Obama gets prelim post-attack assessments
HONOLULU, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday he received a preliminary assessment of the reviews he ordered following a failed terror attack on Christmas Day.
Obama said he expected to receive other assessments from several agencies Thursday night, review the information during the weekend, then meet face-to-face with appropriate agency heads next week in Washington.
"On Tuesday ... I will meet personally with relevant agency heads to discuss our ongoing reviews as well as security enhancements and intelligence-sharing improvements in our homeland security and counter-terrorism operations," Obama said in a statement. The president is vacationing with his family in Honolulu.
Obama said he spoke separately with John Brennan, assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to review "detection capabilities and the enhance security measures in place since the Christmas Day incident" when a 23-year-old Nigerian passenger who boarded Northwest Flight 253 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, attempted to detonate explosive materials hidden in his underwear.
On Tuesday, Obama ordered two reviews -- one on the U.S. terrorist watch list system and the other on air travel screening.
CIA: 7 employees died in Afghan attack
KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The CIA confirmed Thursday that seven agency employees died in a suicide bombing at a post in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan.
CIA Director Leon Panetta told employees in a memo that attack late Wednesday wounded six others, The Washington Post reported.
At least one other person is believed to have died in the bombing by an Afghan suicide attacker who got into a secure inner area of the Forward Operating Base Chapman, used as a CIA operations and surveillance center.
The New York Times reported the bomber wore an explosives-laden vest under an Afghan army uniform.
A Taliban spokesman on Thursday claimed responsibility for the blast, and said the bomber was an Afghan national army officer who joined the insurgents to attack the United States, the Post said.
The Taliban spokesman's comments could not be confirmed by U.S. or Afghan military officials. A U.S. military official did say Afghan national security forces were stationed at the base.
Panetta credited military medical personnel for saving the six wounded. He also said flags at CIA headquarters in McLean, Va., would fly at half-staff to honor the dead.
"Yesterday's tragedy reminds us that the men and women of the CIA put their lives at risk every day to protect this nation," Panetta said. "Throughout our history, the reality is that those who make a real difference often face real danger."
The attack appeared to be the deadliest event for the U.S. spy agency since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, the Times said. Since the intelligence agency was founded in 1947, it has lost 90 officers in the line of duty.
Obama honors CIA staff killed in attack
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The CIA employees killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan are part of a "long line of patriots" who safeguard freedom, U.S. President Obama said Thursday.
The seven employees "were part of a long line of patriots who have made great sacrifices for their fellow citizens, and for our way of life," Obama said in a message to the CIA workforce. "The United States would not be able to maintain the freedom and security that we cherish without decades of service from the dedicated men and women of the CIA."
The seven Americans died Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated himself inside Forward Operating Base Chapman, used as a CIA operations and surveillance center, in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan. At least one other person is believed to have died in the bombing.
"The men and women who gave their lives in Afghanistan did their duty with courage, honor and excellence, and we must draw strength from the example of their sacrifice," Obama said in the message released by the White House press office in Washington. Obama is vacationing in Hawaii with his family.
Their names will be included on the Memorial Wall at CIA headquarters in McLean, Va., and "they will live on in the hearts of those who loved them, and in the freedom that they gave their lives to defend," Obama said.
The CIA has been tested as never before since the United States was attacked Sept. 11, 2001, Obama said.
"Because of your service, plots have been disrupted, American lives have been saved, and our allies and partners have been more secure," Obama said. "Your triumphs and even your names may be unknown to your fellow Americans, but your service is deeply appreciated."
Family's hopes raised by hostage's release
MILNGAVIE, Scotland, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The release of British hostage Peter Moore from Iraq raises hope that a Scottish man kidnapped with Moore is alive, the wife of the Scottish detainee said.
Alan McMenemy, was taken hostage with Moore and three other men in 2007. Moore was freed by his captors Wednesday.
Roseleen McMenemy, of Milngavie, told The Scotsman she was happy for Moore's family and was hopeful that her husband would be released soon.
"All I want to say is I'm delighted for Pauline (Sweeney, Moore's stepmother) and the rest of Peter's family," McMenemy said in an article published Thursday. "Hopefully, Alan will be home soon as well."
Whether McMenemy is alive is unknown, officials said. However, his wife said Moore's release has renewed her hope that her husband was alive, the newspaper said.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "hugely relieved" by the news of Moore's release.
But, Brown said, "At this moment of celebration, we also remember the families of British hostages who have been killed in Iraq and elsewhere. And we pledge to continue to do everything we can to bring British hostages back to their loved ones, including the remaining hostage of the group in Iraq, Alan McMenemy. I demand that the hostage-takers return him to us."
The three other men, all bodyguards, were shot to death and their bodies returned to Britain.
Officials: Five killed in Pakistan raid
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Two Pakistani intelligence officials said Thursday five people were killed in Wana, Pakistan, when security forces raided a hospital in search of militants.
The unidentified officials said security forces battled militants for eight hours at the Hafiz Medical Center in Wana starting late Wednesday night, resulting in the deaths of four men and a woman, CNN reported.
It remains unknown if the men, one from Sudan and the others from unidentified Arab countries, were militants.
The overnight conflict in the South Waziristan town also resulted in the arrest of 18 suspected militants.
CNN said the security forces raided the hospital in the hopes of locating those militants responsible for Monday's attack on a Pakistani security force checkpoint.
The attack on the checkpoint killed two security personnel and left two more injured.
Blue fireworks usher in Aussie New Year's
SYDNEY, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Bright blue fireworks lit up the Australia skies around Sydney Harbor Friday to usher in the hopeful new decade with the theme "Awaken the Spirit."
The midnight New Year's celebrations marked the end of the toughest decade since the end of World War II, marred by natural disasters, the war on terror and a global financial meltdown, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Security in Sydney was tight. The U.S. Embassy said Wednesday it had received a warning of a New Year terrorist attack.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were aware of the reports but were playing it down.
