Tuesday, July 04, 2006
North Korea 'launches missile into Sea of Japan'
04/07/2006 - 22:08:32
North Korea launched the missile at 3.32am Japan Time (7.32pm Irish time) and it crashed into the Sea of Japan several minutes later, public broadcaster NHK reported.
NHK said Japanese government officials were trying to determine whether the missile was a long-range ballistic missile that had been readied for launch recently, or whether it was a different missile.
North Korea had been believed to be preparing a test launch of its Taepodong 2 missile, which is believed able to reach parts of the US.
Special unit that hunted for bin Laden is closed down
WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA says efforts to hunt down Osama bin Laden are as strong as ever, despite a report that the agency has shut down a unit that hunted for the al-Qaida leader and his top lieutenants.
The New York Times reports two dozen analysts in the unit were re-assigned to other counter-terrorism duties late last year.
Officials tell the newspaper the move came amid growing concern in the agency about al-Qaida-inspired groups carrying out attacks independent of bin Laden. But officials stress that finding the elusive terror leader remains a high priority.
The recent book “Ghost Wars” says some in the C-I-A were uncomfortable with the unit, saying its zeal for capturing bin Laden took on a cult-like atmosphere.
A former senior C-I-A official who once headed the unit tells the Times that the move reflects the view that bin Laden is no longer the threat he once was. But he says that view is mistaken.
