Deadly Car Bomb Explodes in Baghdad; Ashcroft Touts Patriot Act; Another Highway Lane to Close for Convention; Questionning Mexico’s “Anti-Kidnap” Chip

Deadly Car Bomb Explodes in Baghdad

A four-wheel drive vehicle wired with explosives detonated Wednesday morning in the center of Baghdad, killing 10 and injuring 43. Most victims of the explosion were Iraqi citizens.

According to a report on Washingtonpost.com, the blast occurred at 9:15 a.m. local time (1:15 a.m. EDT) as many people waited to enter a crowded checkpoint to enter a convention center. The convention center houses many government administrative offices and booths where U.S. contractors advertise job openings.

Read the full story on washingtonpost.com.

Ashcroft Touts Patriot Act

Attorney General John Ashcroft presented dozens of cases yesterday that support law enforcement’s need for the controversial USA Patriot Act. As reported in The Boston Globe, Ashcroft released a report that suggests that provisions of the Patriot Act, which include stronger anti-terrorism laws, have led to charges against 310 individuals and 179 convictions since Sept. 11. Critics remain worried about potential abuses by law enforcement and would like to see stronger Congressional oversight.

Read the full article in the Boston Globe.

Another Highway Lane to Close for Convention

Transportation planners in Boston have decided to close another lane of a major highway during the Democratic National Convention as part of an effort to direct drivers to Interstate 95, which runs around the city to the west, and away from routes that would clog roads in suburban communities. According to a report in The Boston Globe, only two lanes of traffic will be allowed on the portions of Interstate 93 north and south of the city that will remain open during restricted hours (4 p.m. to 1 a.m. during the convention). The sections of highway closest to the city (a 6-mile stretch) will be closed to traffic entirely during restricted hours. Planners said if gridlock becomes a problem, they may begin diverting traffic off I-93 farther from Boston. “The volume of traffic is the key to the whole thing,” State Police Major Michael Mucci told the Globe/i>. “We have the basic structure of the plan, but there’s a lot of fluidity to it. If people think it’s just another Monday, and they do everything they normally do on any Monday, we’re in a lot of trouble.”

Read the full story in the Boston Globe.

Questionning Mexico’s “Anti-Kidnap” Chip

An editorial on The Register questions the efficacy of using RFID chips as security devices, especially when they are implanted into humans. This week Mexico’s attorney general announced that he and senior members of his staff had an “anti-kidnap” chip implanted in his arm in an effort to stem the nearly 3,000 kidnappings that take place each year. The chips serve as an identity device and could help track someone should they be kidnapped. However, it is unclear how someone with an implanted chip would be tracked, according to the story.

Read the full story in The Register.