Washington, D.C.: Unmanned drones in plans for U.S. border patrols

Unmanned aerial drones similar to ones used in the war on Iraq could be patrolling the U.S. border by the end of the year to help stem illegal immigration and increase security, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Thursday.

“We are very serious in looking at UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) for both border applications, land and sea,” Ridge told the House Select Committee on Homeland Security.

Predators and other remote-controlled aircraft can watch over a potential target and fly for hundreds of miles with cameras, sensors, communications equipment or missiles.

Support has grown for the unmanned aircraft since their success during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Several Western congressmen have endorsed the use of the unmanned vehicles over the U.S.-Mexico border.

Belgium: Trial opens against suspects accused of links to al-Qaida

Twenty-three suspects charged with links to al-Qaida went on trial Thursday in Brussels, and two of the defendants lunged at each other after giving conflicting testimony about a phony passport ring.

The two, Mohamed Fethi and Abdelhouaid Aberkan, are among 12 suspects accused of being part of the al-Qaida-linked passport ring. They jumped at each other and had to be separated by security guards.

There are two sets of defendants on trial, those charged in the passport ring, and 11 others accused of planning an attack on a U.S. air base at Kleine Brogel in northwestern Belgium that is believed to house tactical nuclear warheads. About 100 U.S. Air Force personnel work there.

Washington, D.C.: Congress OKs $400 billion defense spending measure

The Senate and House on Thursday passed their own versions of a $400.5 billion defense spending plan for 2004 that would increase money for homeland security, development of new weapons and benefits for the troops.

Legislation in both bills includes more than $70 billion for weapons purchases and $9.1 billion for a missile defense system. The measures offer an average 4.1 percent pay raise for military personnel and new money to stop terrorism and the spread of biological and chemical weapons.

The Senate vote was 98-1 with Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., the only dissenter; the House vote was 361-68.