Bush declassifies al-Qaida intelligence.,President Bush, trying to defend his war strategy, declassified intelligence Tuesday asserting that Osama bin Laden ordered a top lieutenant in early 2005 to form a terrorist cell that would conduct attacks outside Iraq — and that the United States should be the top target.

The information mirrored a classified bulletin from the Homeland Security Department in March 2005, reporting that bin Laden had enlisted Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, his senior operative in Iraq, to plan potential strikes in the U.S. The warning was described at the time as credible but not specific and did not prompt the administration to raise its national terror alert level.

The declassification of the intelligence came a day before Bush was scheduled to speak about terrorism at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Bush, who is battling Democrats in Congress over spending for the unpopular war in Iraq, will argue that the terrorist threat to America is real, said Frances Fragos Townsend, the White House homeland security adviser. She said Bush would talk about why Iraq is an important battleground in fighting terrorism abroad to prevent attacks on U.S. soil and highlight previously reported successes in foiling terrorist attacks.

The Bush White House has intermittently declassified and made public sensitive intelligence information to help rebut critics or defend programs or actions against possibly adverse decisions in the Congress or the courts. On a few occasions, the declassified materials were intended as proof that terrorists see Iraq as a critical staging ground for global operations.

Democrats and other critics have accused Bush of selectively declassifying intelligence, including portions of a sensitive National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq, to justify the U.S.-led invasion on the ground that Saddam Hussein's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction. That assertion proved false.

Townsend, reading from notes, said the declassified intelligence showed that in January 2005, bin Laden tasked al-Zarqawi with organizing the cell. Al-Zarqawi, the former leader of al-Qaida's Iraq operations, was killed there in June 2006 by a U.S. airstrike.

"We know from the intelligence community that al-Zarqawi welcomed the tasking and claimed he already had some good proposals," Townsend said.

She said that in the spring of 2005, bin Laden instructed Hamza Rabia, a senior operative, to brief al-Zarqawi on al-Qaida planning to attack sites outside Iraq, including the United States. She did not disclose where in the United States those attacks were being plotted.

Around the same time, Abu Fajah al-Libi, a senior al-Qaida manager, suggested that bin Laden send Rabia to Iraq to actually help al-Zarqawi plan the external operations, Townsend said. It is unclear whether Rabia went to Iraq, she said.

She said the information was declassified because the intelligence community has tracked all leads from the information.

Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Large blast hits Lebanese capital,A bomb has exploded in an upmarket area of the Lebanese capital Beirut injuring at least six people, police say. Local TV footage showed a car burning and at least one injured man as a fire engine doused the flames, although there were reports of other injuries. The explosion happened in a car park near the Russian Cultural Centre, in a Muslim area of the city.

On Sunday, a bomb near a major shopping centre in the Christian sector killed a woman and wounded 12 other people.

The new blast came as Lebanese troops and Islamist militants fought running battles at a refugee camp near Tripoli.

Reuters news agency quoted the Lebanese army as saying the explosion was caused by a bomb placed either underneath or near a car.

Ambulances and firefighters with sirens blaring raced to the scene, which was enveloped in thick smoke.

Emergency services were searching nearby buildings to see if injured people were trapped inside.

Previous bomb attacks in Beirut have often been blamed on Syria, an accusation Damascus strongly denies.

The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Beirut, says that somebody is clearly trying to destabilise the situation, but who that is is not entirely clear.

Former Presidents Avoid Politics at UNH, - Former presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton put politics aside Saturday, urging University of New Hampshire graduates to focus on helping others both in their community and around the world. The former rivals have worked together in recent years, raising millions of dollars for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.

"I can't tell you the selfish pleasure I get out of working with President Clinton," Bush told a chilly, damp crowd of about 17,000 at the outdoor ceremony. "It's a very selfish feeling in my heart to be out there doing something to help others."

Bush, who joked about all the "broke but happy parents" in the audience, told the 2,650 graduates that they don't have to run for office to become leaders.

"All you have to do is care, roll up your sleeves and claim one of society's problems as your own," he said.

He also contrasted the education the new graduates received with the teachings of radical Muslim schools overseas, saying one of the greatest struggles the nation faces is the "battle for young minds around the entire world."

Clinton told students that while they are graduating in a "culturally diverse and creative time," they also face a world marred by "inequality, insecurity, and _ because of climate change and resource depletion _ unsustainability."

"I believe that you are going to be given a great opportunity to change this world of division and divisiveness because it's also a world full of decency and hope," he said.

The former president also made a lighthearted reference to his wife's campaign for president in thanking J. Bonnie Newman, the university's interim president.

"Thank you Madam President Newman," he said. "I like the sound of that. I've decided that women should run everything, and George and I can play more golf."

Bush acknowledges lawmakers' concern on immigration,U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday acknowledged lawmakers' doubts about a U.S. immigration proposal, but argued it will help resolve the status of 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States.

With the proposal taking fire from both Republicans and Democrats, the Senate is expected to begin debate on immigration next week.

Bush used his weekly radio address to open what is likely to be an intense effort to persuade Americans to support the plan as the answer to long-simmering U.S. immigration problems.

"It will help us resolve the status of millions of illegal immigrants who are here already, without animosity and without amnesty," said Bush, who is spending the weekend at his Texas ranch.

The president, in need of a victory to brighten a second term dominated by the chaos in Iraq, wants to resolve the immigration battle before it gets swept up by the presidential campaign to replace him in 2008.

The immigration deal was reached on Thursday between U.S. senators and backed by both Bush and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada.

The legislation will have to navigate some perilous shoals if it is to become law.

Conservative Republicans fear it would lead to an amnesty for illegal immigrants who they say are already weighing heavily on America's social fabric.

At the same time, many Democrats think the elements of the worker program are too tough on immigrants. Labor unions fear the deal will drive down wages.

STRONG WORDS IN NEGOTIATING ROOM

"I realize that many hold strong convictions on this issue, and reaching an agreement was not easy," Bush said.

The Washington Post reported on Saturday that Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) got into a shouting match with Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn (news, bio, voting record) in the final negotiations that led to the deal.

The Post, citing several unnamed Republican and Democratic sources, said words were exchanged when Cornyn voiced concerns about the number of judicial appeals that illegal immigrants could receive, and that it got really heated when Cornyn accused McCain of being too busy running for president to take part in the immigration negotiations.

"Wait a second here," Cornyn said to McCain, according to The Post. "I've been sitting in here for all of these negotiations and you just parachute in here on the last day. You're out of line."

McCain was said to have used an expletive and shouted at Cornyn, "I know more about this than anyone else in the room."

McCain's presidential campaign spokesman Brian Jones denied his boss claimed to know more about the bill, but acknowledged to the Post that "there was a spirited exchange" amid the tense negotiations.

The Republican president sought to reassure conservatives who stymied an immigration push last year by fighting for tougher border security measures.

He said the immigration proposal would require that strong border security and enforcement benchmarks - such as doubling the number of Border Patrol agents on the U.S.-Mexico border -- are met before the temporary worker program and other pieces of the legislation would be implemented.

In another move aimed at conservatives, the White House circulated a "Myth/Fact" document seeking to answer critics who contend the agreement amounts to a reward for the thousands who sneaked into the United States.
Major provisions of the immigration deal

Major provisions of the bipartisan immigration compromise:

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CURRENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

_They could come forward immediately and receive probationary legal status.

_Bill creates a four-year, renewable "Z" visa for those present within the U.S. unlawfully before Jan. 1, 2007.

_Undocumented immigrants may adjust status to lawful permanent residence once they pay $5,000 in fees and fines and their head of household returns to their home country.

_People under age 30 who were brought to the U.S. as minors could receive their green cards after three years, rather than eight.

_Undocumented farmworkers who can demonstrate they have worked 150 hours or three years in agriculture can apply for green cards.

_No green cards for "Z" visa holders can be processed until "triggers" for border security and workplace enforcement have been met, estimated to take 18 months. Processing of green cards for holders of "Z" visas would begin after clearing an existing backlog, which is expected to take eight years.

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BORDER SECURITY

_Hire 18,000 new border patrol agents.

_Erect 200 miles of vehicle barriers and 370 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.

_Erect 70 ground-based radar and camera towers along the southern border.

_Deploy four unmanned aerial vehicles and supporting systems.

_End the program in which illegal immigrants are released upon apprehension.

_Provide for detaining up to 27,500 aliens per day on an annual basis.

_Use secure and effective identification tools to prevent unauthorized work.

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WORKPLACE ENFORCEMENT

_Require employers to electronically verify new employees to prove identity and work eligibility.

_Increase penalties for unlawful hiring, employment and record keeping violations.

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GUEST WORKERS (requires border security measures to be in place first)

_Create a new temporary guest worker program with two-year "Y visas," initially capped at 400,000 per year with annual adjustments based on market fluctuations

_Workers could renew the Y visa up to three times, but would be required to return home for a year in between each time. Those bringing dependents could obtain only one, nonrenewable two-year visa.

_Families could accompany guest workers only if they could show proof of medical insurance and demonstrate that their wages were 150 percent above the poverty level.

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FUTURE IMMIGRANTS

_Spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and permanent residents would be eligible for green cards based purely on their family connections, but other relatives such as adult children and siblings would not.

_380,000 visas a year would be awarded based on a point system, with about 50 percent based on employment criteria, 25 percent based on education, 15 percent on English proficiency and 10 percent on family connections.

_Apply new limits to U.S. citizens seeking to bring foreign-born parents into the country.

_Visas for parents of U.S. citizens would be capped annually at 40,000 and those for spouses and children at 87,000.

Egypt Militants Detained After Attacks On Christian Homes And Shops,Egypt's Coptic Christians pray amid uncertain future. Via BBC News,CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- Dozens of suspected Muslim militants were said to remain in custody Monday, May 14, after Egyptian security forces arrested them over the weekend on charges of setting fire to Christian homes and shops in clashes over church construction.

At least 59 Muslims were reportedly detained following clashes in which 10 Coptic Christians were injured on Friday, May 11, in the village of Behma, about 60 km (40 miles) south of Cairo. Hundreds of people from both faiths fought with sticks and hurled bricks and firebombs at one another, said Reuters news agency.

Allegations that Christian villagers did not have a permit to build a church reportedly sparked anger among Muslims that turned to violence after Friday prayers when about 300 Muslims clashed with about 200 Christians, reporters said.

Police allegedly did not prevent damage by fire of 27 Christian-owned houses and shops , including 10 homes that were reportedly completely gutted.

NEW LAW

It comes at a time when Coptic and other Christians, including former Muslims, have complained that local authorities do not enough to protect then amid fears that a new controversial law will lead to more tensions.

Earlier this month an Egyptian administrative court upheld a ministry of interior decision to refuse 45 Christians wishing to convert back to Christianity from Islam permission for new identification papers and birth certificates that stated they were Christians, media reported.

The interior ministry reportedly refused to issue the papers saying it didn't see a legal reason for doing so and accused the petitioners of "playing with religion to suit their needs."

CLERGY CONCERNED

Christian clergy have voiced their concern over the new law backing such a move, saying Christians must take "a serious stand" against the law and resist "oppression of the government," the Middle East Times publication reported.

Critics claim the Egyptian government is concerned about spreading Christianity and wants to maintain Muslim numbers high. The government has said however it wants to tackle Muslim extremism. (With reporting from Egypt).
Monday, 14 May 2007 (1 hours ago)
By BosNewsLife News Center