Liberty and Security Roundup

National Security:

• The nation’s top intelligence officer says that al Qaeda has been degraded to the point that, if combat operations continue at their current pace, the terrorist group’s operational capabilities “could be degraded to the point that the group could fragment” within two years.
• The U.S. has endorsed plans for the Taliban to open up a political headquarters in Qatar by the end of the year in order to open negotiations with the terrorist group.
• Pentagon says the Haqqani Network is behind Saturday’s bombing at a combat outpost in Wardak province that injured 77 U.S. servicemembers and killed five Afghans. The terrorist group is tied to both the Taliban and al Qaeda.
• Former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps member warns of a possibly devastating Iranian electro-magnetic pulse bomb attack.
• While U.S. stealth fighter fleet is grounded, Russia debuted its new T-50 stealth fighter.

Islam/Sharia

• ACLU fights new Sharia ban in Oklahoma while Muslim group supports Michigan ban.
• Three suspects removed for disturbing Frontier Airlines Flight 623 on Sunday (9/11) were reportedly Arab.

Law/Constitution:

• Congress is currently considering a law that would require all states to recognize concealed carry permits, allowing gun owners to carry firearms across state lines. You can read and track the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 (H.R. 822) here.

Victory Institute analyst Casey Martin contributed to this report.