"The abuses of the Hoover era, which included efforts by the F.B.I. to harass and discredit Hoover's political enemies under a program known as Cointelpro, led to tight restrictions on F.B.I. investigations of political activities. Those restrictions were relaxed significantly last year, when Attorney General John Ashcroft issued guidelines giving agents authority to attend political rallies, mosques and any event 'open to the public.' " [more]

"Rumblings of discontent have come from the army chief of staff and four former chiefs of the security services, from members of Sharon's governing coalition and from opposition politicians who have forged their own model peace agreement with Palestinian counterparts." [more]

"If they are seeking the elimination of their economic might, devastation, and destruction under the feet of the soldiers of God, let them come to Iraq, as our strikes will reach the center of Tokyo ... if they are seeking that, let them try their luck with us." [more]