By ,
Published January 13, 2015
International:
• Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld confirms he's signed deployment orders putting U.S. forces on the move around the globe. Rumsfeld warns that the war on terrorism "will not be over in a month, a year or even five years."
• Saudi Arabia pledged to President Bush on Thursday that it would use all its resources to fight terrorism while the 16-member European Union agreed on a series of joint measures.
• Great Britain and the United States are producing secret plans to launch a 10-year war on terrorism dubbed Operation Noble Eagle, reports The London Times. A new military and diplomatic strategy to eliminate terrorist networks and cells around the world is included.
• Islamic clerics in Afghanistan urged terrorist suspect Usama bin Laden to voluntarily leave the country. The White House rejected the recommendation, saying he should be turned over to responsible authorities. "We want action, not just statements," Secretary of State Colin Powell said.
• Secretary of State Colin Powell is suggesting that Usama bin Laden will be the first target, but not the only one in the administration's assault on terrorism. He told reporters that when the U.S. has "dealt with" bin Laden and his network, "We will then broaden that campaign to go after other terrorist organizations."
• Afghanistan's senior Islamic clerics issue edict saying they would declare a jihad, or holy war, if the United States attacks.
• Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the war against terrorism might not be called "Operation Infinite Justice" after all. He says it's being reconsidered because some Muslims find the name offensive -- believing that only Allah can provide infinite justice.
• Iran says it would never agree to U.S. warplanes using its airspace to attack neighboring Afghanistan. A spokesman also says Iran won't let Osama bin Laden enter Iran.
• The mayor of Rome says if New York is the U.S. candidate to host the 2012 Olympics, all other contenders should clear the field to ensure it wins. He had been pushing Rome to the International Olympics Committee.
The Investigation:
• Federal officials are listening to the cockpit voice recorder from the hijacked plane that crashed last week in Pennsylvania -- but they say there's not much dialogue on it. Officials haven't been able to get anything off the damaged voice recorder found at the Pentagon crash site.
• After releasing the names of 19 hijackers last week -- the FBI now says it's not sure if all of the names on that list are accurate. FBI director Robert Mueller says authorities have questions now about some of the names, after Saudi officials said some of the hijackers may have stolen the identities of Saudi citizens.
• Nabil Al-Marabh, a fugitive on a terrorist watch list issued by the FBI following last week's attacks, is arrested by police and FBI agents outside Chicago, the FBI says. He is being held on a warrant issued in Boston in March, charging assault with a knife.
• A total of 115 people are detained on immigration violations or for questioning.
• Federal investigators are trying to track the money used by the terrorists who carried out last week's attacks. The FBI sends a list to banks, asking them to search for any financial transactions involving 21 people wanted in connection with the attacks.
The Victims:
• New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani raises the number of missing in the World Trade Center attack to 6,333. 241 bodies have been recovered, 170 of which have been identified. Officially, 6,291 were injured in the attack.
• New York announced a memorial service for the terror victims to be held at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. Admission will be by ticket only.
• Recovery crews working at the Pentagon attack site think it will be a few more days until their work is done. They've retrieved 118 bodies and have removed more than 5,000 tons of debris. It's believed 189 people were killed there.
Markets/Economy:
• U.S. stocks took another big plunge Thursday. The Dow industrials shed about 380 points for the day, a loss of about 12 percent for the blue chips so far this week.
• President Bush is asking Congress to give the nation's financially struggling airlines a quick $5 billion dollars in cash and help with any lawsuits stemming from last week's terrorist attacks.
• Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan says the weakened economy took a significant hit because of last week's terror attacks. But in remarks to a Senate panel, he says the economy's long-term prospects remain strong.
• The world's two largest reinsurance companies say the attacks on New York will produce the largest claims they have ever faced.
• New York City's $25 billion tourist industry is suffering losses. Hundreds of empty theater seats and restaurant tables are evidence of an industry desperate for a shot of consumer confidence.
The Home Front:
• The Pentagon has begun the process of calling more than 35,000 reservists to active duty as part of “Homeland Defense,” including air force mobilizations for 29 National Guard and reserve units from 25 states.
• A delegation of 40 senators today visited what's become known as "Ground Zero" -- where the World Trade Center's twin towers collapsed. They pledged to help New York recover and rebuild from last week's devastating terrorist attacks.
• The operator of the World Trade Center says he's thinking about building four smaller buildings in place of the twin towers. Larry Silverstein says the 50-story buildings would serve as a memorial to those who were killed in the attacks.
• For the first time ever, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America is telling members to postpone filing lawsuits on behalf of those who lost loved ones or property in the attacks on New York and Washington. The association's president says it's to let the government "unleash a manhunt" for the terrorists.
• President Bush will outline the case against bin Laden in a speech tonight to a joint session of Congress. Aides say he'll be asking Americans for patience as the military gets ready for action. Vice President Cheney will not be in the chambe; the White House says he'll be at a secret location. And there will not be the traditional Democratic response, either. House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt says, "We want America to speak with one voice tonight."
• The Bush administration plans to send Congress an anti-terrorism legislative package Friday. Requests include letting prosecutors use information collected by foreign governments in ways that are unconstitutional in the U.S.
• Federal aviation officials reopen the nation's rural airspace to small planes operating under visual flight rules. A ban on flying above or near major cities is extended.
• Around 30 networks now plan to air Friday night's TV telethon to help the victims of the terrorist attacks. Aside from the obvious networks taking part, Court TV, Discovery, the Sundance Channel, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central -- even E! are suspending their programming for the telethon. Yahoo! will carry it live on the Internet.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
https://www.foxnews.com/story/major-developments-thursday-september-20