An American who says he went to fight U.S. forces in Afghanistan told interrogators that about the time he became an al Qaeda member he came across several Belgian and French militants.
European gang trained for terror
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Recruits reveal al Qaeda’s sprawling web
When Bryant Neal Vinas spoke at length with Belgian prosecutors last March, he provided a fascinating and sometimes frightening insight into al Qaeda’s training — and its agenda. Vinas is a young American who was arrested in Pakistan late in 2008 after allegedly training with al Qaeda in the Afghan/Pakistan border area. He was repatriated to the United States and in January pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to murder U.S.
American’s odyssey to al Qaeda’s heart
On September 10, 2007, almost exactly six years after al Qaeda attacked the United States, Bryant Neal Vinas, a 24-year-old American citizen born in Queens, New York, boarded a flight from the city en route to Lahore, in eastern Pakistan, determined to fight jihad in neighboring Afghanistan. Brought up a Catholic by his Latin American immigrant parents, who divorced when he was young, Vinas tried to join the U.S. army in 2002 but dropped out after just a few weeks
Lochte victory breaks Phelps’ medley record
Michael Phelps has lost his men’s 200-meter individual medley world record — a mark he has held for six years — after fellow-American Ryan Lochte claimed gold in the world swimming championships in Rome in a new best time. Lochte came home first in a time of one minute 54.10 seconds, bettering the mark of 1:54.23 set by Phelps when winning Olympic gold in Beijing on August 15 2008. Hungarian Laszlo Cseh was second in 1:55.24 and American Eric Shanteau third in 1:55.36.
Obama’s weapon: A dose of homecoming king charm
As President Obama pushes forward with his agenda, he may find that a homecoming king’s likeability is just as integral as the power and authority inherent to the Oval Office. “I just don’t think you can be effective without being liked,” said Bruce Newman, a professor of marketing at DePaul University and editor of the Journal of Political Marketing. Newman describes Obama’s leadership as a “two-pronged support system of both being popular but yet having the respect.” “I don’t think you can be effective without that first step of making that emotional connection with the voter, but to continue to be effective, it’s not enough,” he said
Study: Doctors Don’t Always Spot Depression
Although the stigma once associated with mental illness has receded in recent years, most of the 12 million Americans who have clinical depression still don’t get treated for it, partly because many are too embarrassed to go to a psychologist. In fact, according to mental-health professionals, the majority of depressed people who seek professional help turn first not to a psychologist, but to their primary care physician. But do regular doctors really know how to identify depression A large new scientific review published today by the journal Lancet suggests they don’t.
Can Obama Close the Deal on Health Care?
His eloquence is a big part of the reason that Barack Obama got to the Oval Office. There’s always been a sense that his ability to explain things was tantamount to his ability to fix them.
Iraqi forces now calling the shots
As American soldiers now defer to Iraqi forces in their homeland, the six-year war has changed dramatically for the thousands of U.S. troops deployed to Iraq.
Gates arrives in Iraq
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday arrived in Iraq, where he will meet with the country’s prime minister, Nuri al Maliki, and get a first-hand look at the American military’s new role of supporting Iraqi forces.
Contador – I will never admire Armstrong
Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has launched a stinging attack on Astana teammate Lance Armstrong after returning as a hero to his native town of Pinto near Madrid. Contador told a news conference that relations between the two riders were tense throughout the race, making the atmosphere very difficult for the team as a whole