1. Lebanon’s government deemed Hizballah’s telephone network to be illegal, will turn to Arab League and international bodies to end Iran’s efforts to assist in the network’s construction.

2. Former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton says the US should use air strikes against Iranian terror camps used to train and supply Iraqis attacking US and Iraqi forces.

3. US Attorneys Office unseals indictment against Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, charged with “conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to the FARC to be used to kill Americans in Colombia.”

4. A Palestinian recently killed in an Israeli strike was a teacher at a UN school in Gaza by day and an Islamic Jihad bomb maker by night.

IRAN
John Bolton: US should bomb Iranian camps - Telegraph
Increasing domestic turmoil in Iran - Middle East Times
Iran rejects nuclear inspections unless Israel allows them - Washington Post
Iran suspends talks with US on security in Iraq - Washington Post

IRAQ
US conducts operations targeting Mahdi Special Groups in northern Rusafa - Long War Journal
Kurdish rebels threaten suicide attacks against US - New York Times
Document lists 6,000 al-Qaeda suicide bombers in Iraq - M&C

LEBANON
In Lebanon, Hezbollah arms stockpile bigger, deadlier - LA Times

MOROCCO
Morocco under high alert after a probable AQIM dry run - Counterterrorism Blog
Also See: Algeria: Young al-Qaeda recruits arrested - AKI

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Gaza headmaster by day at UN school was Islamic Jihad “rocket-maker” by night - Reuters

PAKISTAN
Suicide Attack, Clashes Kill 5 in Pakistan - WSJ

RUSSIA
Russia and U.S. sign civilian nuclear pact - IHT

US
Viktor Bout Indicted for Conspiracy to Kill Americans & Related Terrorism Charges - Counterterrorism Blog
ATF: Phoenix Gun Dealer Supplied Mexican Drug Cartels - ABC News

1. The United States released information that led to the September 6, 2007 Israeli air strike on a suspected Syrian nuclear facility being constructed with North Korean direction and assistance. Video from inside the facility positively identified it as a clandestine Syrian nuclear facility.

2. Sensing Syria under intense pressure, Iran’s Ahmadinejad publicly warned the ally not to side with the Americans. Moves including reports of progress on agreement with Israel over Golan Heights and speculation that Syria led US and Iraqi forces to Iraq insurgency leader Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri may worry Iran of a weakening ally in Syria.

3. The Chinese ship discovered to be a major arms shipment to Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe has turned back toward China without unloading under intense international condemnation.

4. Pakistan is working on a second peace agreement in days with Taliban groups, this one with Baitullah Mehsud’s Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.

SYRIAN REACTOR STRIKE - NORTH KOREAN DESIGN
Intel: North Korea Helped Syria Develop Nuclear Program - ABC
U.S. Sees North Korean Links to Reactor - New York Times
Accurate October Speculation: Israel’s Case for Syria Strike: Apparent Spy Had Hard Evidence - ABC

Related Developments?
Israel and Syria Hint at Progress on Golan Heights Deal - New York Times
Ahmadinejad warns Syria not to side with the Americans - Jerusalem Post
IAEA Says Iran Agrees to Clarify Nuclear Activity - VOA
‘Progress’ made during NoKor visit by US delegation on nuclear dispute - Jerusalem Post
Report: Insurgency leader Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri captured? Update: Given up by Syria? - Hot Air

WAR OF IDEAS
British ex-jihadis form ranks for tolerance - CS Monitor

AFGHANISTAN
To Sideline Taliban, Afghan Agency Extends Government’s Reach - New York Times

CHINA
Zimbabwe-Bound Ship Heads Back to China - New York Times
Tuesday: Debt Impound Uncovers Chinese Arms Shipment to Zimbabwe Tinderbox - ThreatsWatch

GAZA STRIP
Walkout at U.N. over Libya’s Gaza comparison to Nazi death camps - Los Angeles Times
U.S. Ambassador Walks Out After Israel Likened to Nazis - New York Sun
30 Palestinians arrested in Gaza operation; no IDF casualties reported - Jerusalem Post
Israel accuses Hamas of fabricating fuel crisis in Gaza Strip - M&C

GERMANY
9 people detained as Germans raid Islamic centers - International Herald Tribune

IRAQ
Saddam Hussein’s ally Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri ‘captured’ in Iraq - Telegraph
Ultimatum issued to Mahdi Army in Basrah; 15 Mahdi fighters killed in Sadr City - The Long War Journal
Groups With Iran’s Backing Blamed for Baghdad Attacks - New York Times
Turkish Army Says It Has Struck Group in Iraq - Reuters

ISRAEL
Hamas to hand truce proposals with Israel Thursday - Reuters
Turkey relayed Israel offer to swap Golan for peace: Assad - AFP

PAKISTAN
Pakistan: Peace Deal Between Islamabad, Pro-Taliban Militants Rankles U.S. - RFE/RL
Pakistan is negotiating a new peace agreement with Baitullah Mehsud - The Long War Journal
Alleged Pakistani Al-Qaeda chief orders end to attacks: letter - AFP

1. President Bush is hosting Middle East leaders this week to discuss regional affairs. King Abdullah II of Jordan is reportedly going to ask that he cancel or defer Israel trip unless concrete progress toward peace is made.

2. While saying the Carter-Hamas talks accomplished nothing, the Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister (from the PFLP) says that an Egypt-brokered ceasefire in Gaza is near.

3. Iran, an importer of natural gas from Turkmenistan, agreed to the country’s demand of a higher asking price. While Iran has among the world’s largest reserves, it’s under-invested and underdeveloped industry makes it an ironic net consumer.

4. Once again, Iran is saying that it is prepared to enter into talks on its nuclear program, a program it has also in the past declared “non-negotiable” before previous fruitless talks. Iran’s sought resource is time.

5. Russia says that Azerbaijan is ‘obstructing’ an equipment shipment bound for Iran’s new Russian-built Bushehr nuclear reactor.

6. SecDef Gates announced today that General David Petraeus will become the CG for CENTCOM overseeing military operations throughout the Middle East theater, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

PETRAEUS TO CENTCOM COMMAND
Petraeus picked to lead Mideast command - International Herald Tribune

AL-QAEDA
Al-Qaeda audiotape blisters Iran over who executed 9/11 - SF Gate

MORE ON CARTER-HAMAS MEETINGS
Reuters Says: ‘Hamas shows Carter its pragmatic face’ - Reuters
Palestinian FM Says: ‘Carter-Hamas meeting achieved nothing’ - AFP

PRESIDENT BUSH HOSTING ME LEADERS
Bush Hosts Middle East Leaders to Discuss Peace Effort - VOA
Jordan’s King Abdullah II to ask Bush to defer or cancel trip to Israel - Haaretz
Middle East talks in Moscow get scant support - Washington Times

GAZA STRIP
Palestinian FM sees Gaza ceasefire via Egypt ‘very close’ - AFP

IRAN
Turkmenistan: Iran Admits Defeat in Gas Pricing Dispute - EurasiaNet Business & Economics
Iran agrees to discuss alleged nuclear weapons program - AP
Russia accuses Azerbaijan of ‘obstructing’ shipment for Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant - IHT

IRAQ
Maliki Tries to Rally Arabs Behind Iraq - New York Times
Bill proposed in Iraq to ban toy guns - Sydney Morning Herald

LEBANON
Lebanese minister: Al-Qaeda UN troop threat a ‘bad omen’ - Jerusalem Post

PAKISTAN
EU’s Solana says no Pakistan talks with Al-Qaeda, Taliban yes - AFP
How Islamicised is the Pakistan army? (Not very.) - Reuters Blog

SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka Clashes Kill 52 Tamil Rebels, 38 Soldiers - Bloomberg