DAILY ALERT

In-Depth Issue:

Foreign Terrorists Entering Iraq from Syria - David E. Sanger (New York Times)
    More than a year of intensive efforts by the American military and the CIA to destroy the insurgency in Iraq has failed to reduce the number of "hard-core Saddamists'' seeking to destroy the interim Iraqi government, a former senior official of the American occupation authority said Thursday.
    He estimated that the number of insurgents had stayed constant at 4,000 to 5,000, suggesting that as soon as they are killed or captured, they have been replaced.
    The official also said that over the last year, both Iran and Syria had stepped up their activity in Iraq, and that the Iranians might have been financing radical cleric Moktada al-Sadr.
    While the Iranians have "become more active over time, and not helpful,'' the official said, intelligence indicated that far more foreign fighters were coming over the border from Syria than from Iran.
    He said the Syrian border "was the most important one where foreigners were coming in, and terrorists.''
    The captured fighters were "mostly Syrian - there were Sudanese, Yemenis, some Saudis, and then the odd Egyptian and Moroccan.''
    He appeared less concerned about the appeal of the Zarqawi fighters, who he said were reviled in much of Iraq.

New Guard Force Finds Welcome on Streets of Baghdad - Edward Cody (Washington Post)
    Iraqi guardsmen from the 35,000-man paramilitary force designed to bring internal security - venturing out for the last several days in their own vehicles and flying the Iraqi flag conspicuously - have found a warm welcome from most residents.
    Baghdadis seem relieved to see their own soldiers taking over from U.S. troops.
    Replacing U.S. soldiers with Iraqis could go a long way toward reducing popular resentment directed at the U.S. military presence here.
    For many Iraqis, including influential Islamic spiritual leaders, the killing of fellow Iraqis by insurgents has gone too far, particularly since many attacks were carried out in the name of al-Qaeda.
    One militantly anti-U.S. Shiite Muslim leader, Moqtada Sadr, specifically called on his followers to cooperate with Iraqi police to prevent a recurrence of what he termed foreign terrorism.
    Since then, the attacks have dropped sharply in number and effectiveness.
    U.S. security officials have warned that intelligence shows spectacular new attacks are still being planned, including more kidnappings of foreigners.

What Saddam Told His Interrogators - Neil A. Lewis and David Johnston (New York Times)
    During his seven months held captive by American forces, Saddam Hussein revealed little about his weapons programs and the insurgency in postwar Iraq, senior officials involved in his custody said, but he occasionally provided startling comments and observations.
    Hussein said a principal reason for invading Kuwait in 1990 was his belief that he needed to keep his army occupied.
    He said that while he was on the run during the war, American soldiers had forced some people who were helping him hide to refuse to shelter him any longer.
    He related how his son Uday had beaten to death someone who had annoyed him by playing music too loudly.

Israelis View U.S. as Truest Friend (U.S. Newswire)
    A strong majority of Israelis view the U.S. as Israel's truest friend, according to a recent poll commissioned by the Hudson Institute.
    The poll also finds that Israelis particularly like American culture and values, including values Israelis believe they share with America, such as democracy, a free market economy, and faith in God.
    91% of Israelis view the U.S. either very favorably or mostly favorably.
    69% view the U.S. as a true friend that can be trusted to help Israel even in difficult times.
    66% appreciate America's help to Israel and feel that Israel should be grateful for it.

IDF to Set Up "Simulator City" - Amir Buhbut (Maariv International)
    An entire "city" of giant simulators that would create realistic war zones is to be built within 18 months, the IDF's Ground Forces Command has announced.
    Eight giant machines will simulate practically every war zone scenario using three dimensions, dynamic targets, and all types of weaponry.

Israel to Train Japanese Security Guards - Felix Frisch (Globes)
    The Academy for Advanced Security and Anti-Terror Training recently signed a contract to train security guards for Teikei Co. Ltd., the Japanese corporation responsible for the security of the Japanese emperor.

Israel to Assist India in Water Management (Webindia123.com-India)
    The Gujarat state government has decided to take the help of Israeli experts for development of water resources and food processing.
    Despite scarcity of water, Israel has registered remarkable achievements in water management and post-harvesting systems.
    With its experience, it could help Gujarat increase its farm products.

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