Not Such an Instant Replay

Tale of the Tapes. A year after the 9/11 attacks, the Justice Department got hold of surveillance tapes that suggested terrorists were targeting Las Vegas Casinos. They thought about warning the American people. But they decided not to. Memos show the Justice Department people were more worried that they might hurt the tourism business or increase the casino’s legal liabilities. (AP)

Exactly Who is Putting Congress in the Crosshairs? The White House, still justifying it’s latest terror threat, says the Capitol, Congress and its individual members are potential terrorist targets. But Capitol Police Chief Terrance W. Gainer, says, "There is not a specific, credible, direct threat against Congress as an institution, or its members."

Taking the DC Truck Route. A FOX News report says that much of DC is open to truck bombers. Al Qaeda has a record of striking targets they didn’t finish the first time. That leaves the Capitol or White House as targets – since last time they were saved by the actions of the passengers and crew of Flight 93.

Terrorist Turnover. Al Qaeda computer geek Mohammed Naeem Noor Khan’s computer files captured last month in Pakistan, show lower-ranking members and more recent recruits are filling Al Qaeda's upper ranks as fast as the top dogs are collared. (NYT)

This Idea of Foreign Aid is Foreign to Washington. The Bush Administration wants to rewrite the rules of foreign aid. They’re banking on Millennium Challenge Corp. It’s supposed to focus less on foreign policy when doling out foreign aid. It’ll focus more on how wisely the country requesting the money plans to spend it. What an interesting idea in Washington—making someone justify why they need the money, before they get it. (WashPost)

Dirty Words Flowing Freely Again at the Justice Department. The "net-nanny" on Justice Department computers has been turned off. The filter was preventing e-mails with "inappropriate" language from getting through. Hellloooo! It’s the Justice Department. Lawyers. Like any language directed at them is appropriate. (WashPost – 3rd Item)

Dateline: New Dehli. Add news service Reuters to the list of companies outsourcing jobs to India. They’re moving 20 editorial gigs there. (Forbes)

A Whole Lot of Hole. Explorers in Croatia have found the world’s deepest hole. How long until Congress starts throwing money down it? The office pool begins now. (CNN)