2003 DECEMBER
Dec. 31, 2003

Holiday Security Concerns
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.

  

Dec. 31, 2003

Holiday Security Concerns
As Americans prepared to ring in the new year, unprecedented security measures were in place from coast to coast. Spencer Michels offers a report on the security preparations.

Dec. 23, 2003

World Views: America's Battle Against Terrorism
Three foreign affairs columnists assess how America's battle against terrorism continues to shape its relationship with other countries and its role in the world.

  

Dec. 22, 2003

Mosque Incident in Jerusalem
Islamic extremists assaulted Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Margaret Warner discusses the motivation for the attack with New York Times correspondent Greg Myre in Jerusalem.

Dec. 22, 2003

Compensating Victims of 9/11
Monday at midnight is the deadline for the families of 9/11 victims to make claims to the government's official compensation fund. Kenneth Feinberg, the fund's special master, discusses the fund and his team's outreach efforts.

  

Dec. 22, 2003

Terrorism Threat: From Yellow to Orange
Security at American airports, bridges and ports was tightened, after the United States elevated the national terror-threat level from yellow (elevated) to orange (high) Sunday.

  

Dec. 18, 2003

Terror Suspects
Separate federal appeals courts Thursday ruled in favor of increased legal rights for Jose Padilla, the Chicago man accused of planning a dirty-bomb attack, and the 600 foreign detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Jim Lehrer discusses these decisions with John Yoo and David Cole.

  

Dec. 18, 2003

Appeals Court Orders Dirty Bomb Suspect Released
A federal appeals court ruled that the U.S. government does not have the authority to detain accused American "dirty bomb" suspect Jose Padilla as an enemy combatant, ordering the Department of Defense to release the Chicago native within 30 days.

Dec. 3, 2003

Terrorism Cases
A federal court in Virginia heard arguments about whether to grant Sept. 11 suspect Zacarias Moussaoui access to three al-Qaida detainees, who Moussaoui says could aid his defense, and the Defense Department announced it will allow "enemy combatant" Yaser Esam Hamdi, a U.S. citizen, to see his lawyer.

  

NOVEMBER
Nov. 20, 2003

Terror Attack in Turkey
A second round of terror attacks killed at least 27 people in Turkey Thursday and wounded more than 400 others. Terence Smith discusses the impact with Lehigh University professor Henri Barkey and Bruce Hoffman, editor-in-chief of the journal "Studies in Conflict and Terrorism."

  

Nov. 10, 2003

Compensation Fund
Thousands lost loved ones in the Sept. 11 attacks, and many of them think more than just the terrorists are to blame. Betty Ann Bowser speaks with surviving family members who are in search of compensation and accountability.

OCTOBER
Oct. 3, 2003

The Moussaoui Case
A federal judge barred the U.S. government from seeking the death penalty in its case against Zacarias Moussaoui, the only suspect facing charges directly related to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Jeffrey Brown explores the ramifications of this ruling with New York Times reporter Philip Shenon.

Oct. 1, 2003

Guantanamo Arrests
The arrests of three men who worked at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have raised concerns about the extent of possible espionage at the detention center. New York Times reporter Neil Lewis discusses the arrests and what they may mean for the U.S. war on terror.

  

SEPTEMBER
Sept. 23, 2003

Capitol Improvement: The New Visitor Center at the U.S. Capitol
When completed, the new visitor center at the U.S. Capitol will welcome some 2 million tourists a year. Kwame Holman looks at the increasing costs of keeping the site secure.

Sept. 12, 2003

War on Terror
CIA analysts say that Osama bin Laden's voice was on an audio message released earlier this week. Ray Suarez discusses the war on terror with Richard Clarke and Harvey Sicherman.

  

Sept. 11, 2003

Security vs. Liberties
Within 45 days of Sept. 11, 2001, President Bush signed the Patriot Act, making it easier for investigators to obtain private records, conduct searches without notice and monitor phone and Internet usage. Ray Suarez gets perspective on the debate surrounding the Patriot Act from John Yoo and Patricia Williams.

Sept. 11, 2003

Two Years Later
In the two years since the Sept. 11 attacks, how has, or hasn't, the United States changed? Jim Lehrer examines this issue with a panel of six experts including authors, professors and cultural observers.

  

Sept. 11, 2003

Recovering
Susan Dentzer revisits burn victim Kevin Shaeffer two years after he was badly burned in the September 11th attack on the Pentagon.

  

Sept. 11, 2003

Recovering
Susan Dentzer visits with burn victim Kevin Shaeffer two years after he was badly burned in the September 11th attack on the Pentagon.

Sept. 7, 2003

President Bush Addresses the Nation
The following is the entire text of President Bush's address to the nation defining Iraq as the "central front" in the global war on terrorism and asking Congress for an additional $87 billion to fund U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

  

Sept. 2, 2003

Newsmaker: Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge
Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced Tuesday that his department would provide an additional 5,000 armed federal air marshals to protect commercial airliners. Jim Lehrer speaks with Secretary Ridge about his announcement and about the state of national security since September 11.

  

Sept. 2, 2003

Resurgent Taliban
A recent upsurge in attacks on Afghan government forces and U.S. soldiers by suspected Taliban guerilla fighters has created a new challenge for Afghanistan's post war government in Kabul. Gwen Ifill discusses the situation with Afghan Interior Minister Ali Jalali.

  

Sept. 1, 2003

Mosque Bombing in Najaf
A car bomb exploded Friday at a mosque in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. Gwen Ifill discusses the repercussions of the bombing with Hamid Dabashi. Yitzhak Nakash and Juan Cole.

  

AUGUST
Aug. 25, 2003

Science and Security: Los Alamos National Laboratory
The University of California has managed the Los Alamos National Laboratory since it was founded during World War II. In 2005, the contract to manage the lab will be open to competitive bidding for the first time. Spencer Michels looks at the recent allegations of mismanagement and security lapses at the lab.

  

Aug. 19, 2003

Considering the Patriot Act
Attorney General John Ashcroft began a nationwide tour Tuesday promoting the USA Patriot Act. Margaret Warner leads a discussion with former Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh and Laura Murphy of the American Civil Liberties Union, on the Patriot Act and the balance between security and freedom in America.

  

Aug. 13, 2003

Missile Sting: Background
A British arms dealer faced arraignment after an 18-month international sting operation cracked a plot to aid terrorists. Betty Ann Bowser reports on the investigation and Tuesday's arrests.

  

Aug. 13, 2003

Missile Sting
A suspected arms dealer appeared in a federal court Wednesday after his arrest for attempting to arrange the sale of a powerful shoulder-fired missile. Experts discuss the sting operation, and the threat posed to commercial airliners.

  

Aug. 7, 2003

Terror in Indonesia
In the wake of a powerful car bomb blast at a luxury hotel in Jakarta Tuesday, an Indonesian court sentenced a man to death Thursday for his role in planning a deadly pair of bombings last October on the resort island of Bali. Experts discuss the challenges involved in the fight against terrorism in the Southeast Asian nation.

  

Aug. 5, 2003

Terror in Jakarta
A car bomb exploded outside a Marriott Hotel in Indonesia, killing at least 14 people and wounding some 150. Margaret Warner talks to Tim Palmer, a correspondent in Indonesia for the Australia Broadcasting Corporation.

Aug. 4, 2003

Securing the Skies
Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security in the Department of Homeland Security and Congressman Edward Markey, a member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security discuss the adequacy of current air safety measures and the need for additional funding in the wake of new terror threats.

  

JULY
July 30, 2003

President Bush Taking Questions
President Bush talked about the war in Iraq, recent terror threats, al-Qaida's connection to Saddam Hussein and peace in the Middle East at a White House press conference.

July 29, 2003

The Saudi Connection
President Bush Tuesday rejected a Saudi request to declassify part of a report on the Sept. 11 attacks. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud made the request so that his government could directly respond to portions of the document that deal with possible links between the Saudi government and the organizers of the attacks.

  

JUNE
June 30, 2003

American Cities Unprepared?
Following the release Wednesday of a Council on Foreign Relations report showing American cities dangerously unprepared for a major terrorist attack, two members of the Council's Emergency Responders Task Force offer recommendations for readying major metropolitan areas.

  

June 20, 2003

Secret Arrests
The secret detentions of hundreds of terror suspects since the Sept. 11 attacks have stirred both controversy and legal scrutiny. Two experts examine the debate over balancing civil liberties and domestic security.

  

June 19, 2003

Al-qaida in America
A truck driver in Ohio has pleaded guilty to supporting terrorism as part of a plea bargain with the Justice Department. Jim Lehrer discusses what this means for al-Qaida's influence in America with Daniel Klaidman, Washington bureau chief of Newsweek magazine.

  

June 5, 2003

Too Tough?
Attorney General John Ashcroft defended the Justice Department's policies during congressional testimony. Kwame Holman reports on his response to the internal Justice Department report questioning the treatment of many foreigners after 9/11.

  

MAY
May 30, 2003

Airport Screeners
The Transportation Security Administration is now fully in charge of passenger and baggage screening at all commercial airports in the United States. Tom Bearden reports on changes and problems within the agency.

May 20, 2003

Philippine President Arroyo
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines discusses her country's efforts to combat terrorism and its relationship with the United States.

  

May 20, 2003

Saudi Investigation
Margaret Warner discusses the investigations into the bombings abroad with Peter Finn, a reporter in Riyadh with The Washington Post.

  

May 20, 2003

U.S. Raises Terror Alert Level
Philip Shenon of The New York Times assesses the reasons behind the U.S. decision to raise the nationwide terrorist threat level to "high" -- its second-highest designation.

  

May 19, 2003

Al-Qaida: Lingering Shadows
As investigators in Morocco and Saudi Arabia continue looking for those responsible for last week's bombings and for evidence of al-Qaida's involvement, experts discuss the terrorist network's potential strategy and strength.

  

May 16, 2003

Saudi Reaction to Terror
Saudi Arabia pledged to "do whatever it takes" to combat terrorism following Monday's suicide bombings in Riyadh that killed 34 people.

  

May 16, 2003

Saudis Under Scrutiny
Saudi Arabia pledged to "do whatever it takes" to combat al-Qaida following Monday's suicide bombings in Riyadh. Experts assess Saudi Arabia's response to terrorism.

  

May 16, 2003

Cities Preparing for the Worst
Chicago and Seattle have been testing the readiness of top officials and first responders through mock terrorist attacks this week. Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW Chicago reports on the lessons learned during these trials.

May 13, 2003

Terror Assault in Saudi Arabia: Glenn Kessler
After a report on one of the biggest attacks on American interests since September 11th, Terence Smith talks with Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post, who is on the ground in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

  

May 7, 2003

Conversation: Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
Singapore's prime minister discusses the city-state's struggle to control SARS and the fight against terrorism.

  

APRIL
April 23, 2003

Securing the Homeland
Spencer Michels reports from Sacramento on continuing concerns over homeland security.

April 22, 2003

School Safety Lesson
Betty Ann Bowser reports on school security in the age of terrorist attacks.

MARCH
March 20, 2003

Brzezinski and Mead on Terrorism
Jim Lehrer discusses the threat of terrorism with Zbigniew Brzezinski and Walter Russell Mead.

March 20, 2003

The Terror Threat to the Homeland
Ray Suarez talks to Elaine Shannon about the terror threat within the United States as the war against Iraq enters its second day.

  

March 18, 2003

Taking Precautions
Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced details of a stepped-up security plan called "Operation Liberty Shield." Gwen Ifill discusses this response to the heightened terror alert with Philip Shenon of The New York Times.

  

March 14, 2003

Smallpox Vaccinations
Spencer Michels reports on the obstacles facing the federal government's smallpox vaccination plan.

  

March 4, 2003

Los Angeles: Paying for Readiness
The city of Los Angeles is hard at work implementing homeland security measures -- and hard-pressed to find ways to pay for them. Jeffrey Kaye reports.

  

March 3, 2003

Background: Al-Qaida Mastermind, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed
Over the weekend, a joint U.S.-Pakistan force arrested Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. Kwame Holman reports.

March 3, 2003

Al-Qaida Mastermind, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed
U.S.and Pakistani forces arrested Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged architect of the Sept. 11 attacks, this weekend. Experts assess how the arrest may affect the al-Qaida terrorist network, and whether information obtained from Mohammed could thwart other planned attacks.

  

FEBRUARY
Feb. 28, 2003

U.S. State Dept. Adds Three Chechen Groups to Terrorist List
The United States State Department has officially added three Chechen groups to its list of organizations that pose a "significant risk" of committing acts of terrorism.

Feb. 24, 2003

Funding Homeland Security
Margaret Warner talks with Governors Bill Richardson of New Mexico and John Rowland of Connecticut about the challenge of funding homeland security efforts in their states.

  

Feb. 20, 2003

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

Feb. 19, 2003

Newsmaker: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge discusses his efforts to prepare Americans for a possible terrorist attack.

  

Feb. 11, 2003

Background: Preparing for Possible Terrorism
The heads of the CIA and the FBI issued warnings to Congress about possible terrorist strikes in the coming weeks.

  

Feb. 11, 2003

Preparing for Possible Terrorism
The heads of the CIA and the FBI issued warnings to Congress about possible terrorist strikes in the coming weeks. Margaret Warner and guests discuss the local implications of those warnings.

  

Feb. 11, 2003

New Osama bin Laden Tape
Arab television network al-Jazeera broadcast a taped message of what is believed to be the voice of Osama bin Laden. Gwen Ifill discusses the tape with a Washington Post reporter and the former senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council in the Clinton Administration.

  

Feb. 7, 2003

Raising the Terror Alert
The Bush administration raised the nation's terror alert to the orange level, indicating a "high risk" of terror attack. Ray Suarez discusses what the move means with Eric Lichtblau of The New York Times.