Salim Hamdan, a former driver for terror leader Osama Bin Laden, is being transferred from the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, back to his home country of Yemen, defense officials tell news agencies.

August 7, 2008
Bin Laden's Ex-Driver Sentenced to 5 1/2 Years in Prison
A military jury on Thursday sentenced Osama bin Laden's former driver, Samil Hamdan, to 5 1/2 years in prison, making him eligible for parole in six months. Hamdan was convicted Wednesday on charges of providing material support for terrorism.

July 9, 2008
Senate OKs Wiretapping Measure With Telecom Immunity
The Senate approved a bill Wednesday overhauling the rules on government eavesdropping and granting immunity to telecom companies that assist with government-ordered communications monitoring. The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 69-28.

June 20, 2008
Wiretapping Bill Heads to Senate After Telecom Debate
The House approved a wide-ranging terror surveillance overhaul Friday. Caroline Fredrickson of the ACLU and George Terwilliger, a former deputy attorney general for the first President Bush, examine the measure.

April 2, 2008
Memo Details Justification for Harsh Interrogation Tactics
The Pentagon made public a declassified -- and now defunct -- memo that outlined the legal justifications for using harsh interrogation techniques against terror suspects, saying that President Bush's wartime authority trumps any international ban on torture.

Full Text of the Memo on Interrogations [PDF]: Part 1 | Part 2

February 5, 2008
CIA Chief Confirms Waterboarding; Al-Qaida Regrouping in Pakistan
Top intelligence officers publicly confirmed for the first time that three suspected terrorists were waterboarded and warned that al-Qaida is establishing cells in other countries, particularly Pakistan, to plan attacks within the United States.

January 22, 2008
Padilla Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison
Convicted terror conspirator Jose Padilla, a U.S. citizen who was once held as an enemy combatant by the Bush administration, was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years and four months in prison on terrorism conspiracy charges.

August 16, 2007
'Enemy Combatant' Padilla Convicted of Supporting Terrorists
A federal jury in Miami convicted Jose Padilla on all three counts of supporting overseas Islamic terrorist groups, including al-Qaida. A reporter who covered the trial provides an update.

August 6, 2007
President Signs Law to Expand Wiretapping Program
President Bush signed a law granting the National Security Agency broader authority in monitoring communications among foreigners and Americans. A civil liberties advocate and a former National Security Council lawyer assess the new law.

August 1, 2007
President Bush Presses for Flexibility on Terror Surveillance
President Bush is calling on Congress to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to let the government monitor overseas terror suspects without warrants. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., debate the merits of such an expansion and the mood on Capitol Hill.

May 8, 2007
Six Men Arrested in Plot to Attack New Jersey's Fort Dix
Federal prosecutors have charged six Muslim men living in the United States with plotting to sneak into Fort Dix in New Jersey and kill as many military personnel as possible. The NewsHour speaks with the U.S. attorney working on the case.

March 15, 2007
Al-Qaida Suspect Says He Plotted 9/11, Other Attacks
Al-Qaida suspect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed admitted he was involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the beheading of journalist Daniel Pearl and more than 30 other attacks or plots during a hearing at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prison. Philip Zelikow, former executive director of the 9/11 commission, and author Ron Suskind discuss Mohammed and his possible role as mastermind of the attacks.

Transcript: Full text of Mohammed's inquiry hearing as posted on the Defense Department's Web site. (PDF)

May 18, 2006
Senators Question Hayden on Domestic Surveillance Programs
Former National Security Agency chief Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden faced tough questioning Thursday about the NSA's wiretapping and telephone log tracking programs, among other issues, during his Senate confirmation hearings to run the Central Intelligence Agency.

After key excerpts from the hearings, David Ignatius of The Washington Post and Mark Lowenthal, a former assistant director of Central Intelligence for Analysis and Production analyze the days proceedings.

Opening Statements and Questions
RealAudio: Gen. Michael Hayden's opening statement

RealAudio: Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., opening statement (RealAudio of his questions)

RealAudio: Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., opening statement (RealAudio of his questions)

RealAudio: Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, questioning Hayden

RealAudio: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., questioning Hayden

Analysis
RealAudio: Columnists David Brooks and Tom Oliphant discuss what was said, and not said, by the senators and Hayden, and the controversy over the National Security Agency's telephone tracking programs.

RealAudio: Jim Lehrer talks to Brooks and Oliphant about how Hayden is handling the committee's questions.

RealAudio: Brooks and Oliphant discuss how Congress is briefed on intelligence matters and other issues raised during the confirmation hearing.

RealAudio: Correspondent Kwame Holman gives an overview of the political issues expected to play out in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee. (5/17/06)

May 12, 2006
Legal Experts Divided over NSA Program to Track Domestic Phone Calls
Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, President Bush’s nominee for CIA director, faced new pressure Friday over the administration’s program to track domestic phone calls. Hayden led the National Security Agency when it began that effort in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Two intelligence experts debate the legality of the phone call tracking program.

May 11, 2006
President Bush Denies Federal Surveillance 'Trolling' Americans' Phone Calls
Sens. Kit Bond, R -Mo., a member of the Intelligence Committee, and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, react to President Bush's statement that the United States is not "mining or trolling through the personal lives of innocent Americans" after USA Today reported that the NSA has been collecting data from AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to search for patterns that might help identify terrorist networks.

May 8, 2006
Hayden's Nomination as CIA Chief Sparks Debate
President Bush nominated Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden to serve as the Central Intelligence Agency's next leader, sparking debate over Hayden's military background and his role in the NSA domestic surveillance program. Two members of the House Intelligence Committee discuss the nomination and the CIA's new direction.

March 9, 2006
Patriot Act Renewed with Some Privacy Protections
President Bush signed a renewal of the USA Patriot Act into law Thursday, a day before 16 major provisions of the law were set to expire. The legislation passed Tuesday evening in the House after several months of debate over how to balance Americans' right to privacy with a need to foil potential terrorist threats. Political standoffs twice forced Congress to extend the expiration date of the Patriot Act.

March 8, 2006
House Panel Blocks Dubai Takeover of U.S. Ports
The House Appropriations Committee voted 62-2 Wednesday to block the Bush administration's plan to allow a United Arab Emirates company called Dubai Ports World to manage six U.S. ports. Gwen Ifill speaks with Republican Reps. Jack Kingston of Georgia and Darrell Issa of California about how the issue is driving a wedge into the Republican Party.

February 28, 2006
Administration Officials Grilled on Ports Deal
Bush administration officials were questioned closely at two Senate hearings Tuesday about a seaport deal that would allow a Dubai company to take over shipping operations at six major U.S. ports. Meanwhile, President Bush continued to voice support for the deal. The NewsHour's congressional correspondent Kwame Holman reports on port politics at the capital.

February 27, 2006
Sale of Port Operations Highlights State of Security at Nation's Harbors
As Congress continues to debate legislation that may block the possible sale of several U.S. port operations to a United Arab Emirates company, new attention has been directed on the state of America's port security. Margaret Warner speaks with Stephen Flynn, retired Coast Guard commander and an expert on border security, and Robert Bonner, the former commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, about port security.

February 24, 2006
Arab Company Agrees to Delay Port Takeover
A United Arab Emirates company has agreed to delay its takeover of operations at six major U.S. seaports, giving the Bush administration time to convince skeptical lawmakers the handover would not threaten port security.

February 23, 2006
Critics of Port Deal Raise Security Red Flag
The uproar over a contract giving an Arab company leases at America's largest seaports has revealed tensions between President Bush and Congress over homeland security. Stephen Flynn, a retired Coast Guard commander and transportation expert, and M.R. Dinsmore, chief executive officer of the port of Seattle, discuss the port management issue and how it relates to security.

February 22, 2006
Analysts Debate Controversial Port Deal
White House officials said Wednesday that President Bush did not know an Arab company would take over management responsibilities at six U.S. seaports until several days ago. NewsHour regulars Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the political storm over the port deal.

February 21, 2006
President Says Port Deal Involving Arab Company Should Proceed
President Bush on Tuesday defended a deal to let an Arab company run six major U.S. ports and said he would veto any legislation aimed at stopping it. A British company that has been running the ports is going to be acquired by Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates.

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Clay Lowery, assistant secretary for international affairs at the Treasury Department, debate what the proposed sale may mean for security at the critical U.S. ports.

February 6, 2006
Senators Challenge Gonzales' Defense of NSA Eavesdropping
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced skeptical senators from both sides of the aisle when he testified in favor of the Bush administration's policy of monitoring international calls by the National Security Agency, calling the program an "early warning system" to prevent terrorist attacks.

January 23, 2006
Attorney General Defends NSA Wiretap Program
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in a newsmaker interview defends the Bush administration's use of the National Security Agency's domestic wiretap program.

Leahy Calls Domestic Spy Program 'Illegal'
In response to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., calls the domestic spying program "illegal" and said it threatens civil liberties in the United States.

December 27, 2005
Efforts to Defend Airlines from Missiles Renewed
The threat that a terrorist could use a shoulder-fired missile to down a private or commercial aircraft has prompted the airline industry and the Department of Homeland Security to pour millions of dollars into research for new protective technologies. Tom Bearden reports for the NewsHour Science Unit on what researchers are doing to tackle the threat in the sky and on the ground.

December 22, 2005
Congress Extends Patriot Act
Congress voted Thursday to approve a one-month extension of the USA Patriot Act in a last-minute move to keep the anti-terrorism law from expiring Dec. 31. Norman Ornstein, veteran Congress-watcher from the American Enterprise Institute, reports on the developments in Washington and what comes next for the law.

December 21, 2005
Legal Experts Debate Domestic Spying Issue
President Bush defended his administration's use of the National Security Agency to monitor terrorist suspects, sparking a debate over the legality of the president authorizing domestic spying without court-approved warrants. Two legal experts discuss presidential power and congressional oversight.

December 20, 2005
Administration Under Fire for Domestic Wiretapping
The Bush administration has recently come under fire for authorizing the National Security Agency to spy on people in the United States suspected of terrorism ties. Two experts discuss the powers of NSA.

December 19, 2005
Senators Debate NSA Eavesdropping
In response to a barrage of criticism, President Bush said Monday he did not break the law when he authorized spying on Americans suspected of ties to terrorism. Following a background report, two senators discuss the use of domestic surveillance in the anti-terrorism effort.

December 16, 2005
Patriot Act Passes House, Stalls in Senate
The Senate on Friday fell eight votes short of ending debate on a bill to reauthorize several key provisions of the USA Patriot Act.

December 8, 2005
Airport Shooting Raises Questions over Role of Air Marshals
Officials in Miami have launched a series of investigations into why U.S. air marshals on board an American Airlines flight shot and killed a man who started acting suspiciously. Charles Slepian, security analyst and the founder of the Foreseeable Risk Analysis Center, discusses the air marshal training regime and what is known about how the two marshals involved in Wednesday's incident acted.

December 7, 2005
Air Marshals Shoot and Kill Passenger Claiming to Have Bomb
A passenger claiming to be carrying a bomb was shot and killed by a federal air marshal Wednesday just outside an American Airlines plane that was about to take off for Orlando, Fla., U.S. officials said. Sara Goo of The Washington Post reports on what is known about the incident.

December 5, 2005
9/11 Commission Report Finds U.S. Unprepared for Terror Attack
A report released by the former Sept. 11 commission Monday gave the federal government "more F's than A's" in an assessment of 41 security recommendations it issued in July 2004. The government received an "F" on homeland security spending for cities most at risk, on improving radio communication for emergency agencies and on airline passenger prescreening. The report called overall progress "disappointing."

Transcript: Two members of the House Homeland Security Committee, Chairman Peter King, R-N.Y., and Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., discuss what needs to be done to bolster domestic security.

December 2, 2005
Changes in Airline Screening Procedures Debated
Airport screeners will increase random searches of passengers and focus more on detecting explosives, while loosening restrictions on what passengers can carry on board aircraft. TSA Chief Kip Hawley and the head of the Association of Flight Attendants, Pat Friend, debate the changes.

Update: U.S. Eases Some Airport Screening Procedures

November 7, 2005
FBI Expands Demands for Information on Americans
Unbeknownst to most Americans under the USA Patriot Act, the government has been issuing tens of thousands so-called "National Security letters" to businesses and institutions -- demanding electronic records, financial and otherwise, about ordinary Americans who deal with those institutions. Barton Gellman, who reported the story for the Post, discusses what he has uncovered about the practice.

September 21, 2005
Senate Investigates Intelligence-Gathering on 9/11 Attacker Atta
Kwame Holman reports on the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday on allegations that a secret Pentagon program, dubbed Able Danger, turned up valuable information about the alleged ringleader of the Sept. 11 attacks, Mohammed Atta, more than a year before the attacks occurred.

July 22, 2005
House Votes to Extend Patriot Act; Debate Moves to Senate
On the same day London was rattled by a second wave of terrorist attacks, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to extend the powers given the federal government to fight terrorism under the so-called Patriot Act. By a 257-171 vote, lawmakers indefinitely extended many of the key provisions adopted in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The House did limit two of the most controversial powers -- allowing federal agents to use roving wiretaps and to search library and medical records -- to 10 years. The Senate is expected to debate the measure in the fall.

Transcript: Kwame Holman reports on the debate leading up to the vote. (7/21/05)

July 19, 2005
House Debates Renewal of Patriot Act
The House is considering whether to change the way federal authorities can monitor suspected terrorists as it debates renewing portions of the Patriot Act.

Ray Suarez examines the law and whether it should be renewed with Mary Beth Buchanan, U.S. attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania, and David Cole, professor at Georgetown University Law School.

July 13, 2005
Homeland Security Chief Discusses Restructuring Changes
In the wake of last week's public transit bombings in London, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff revealed plans Wednesday to reorganize his agency in order to improve the nation's anti-terrorism and disaster preparedness. Secretary Chertoff discussed the London bombings, his agency's first restructuring since its creation in 2003 and the current state of the nation's defenses.

Update: Homeland Security Announces Restructuring

July 7, 2005
Washington Raises Alert Level to Orange at Transit Sites
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Thursday raised the security alert level from yellow to orange, or high, only at transit sites in response to a series of deadly explosions in London's subway and on a double-decker bus. Transportation experts assess the current mass transit system situation and the problems they face to protect the public.

RealAudio: Chertoff told reporters that U.S. authorities have no specific evidence pointing to an attack on the United States but nonetheless were asking for increased vigilance.

May 12, 2005
Washington Evacuations Renew Debate over Aviation Security
A day after security officials briefly evacuated the U.S. Capitol and White House after a small aircraft strayed into restricted airspace in Washington, D.C., authorities were reviewing whether the post-9/11 security procedures worked.

Although officials confirm the two Pennsylvania pilots simply flew off course, the scare nearly resulted in the downing of the Cessna. Following a full report on the incident, two homeland security experts examine the response to the situation.

April 12, 2005
Three Indicted in Terrorism Plot
Three men, already in custody in England, have been indicted on charges they planned to attack financial centers in New York, New Jersey and Washington, according to a four-count indictment unsealed Tuesday. David Johnston of The New York Times provides an update.

April 5, 2005
Congress Begins Weighing Patriot Act Renewal
Hailed by supporters as the most important homeland security measure in decades and derided by opponents as an attack on American civil liberties, the Patriot Act, the cornerstone of the Bush administration's war on terrorism, faces a stormy renewal process on Capitol Hill this year. One of the architects of the act and the head of the American Civil Liberties Union debate the impact of the law and whether it should be renewed.

Transcript: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller urged lawmakers Tuesday to renew the act.

April 5, 2005
State Department Tightens U.S. Entry Rules
In an effort to tighten border security, Americans reentering the United States from Canada, Mexico, Panama and Bermuda will have to show their passports, administration officials said Tuesday. The new rules, slated to go into effect by 2008, affect those countries where Americans returning home currently only need to show a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification card.

February 15, 2005
Chertoff Confirmed as Homeland Security Chief
The Senate unanimously confirmed federal judge Michael Chertoff as the nation's new Homeland Security head Tuesday, despite concerns over his possible connection to a memo on the treatment of terror suspects.

January 11, 2005
Former Justice Official Tapped to Head Homeland Security
President George W. Bush tapped federal Judge Michael Chertoff, a former prosecutor and one of the architects of the USA Patriot Act, to head the Department of Homeland Security. Former colleagues and a reporter who has followed Chertoff's career assess his nomination and the challenges he will face if confirmed.

Update: President Picks Federal Judge to Lead Homeland Security

RealAudio: President Bush announces the Chertoff selection

January 6, 2005
Plan Aims to Coordinate Emergency Response
The Department of Homeland Security unveiled a plan Thursday aimed at coordinating federal, state and local government responses to emergencies, including terrorist attacks.

The National Response Plan, which is expected to be phased in over a year, replaces an interim plan put into effect in late 2003. It aims to reduce the confusion and turf battles that marked the response to the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

November 30, 2004
Ridge Departure Sparks Assessment of Homeland Security Efforts
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced his resignation Tuesday, becoming the seventh Cabinet member to leave since President Bush won re-election. "After more than 22 consecutive years of public service, it is time to give personal and family matters a higher priority," Ridge said in his resignation letter. The secretary said he would serve until Feb. 1 or until the Senate confirms his successor.

Security experts assess Ridge's tenure as the first secretary of the newly created department.

Update: Ridge Announces Departure from Homeland Security

August 11, 2004
Ports Step Up Monitoring of Cargo Shipping, Passenger Liners
With new threats to the United States being reported every day, the nation's ports have taken dramatic new steps to bolster security, screening passengers on cruise ships and implementing new technologies to better track cargo shipments. Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles reports on the continuing efforts to make the country's ports of entry more secure.

August 3, 2004
Analysts Question Depth of Intelligence Behind Latest Terror Alert
The Bush administration acknowledged today that the intelligence sources for Monday's terror warnings were obtained years ago, but it defended the decision to elevate the terror threat. Ray Suarez gets perspectives on the terror warning from former CIA and State Department official Larry Johnson and former CIA counterterrorism official Sara Daly.

August 2, 2004
President Bush Outlines Intelligence Reforms; U.S. Warns of Possible Attacks Against Financial Institutions
President Bush on Monday outlined his support for critical recommendations put forward by the 9/11 commission aimed at overhauling the nation's intelligence efforts. Mr. Bush's statement came a day after the United States upped the terror threat alert at financial sites in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Newark, N.J. Jim Lehrer discusses the latest terrorist threat with White House homeland security adviser Frances Townsend.

RealAudio: President Bush outlines his intelligence plans.

Transcript: What specific intelligence prompted the government to increase the terror threat level, and from what source did it come? Margaret Warner discusses the threat with New York Times national security correspondent Doug Jehl.

July 8, 2004
Al-Qaida Readying 'Large-Scale' Domestic Attack, U.S. Warns
The United States continues to receive a steady stream of intelligence indicating that al-Qaida operatives are readying a major domestic attack aimed at disrupting this year's election, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Thursday.

"Credible reporting now indicates that al-Qaida is moving forward with its plans to carry out a large scale attack in the United States in an effort to disrupt our democratic process," Ridge said. He added that there is no specific information on potential targets and for now the federal government would not raise the color-coded threat level.

RealAudio: The full briefing by Secretary Ridge

May 26, 2004
U.S. Officials Warn of Possible Terror Attack This Summer
U.S. intelligence officials have learned that terrorist groups may be planning to launch attacks in the United States this summer, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Wednesday, but the intelligence does not include specific times or places. Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller also presented at a news conference the pictures of seven suspected al-Qaida operatives who "should be considered armed and dangerous," Ashcroft said.

Gwen Ifill speaks to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge about the intelligence and the decision not to raise the national terror-threat warning level.

February 23, 2004
Department of Homeland Security Marks Anniversary
The Department of Homeland Security was created last March with the merger of 22 federal agencies and 180,000 employees and the mission of preventing any future terrorist attack and make sure the United States is ready to respond if one does occur.

Margaret Warner asks Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge for a progress report on the department's activities.

January 26, 2004
Federal Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act
For the first time, a federal judge has declared a portion of the USA Patriot Act unconstitutional. The ruling, handed down Friday and made public Monday, struck down language that bars experts from advising any group designated as a terrorist organization. The Los Angeles judge said the section is too vague.

There was no immediate comment from the Justice Department on whether or not the government will appeal the decision.

January 9, 2004
U.S. Lowers National Terror Alert Level to 'Elevated'
Citing new security measures on flights and a decrease in volume of intelligence, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge lowered the terrorism alert status Friday from "high" to "elevated." Undersecretary for Borders and Transportation Security Asa Hutchinson discusses the decision as well as new measures for airline security.

RealAudio: Ridge answers reporters' questions about the alert level.

January 5, 2004
U.S. Government Unveils New Visitor Screening Program
In the wake of a holiday season spent largely at a heightened state of alert, the U.S. government has implemented a series of programs aimed at better securing the nation's borders.

The latest, unveiled Monday, involves the fingerprinting and photographing of almost all foreigners entering the United States. The program has angered some who call it an invasion of privacy, but Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said the system will keep the borders "open to travelers but closed to terrorists."

January 2, 2004
Security Alert Prompts More Flight Delays, Cancellations
A British Airways flight from London to Washington, D.C., was cancelled for a second day Friday as the U.S. government and its allies continued to scrutinize flights coming into the United States for possible terrorist threats.

Analysis: The Washington Post's Sara Goo discusses the efforts to bolster airline security in the wake of new threats.

December 31, 2003
Airline Security, Heightened Patrols Mark New Year's Eve
As Americans prepared to ring in the new year, unprecedented security measures were in place from coast to coast. Homeland security and counterterrorism experts assess the heightened terror alert and the nation's security preparations.

December 30, 2003
U.S. Ramps up Airspace Restrictions for New Year's Eve
The skies over New York, Washington and other cities will be off-limits to certain aircraft and patrolled by military planes on New Year's Eve as part of an increased vigilance against terror attacks, the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday.

December 22, 2003
Terror Alert Prompts U.S. to Bolster Security at Airports, Tourist Sites
Citing information from spies and electronic intercepts, the United States moved to increase its security status, indicating there is a high risk of terrorist attacks against American sites at home and abroad. The decision sparked a new wave of security improvements across the country ahead of the holiday.

Update: U.S. Raises Alert Status to 'High'

September 2, 2003
Federal Government Announces Additional Airline Security Measures
The Department of Homeland Security unveiled a plan Tuesday to provide an additional 5,000 armed agents to protect commercial airliners. Secretary Tom Ridge discusses the move and updates the general preparedness of the U.S. in a newsmaker interview with Jim Lehrer.

August 19, 2003
Ashcroft Defends, Promotes Patriot Act
U.S. Attorney General John Aschcroft Tuesday began a nationwide tour designed to shore up support for the Patriot Act, which the Bush administration says provides the tools law enforcement officials need to battle terrorism, but some civil libertarians say infringes upon the rights of U.S. citizens.

June 30, 2003
Commission Finds First Responder Funding Lacking
A blue ribbon commission organized by the Council on Foreign Relations reported that the U.S. remains "dangerously unprepared" to handle another catastrophic attack. The international advocacy group found that police, fire, public health and other so-called "first responders" do not have the money, equipment or training needed. The commission's chairs, former Sen. Warren Rudman and former National Security Council official Richard Clarke discuss the panel's findings.

June 20, 2003
Federal Detention Policies Spark Civil Liberties Concerns
The detention of hundreds of terrorism suspects since Sept. 11 has sparked controversy and legal debate. Margaret Warner discusses the continuing effort to strike a balance between civil liberties and domestic security with Kate Martin, director for the Center for National Security Studies, and John Yoo, a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and former U.S. Department of Justice official.

June 18, 2003
Librarians, Libertarians Express Opposition to New Rules
The Patriot Act empowered the FBI to check the records of some businesses, including public libraries and bookstores. The act has prompted protests and sparked concerns that new library regulations amount to an invasion of privacy. Correspondent Spencer Michels looks at the impact on readers in Santa Cruz, California.

May 30, 2003
U.S. Terrorism Attack Risk Lowered to "Elevated"
The Bush administration lowered the nationwide terror alert to yellow or "elevated" risk on Friday saying that intelligence information, which had pointed to an increased risk of an attack in the United States 10 days ago, sparked the decrease.

May 20, 2003
U.S. Raises Terrorism Alert Level
The U.S. government raised the nationwide terror alert level to "orange" or high Tuesday, on the heels of a FBI warning to local law enforcement agencies that the al-Qaida terrorist network "remains active." Philip Shenon of The New York Times describes what Americans can expect from the change.

Update: Homeland Security officials announce the elevated alert level.

RealAudio: Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson announces the change in alert level.

May 19, 2003
Investigating Al-Qaida
Three experts assess efforts to determine if the al-Qaida terrorist network is behind the bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco and whether the attacks point to an increased danger for the U.S.

Special Report: The Riyadh Bombings

May 16, 2003
Preparing for the Worst
Chicago and Seattle have been testing the readiness of top officials and first responders through mock terrorist attacks. Elizabeth Brackett reports on the lessons learned during these trials.

April 23, 2003
Sacramento Residents React to Homeland Security Measures
Spencer Michels reports from Sacramento on citizens' continuing homeland security concerns.

March 25, 2003
President Asks for War, Security Funding
President Bush asks Congress for $74.7 billion in emergency spending to fund the war in Iraq, a package that includes some $4 billion for homeland defense.

March 20, 2003
Assessing the Internal Terror Threat
Ray Suarez talks to Elaine Shannon about the terror threat within the United States as the war against Iraq enters its second day.

March 20, 2003
Brzezinski & Mead on the Terrorism Threat
Jim Lehrer discusses the threat of terrorism with Zbigniew Brzezinski and Walter Russell Mead.

March 18, 2003
"Operation Liberty Shield" and the U.S. Threat Response
Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced details of a stepped-up security plan called "Operation Liberty Shield" today. Gwen Ifill discusses this response to the heightened terror alert with Philip Shenon of The New York Times.

March 14, 2003
Smallpox Obstacles
Spencer Michels reports on the obstacles facing the federal government's smallpox vaccination plan.

March 4, 2003
Praying for Readiness
Jeffrey Kaye reports on the city of Los Angeles' efforts to deal with the costs of increased security.

March 3, 2003
U.S., Pakistan Arrest Alleged Al-Qaida Mastermind
Over the weekend, a joint U.S.-Pakistan force arrested Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. Jim Lehrer discusses the capture of Mohammed and two other al-Qaida operatives with two experts.

February 24, 2003
Governors Discuss Homeland Security, Other Issues
The nation's governors are meeting in Washington this week to talk with the administration about a range of issues, including homeland security at the state level. Margaret Warner gets more from two governors, Democrat Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Republican John Rowland of Connecticut.

February 20, 2003
FBI Arrests Alleged Terrorism Suspects
Eight individuals, including a University of South Florida professor, were arrested by the FBI today on charges of aiding the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. Ray Suarez discusses the arrests with Eric Lichtblau of The New York Times.

February 19, 2003
Newsmaker: Tom Ridge
The Homeland Security Department launched a campaign to help Americans prepare for a possible terrorist attack. Jim Lehrer interviews Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge about the campaign and the state of alert in the U.S.

February 11, 2003
CIA, FBI Warn of Potential Terrorist Strikes
The CIA and the FBI issued warnings to Congress today about possible terrorist strikes. Margaret Warner discusses local implications of the warnings with Anthony Williams, mayor of Washington, D.C.; Patrick McCrory, mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina; Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Firefighters; and Randall Larsen, director of the Institute for Homeland Security at the Anser Corporation.

February 7, 2003
Bush Administration Raises Terrorism Alert Level
The Bush administration raised the nation's terror alert to the orange level today, indicating a "high risk" of terror attack. Ray Suarez discusses what the move means with Eric Lichtblau of The New York Times.

January 16, 2003
Rights and Registration
The Department of Justice is requiring visa holders from some Middle Eastern countries to register their presence in the U.S. with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Spencer Michels reports.

December 31, 2002
Newsmaker: The Transporation Security Administration's James Loy
By midnight tonight, U.S. airports will be required to screen all baggage for explosives. Jim Lehrer talks with Admiral James Loy, director of the new Transportation Security Administration, about implementing full airport security measures.

December 11, 2002
Improving Intelligence
Ray Suarez speaks with senators Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

November 28, 2002
Soft Targets
Ian Williams of Independent Television News with a look at how terrorist groups are increasingly seeking out so-called soft targets worldwide, like Indonesia's resort island of Bali.

November 27, 2002
What Went Wrong?
Margaret Warner discusses the appointment of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to head the commission investigating Sept. 11 with Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.); Rep. Jane Harmon (D-Calif.); Stephen Push of Families of September 11; and David Aaron, who served on the National Security Council staff under Kissinger.

November 25, 2002
Tracking Down Terrorists
Ray Suarez examines the state of the U.S. war against the al-Qaida terrorist network with Daniel Benjamin, director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration, and Angel Rabasa, a senior policy analyst at RAND, a research organization.

November 20, 2002
Securing the Homeland
Gwen Ifill discusses how the newly-created Department of Homeland Security will function with Karen Anderson, president of the National League of Cities; Paul Light, director of the Center for Public Service at the Brookings Institute; and Angie Kelly, a deputy director of the National Immigration Forum, a nonpartisan research organization.

November 18, 2002
New Surveillance Program
Gwen Ifill discusses the Pentagon's plan to use everyday technology to track down terrorists with retired Col. Edward Badolato, who served former Presidents Reagan and Bush as Deputy Secretary of Energy, and Marc Rotenberg, the executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington.

November 15, 2002
Insuring Against Future Attacks
Ray Suarez discusses the issue of terrorism insurance with Deborah Beck, executive vice president at the Real Estate Board of New York; and Travis Plunkett, legislative director for the Consumer Federation of America.

November 14, 2002
Ready or Not?
Ray Suarez discusses U.S. preparations for a potential future terrorist attack with Earl Freilino, director of Pennsylvania's Homeland Security Office; John Hamre, president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and James Bamford, author of Body of Secrets: Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency.

October 31, 2002
Hart and Rudman on U.S. Vulnerability to Terrorism
Margaret Warner talks with former Senators Gary Hart and Warren Rudman about their recent report on the United States' vulnerability to a major terrorist attack.

October 17, 2002
What Went Wrong?
Margaret Warner talks with the top two senators on the Joint Congressional Sept. 11 Inquiry, Bob Graham (D-Fla.) And Richard Shelby (R-Ala.).

October 10, 2002
Tracking Terrorism
Margaret Warner examines the terrorist threat still posed by al-Qaida with Christopher Cooper, who covers the Pentagon and State Department for The Wall Street Journal; Walter Pincus, who covers intelligence for The Washington Post; and Eric Schmitt, who covers the Pentagon for The New York Times.

September 26, 2002
Intelligence Inquiry
Margaret Warner discusses this week's Congressional hearings on what the CIA and FBI knew before the Sept. 11 attacks with Rep. Porter Goss (R-Fla.), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the committee's ranking Democrat.

September 25, 2002
Concerned Community
Tom Bearden reports on a Muslim community's reaction to the arrest of six alleged terrorists in their western New York city.

September 18, 2002
Investigating Pre-Sept. 11 Intelligence
Gwen Ifill talks with Sens. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) And Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) about how much intelligence agencies knew before last year's terrorist attacks.

September 16, 2002
Tracking Terrorism
Margaret Warner looks at the recent arrests of accused al-Qaida operatives with Elaine Shannon, a reporter covering the Justice Department for Time magazine; Peter Bergen, a terrorism analyst at CNN who has interviewed Osama bin Laden; and Zachary Abuza, head of the Asia program at Simmons College.

September 10, 2002
Liberty vs. Security
Margaret Warner gets the Bush administration's view on Sept. 11's judicial impact from Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson. Finally, Gwen Ifill continues the discussion with Stuart Taylor from the National Journal; Loretta Lynch, former U.S. attorney for the eastern district of New York; William Barr, former attorney general under former President Bush; and Laurence Tribe, professor of law at Harvard University.

September 10, 2002
The Terrorism Threat
Margaret Warner examines the U.S.'s heightened terror alert status and the continuing al-Qaida threat with Peter Bergen, a terrorism analyst for CNN who interviewed Osama Bin Laden in 1997, and Rohan Gunaratna, author of Inside Al Qaeda -- Global Network of Terror.

September 16, 2002
Tracking Terrorism
Margaret Warner looks at the recent arrests of accused al-Qaida operatives with Elaine Shannon, a reporter covering the Justice Department for Time magazine; Peter Bergen, a terrorism analyst at CNN who has interviewed Osama bin Laden; and Zachary Abuza, head of the Asia program at Simmons College.

August 29, 2002
Searching for Clues
Margaret Warner discusses the probe into last year's anthrax attacks with Clint van Zandt, a former FBI special agent, and Dr. C.J. Peters, director of the Center for Biodefense at the University of Texas medical branch in Galveston.

August 27, 2002
Liberty and Security
Margaret Warner discusses a federal court's ruling against the government's post-September 11th legal tactics with Lucy Dalglish, director of the Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press, and Jan Ting, a former assistant commissioner at the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

August 5, 2002
Naming the Detainees
Jim Lehrer discusses the recent federal court order requiring the Justice Department to release the names of the September 11th detainees with Kate Martin, director of the Center for National Security Studies; and Victoria Toensing, former deputy assistant attorney general in the Reagan administration.

Earlier Domestic Security Archives