FBI arrests Saudi student for plotting to attack Bush's home

BOSTON: A 20-year-old Saudi student has been arrested and charged by the FBI for plotting to build bombs and carry out terrorist attacks in the US, targetting nuclear power plants and residence of former President George Bush. Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, a Saudi citizen and Texas resident, attempted to "use a weapon of mass destruction" and researched online on how to construct an improvised explosive device using several chemicals as ingredients. 

Saudi student has been arrested and charged by the FB

According to the criminal complaint unsealed on Thursday, Aldawsari conducted research on potential terror targets in the US including hydroelectric dams, nuclear power plants and the Dallas address for former President Bush. Aldawsari had acquired most of the ingredients and equipment necessary to construct the explosive devices. He is expected to appear in federal court later today. He came to the US in 2008 on a student visa and is enrolled at South Plains College near Lubbock, Texas. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a USD 250,000 fine if convicted of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. One of the e-mails he sent to himself had the subject line 'Targets' and contained names and home addresses of three American citizens who had previously served in the US military and had been stationed for a time at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. In another e-mail titled 'Nice Targets 01', Aldawsari allegedly sent himself the names of 12 reservoir dams in Colorado and California while one e-mail titled 'Tyrant's House' had the Dallas address of Bush. 

Aldawsari intended to use infant dolls to conceal explosives and plotted to target a nightclub with an explosive concealed in a backpack. In addition, he allegedly described his desire for violent jihad and martyrdom in blog postings and a personal journal. During searches at Aldawsari's residence, FBI agents also found a notebook, excerpts from which indicated that Aldawsari had been planning to commit a terrorist attack in the United States for years.

One entry describes how Aldawsari sought and obtained a particular scholarship because it allowed him to come directly to the United States and helped him financially, which he said "will help tremendously in providing me with the support I need for Jihad." "And now, after mastering the English language, learning how to build explosives and continuous planning to target the infidel Americans, it is time for Jihad," the Saudi citizen wrote in his journal.

In another entry, Aldawsari wrote that he was near to reaching his goal and near to getting weapons to use against infidels and their helpers. He also listed a "synopsis of important steps" that included obtaining a forged US birth certificate, renting a car, using different driver's licenses, putting bombs in cars and taking them to different places during rush hour and then leaving the city for a safe place. The affidavit alleges that on February 1, 2011, a chemical supplier reported to the FBI that Aldawsari attempted to purchase concentrated phenol, a toxic chemical. Aldawsari wanted to have the phenol order shipped to a freight company so it could be held for him there, but the freight company returned the order to the supplier and called the police. Later, Aldawsari falsely told the supplier he was associated with a university and wanted the phenol for "off-campus, personal research."

Frustrated by questions being asked over his phenol order, Aldawsari cancelled his order and later e-mailed himself instructions for producing phenol. Aldawsari also e-mailed himself instructions on how to convert a cellular phone into a remote detonator and how to prepare a booby-trapped vehicle using items available in every home. ne such e-mail contained a message stating that "one operation in the land of the infidels is equal to ten operations against occupying forces in the land of the Muslims." During December 2010 and January 2011, Aldawsari allegedly purchased items like a gas mask, a Hazmat suit, a soldering iron kit, glass beakers and flasks, wiring, a stun gun, clocks and a battery tester. The affidavit also alleges that Aldawsari created a blog in which he posted extremist messages. In one posting, he expressed dissatisfaction with current conditions of Muslims and vowed jihad and martyrdom. "You who created mankind... grant me martyrdom for Your sake and make jihad easy for me only in Your path," he wrote.

Fed's Evans: Current bond buys may suffice

The U.S. economy still needs the Federal Reserve's super-easy monetary policy, a top official said on Thursday, but the recovery may be strong enough June that the central bank will not need to extend its current $600 billion bond-buying program."To put it bluntly, with unemployment too high and inflation too low and both forecasted to stay that way over the next two years  we have missed on both of our policy objectives," Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans told a group of business leaders in this manufacturing town northwest of Chicago.

USA economy still needs the Federal Reserve's

"This leads me to conclude that accommodative monetary policy continues to be beneficial for achieving each of these goals." The Fed has kept short-term rates near zero since December 2008, and is in the midst of buying $600 billion in Treasury securities to stimulate the economy and bring down borrowing costs further. The current round of asset-buying, slated to run through June, comes on top of $1.7 trillion in long-term assets bought in 2009 and 2010. Although "open minded" about curtailing the current program, Evans suggested economic conditions would probably warrant completing it.

"It's quite likely we will continue with the 600," Evans, a voter on the Fed's policy-setting panel this year and a consistent policy "dove, told reporters after his speech. "It will not surprise me if at the time we get to June and we are looking at the economy, that things are sufficiently better that that might be enough." Speaking nearly simultaneously in Houston, Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher, one of Fed's most outspoken inflation "hawks," said he would not support any further easing beyond the current program and said there was evidence price pressures were building. Core consumer prices in January rose at the fastest pace in more than a year, data on Thursday showed, suggesting a long period of slowing inflation had run its course.

Evans called the increase a "good" development, but said he was still concerned about inflation below the Fed's 2 percent target, to which he does not see a return until at least 2014. He dismissed concerns that the Fed's easy monetary policy was fueling a global spike in commodity prices, blaming the increase instead on demand for resources from strong economies like India and China. In fact, he said, boosting short-term inflation expectations in the U.S. "appropriately" is consistent with the Fed's goal of keeping prices stable. If unwelcome inflation start to build, he said, the Fed has the tools to bring it under control. "We could turn very quickly if we needed. I don't expect that we will need to," he said. Evans called the pace of recovery "disappointing," and only a "marked and sustained pickup in growth" could close the gap between the economy's current rate of growth and its potential.

White House will spend $20bn on cloud computing in 2012 says White House CIO

Vivek Kundra, chief information officer of the White House, told the audience at the Cloud Security Alliance Summit in San Francisco this morning that the White House will be spending $20bn on cloud security according to the new 2012 budget. “$20bn of the $80bn total IT spending can be moved to the cloud”, Kundra announced, with the Department of Homeland Security, the Treasury, and the Department of Defense having the most potential for spending in the cloud. “We have already committed to shutting down 800 data centers by 2015”, he said, expressing his disapproval that whilst the private sector has been reducing its number of data centers, the public sector has seen an increase from 432 to 2094 data centers in the last decade.

US Government Spend $20 billion on Cloud Computing

Kundra expressed his disappointment that “sufficient time has not been spent making sure we serve the American people properly”. This is, in part, he suggested, due to the government insisting on “continuing to build on-premise custom software, rather than tapping into the innovative spirit of vendors and companies [in the information security industry]. This behavior just feeds into a risk-adverse culture”, he said. To the contrary, Kundra believes the government needs to “tap into the innovation that is happening in the Silicon Valley and across the US”. Some of the government departments which have been early adopters of cloud computing – including HHS, GSA, DoD, DoA – have already reaped time and money savings from the move, Kundra shared.  He did however advise that the following need to be considered when catalyzing cloud adoption: 

Security: Centralizing certification and accreditation for cloud solutions; prioritizing security controls to counter the most serious threats; using near real-time security dashboards to facilitate continuous monitoring; integrating identity management. 

Standards: Currently working with NIST to set up bodies to look at standards, which is important for interoperability, portability and security; proposing and testing interim standard; publishing cloud computing business and technical user cases. 

Procurement: Putting in place government wide enterprise procurement; working with state and local governments to leverage centralized procurements. “In the next few weeks we are pushing out procurement in collaboration in the cloud to maximize strategic sourcing to buy cloud solutions, and eliminate redundant and inefficient vendor certifications”.

Governance: Setting policy and enforcing budget priorities; aligning regulatory and legal frameworks; driving government-wide adoption of cloud computing; collaborating with international entities.

“A lot of [government] agencies are interested in finding out what cloud solutions are available. People are wondering why they have far better technology at home that they do in their government department at work. Coming into work is like going back in time”, he said. “There is a huge technology gap”. In conclusion, Kundra advised the audience that the “industry needs to introduce Darwinian pressure in Washington” to pay attention to what the industry has to offer. “This is a $20bn opportunity”, he said.

Obama Plans Jobless Aid Help for States

WASHINGTON The Obama administration is proposing short-term relief to states saddled with unemployment insurance debt, coupled with a delayed increase in the income level used to tax employers for the aid to the jobless. The administration plans to include the proposal in its budget plan next week. The plan was confirmed to Fox News late Monday by a person familiar with the discussions on the condition of anonymity because the budget plan is still being completed.

Obama administration proposing short-term relief

Rising unemployment has placed such a burden on states that 30 of them owe the federal government $42 billion in money borrowed to meet their unemployment insurance obligations. Three states already have had to raise taxes to begin paying back the money they owe. More than 20 other states likely would have to raise taxes to cover their unemployment insurance debts. Under federal law, such tax increases are automatic once the money owed reaches a certain level.

Under the proposal, the administration would impose a moratorium in 2011 and 2012 on state tax increases and on state interest payments on the debt. In 2014, however, the administration proposes to increase the taxable income level for unemployment insurance from $7,000 to $15,000. Under the proposal, the federal unemployment insurance rate would be adjusted so that the new higher income level would not result in a federal tax increase, the person familiar with the plan said. States, however, could retain their current rates, meaning employers could face higher unemployment insurance taxes beginning in 2014.

Though the administration could face criticism for enabling states to increase taxes, the thrust of the administration's argument is that federal taxes would not increase and that the move is fiscally prudent because the federal government ultimately would be repaid at a faster rate than if it did nothing. The person who described the plan said only 13 of the 30 states that owe the $42 billion would be expected to repay their share of the money in the next nine years under current conditions. The administration's proposal would allow 15 more states to repay the money, this person said.

Day of Departure Egypt Braces for Mass Rally

Organizers of Egyptian protesters trying to topple the regime of President Hosni Mubarak have called on their supporters to fill every square in the capital Friday for a 'Day of Departure' in the wake of two days of street battles between the pro- and anti-government camps that marked an ugly turn in the country's crisis. On Thursday, menacing gangs backing Mubarak attacked journalists and human rights activists as government opponents pushed supporters out of Cairo's main square. The new vice president, widely considered the first successor Mubarak has ever designated, fueled anti-foreign sentiment by going on state television and blaming outsiders for fomenting unrest.

President Hosni Mubarak announces he will not seek re-election as anti-government protests have killed nearly 100 people over the past week.

The government has accused media outlets of being sympathetic to protesters who want the president to quit now rather than serve out his term, as he has vowed to do. The Obama administration, meanwhile, was in talks with top Egyptian officials about the possibility of Mubarak immediately resigning and the formation of an interim government that could prepare the country for free and fair elections later this year, U.S. officials said Thursday. The talks were first reported by The New York Times. The creation of a military-backed caretaker government in Egypt is one of several ideas being discussed as anti-Mubarak protests escalate in the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian cities, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic talks that are continuing.

Among those options is a proposal for Mubarak to resign immediately and cede power to a transitional government run by Vice President Omar Suleiman. White House and State Department spokesmen would not discuss details of the discussions U.S. officials are having with the Egyptians.

The president has said that now is the time to begin a peaceful, orderly and meaningful transition," said White House national security spokesman Tommy Vietor on Thursday night. "We have discussed with the Egyptians a variety of different ways to move that process forward." Mubarak, 82, told ABC television in an interview that he was fed up and wants to resign. But he said he can't for fear the country would sink into chaos. He said he was very unhappy about the two days of clashes in central Tahrir Square. "I do not want to see Egyptians fighting each other," he was quoted as saying.

The violence that had been concentrated in Tahrir spread around the city of 18 million, with a new wave of arson and looting. Soldiers, mainly protecting government buildings and important institutions, remained passive as they have since replacing police on the streets almost a week ago. Few uniformed police have been seen around the city in that time, and protesters allege some of them have stripped off their uniforms and mixed in with the gangs of marauding thugs. When there are demonstrations of this size, there will be foreigners who come and take advantage and they have an agenda to raise the energy of the protesters," Suleiman said on state television. Pro-government mobs beat foreign journalists with sticks and fists Thursday. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 24 reporters were detained in 24 hours, including representatives of The Washington Post and The New York Times. Twenty-one journalists were assaulted, including two with Fox News.

Axelrod on Way Out: We've Learned Some Lessons

President Barack Obama's message, picked the right day to show up at a news conference. His boss wasn't just going off script. He was going off. Humbled by a poor election for his party, sharply defensive about a tax deal with Republicans, Obama kept talking until he finally refocused on his whole purpose for being president. He spoke about the value of compromising, the merits of thinking long term, the point of leadership being to help people have better lives. Axelrod looked up from his BlackBerry as if someone had jolted him. "That's our guy," Axelrod recalled thinking. "That's the guy I've been working with for almost a decade now."

White Hours Senior Advisor David Axelrod on CBS's Face the Nation in Washington

Since that moment in early December, what's happened in the White House amounts to a presidential rediscovery in the eyes of Axelrod. He considers the last two months a template for the next two years and a re-election campaign in which, he promises, Obama will try to "play big" all over the electoral map and revitalize a weakened coalition.  It all helps explain why Axelrod seems so comfortable about quitting the place. Obama's chief political strategist, senior adviser, close friend, late-night sounding board and comedic foil is done at the White House. This was always his plan: two years of insider work from his office near Obama's in the West Wing, then home to family and more freedom in Chicago. But that doesn't lessen the sense that Obama's world is changing significantly. Axe, as he is known, has had a huge internal influence. He and press secretary Robert Gibbs, who also is leaving, were at Obama's side daily in his campaign and have been among the most trusted keepers of a remember-what-we-promised perspective. The whirling force of Rahm Emanuel also quit the chief of staff's job in October to run for Chicago mayor. Axe, Gibbs and Rahm. Few major conversations in or about Obama's first two years didn't include those words.

Axelrod hears this and responds bullishly about the new members of Obama's team, including chief of staff Bill Daley, incoming press secretary Jay Carney and senior adviser David Plouffe, who replaces Axelrod. That's not to mention the guidance of the core advisers who are staying, like senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and communications chief Dan Pfeiffer. "Just remember one thing," Axelrod said about the upheaval in an interview on his final day on the job. "The heart of the Obama operation is Obama." And it is on that point that Axelrod is now feeling better about what he's leaving. In his mind, the president is back in his comfort zone. When Republicans stormed to victory in November, most notably by winning a majority in the House, the White House was reeling. The sense was that the problem went beyond the plodding recovery of the economy, or the unpopular interventions by the government to help or the giant health care law that swallowed up so much time and debate. It was that Obama the campaigner had lost his connection with the people. A White House in emergency fix-it mode got caught up in means, not ends. Less hope, more process. That ate at message-man Axelrod, who, like Obama, can't help but show exasperation about today's rapid-fire news coverage and the attention paid to political winners and losers. "It was very hard to control the narrative in a way that you would like," Axelrod said. "I think we've been better at it in the last 60 days, for sure. We've learned some lessons." That period began after the election in a wrap-up legislative session in which Obama got congressional approval for a compromise tax package, a major nuclear treaty and lifting a ban on openly gay military service. Obama took a rejuvenating break in Hawaii, approved staff changes to make his office less insular and responded to the Arizona mass shooting with a unifying speech that even his critics commended. He then gave a State of the Union address -- Axelrod's final project -- in which he tried to find an economic agenda for both parties.  Now comes the question of whether Obama can get anything done with Republicans to shrink the nation's joblessness and debt. That's one front.

The other is the starting of Obama's re-election campaign in which the health of the economy will be paramount. Axelrod will be Obama's chief strategist in the campaign. He spoke eagerly of the chance for Obama to run against a Republican, instead of how the White House views the midterm election: Obama running against the idealized version of himself. Yet economists say it will take years for the nation to recover from a giant recession. The question will be whether voters think progress is good enough.  "Yes, there are going to be people who are still struggling under any scenario," Axelrod said. "But the question for them will be, `Does the alternative hold out more hope for me than the direction this president is leading?' I think we can make that case." The Obama political minds, of course, already have their minds on whom they will face.  "Probably more than any time in my lifetime, it's an unfathomable race," Axelrod said of the field of potential opponents. To win again, Obama has ground to recover in assembling the coalition of independents, infrequent voters and other groups that rallied behind him last time. Less than two years from election day, the electoral map looks more challenging than it was in 2008.