By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — Could the government’s ambitious $6.7 billion plan to secure the Mexico border with a “virtual fence” be in trouble? The Associated Press reports Yes. The wire service says the project is fraught with technical glitches that raise questions as to whether it’s worth completing. “Having spent $672 million so…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — FBI Agent James W. McJunkin is taking over the ever important spot at headquarters as assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division at headquarters. He moves up from his post as one of the division’s deputy assistant directors. “Jim has extensive experience and a record of success in managing counterterrorism…
By Jon Perkins ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — A tiff has been brewing between American Airlines and federal agents over the right to carry guns aboard planes. Bottom line: the airline won’t let off-duty agents carry a gun aboard a plane if they fly at reduced rates or free on “buddy passes” in what’s known in the…
By Allan Lengel For Aol News With just days to go before the big game, the FBI says there’s no intelligence here or abroad suggesting terrorists are plotting to disrupt Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, one of America’s premier sporting events seen around the world. “The security is in place, and we’re well-prepared for any…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com A Pakistani neuroscientist, who disrupted her New York trial with multiple outbursts, was convicted Wednesday of attempted murder for trying to kill American soldiers and F.B.I. agents in Afghanistan, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. Authorities charged that Aafia Siddiqui, 37, of grabbing grabbed an M4 rifle in an Afghanistan police station…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — The FBI has fired off a letter to the Wall Street Journal disputing a guest column which questioned the FBI’s conclusion that scientist Bruce Ivins was responsible for the deadly anthrax attacks in 2001. The column concluded that Ivins was in all likelihood not the real culprit. “Monday’s opinion…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — The debate over whether to charge the underwear bomber in a civilian, rather than a military court, continues. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder Jr. fired off a letter dated Feb. 3 to Sen. Mitch McConnell and other centers assuring him that “I made the decision to charge Mr. Abdulmutallab with…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com John Turnpaugh of New Orleans isn’t likely to go down in history as one of the brighter drug dealers. In fact, if you described him as being a few fries short of a Happy Meal, you wouldn’t be overreaching. On Dec. 30, he phoned 911 around 2 a.m. and said: “Yeah,…
