The Homeland Security Bulletin

NOVEMBER 13--Judith Regan, the volcanic publishing industry figure who sought to publish O.J. Simpson's "I Did It" (and trysted with Bernard Kerik in an apartment overlooking Ground Zero) today sued Rupert Murdoch's media conglomerate for defamation, claiming that she was unjustly tarred as an anti-Semite when fired last year. In a blistering $100 million lawsuit filed today in New York State Supreme Court, Regan, 54, accuses several defendants, including Murdoch's News Corporation and HarperCollins Publishers, of orchestrating a smear campaign that was intended to advance the Murdoch political agenda and protect "Rudy Giuliani's presidential ambitions." Additionally, Regan alleges that a News Corporation "senior executive" counseled her in December 2004 to "lie and withhold information" from investigators who apparently were vetting Kerik for the post of Homeland Security secretary.

Kevin Sinfield may switch to Gridiron

Centres Shontayne Hape and James Evans play their first matches of 2008 for Bradford at Keighley and new signing Peter Cusack makes his first appearance for Hull at Doncaster.

Fact-Based Intelligence Prevails on Nukes and Iran

For those who have doubts about miracles, a double one occurred today. An honest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE)(.pdf file) on Iran's nuclear program has been issued and its Key Judgments were made public. With redraft after redraft, it was what the Germans call "eine schwere Geburt" — a difficult birth, ten months in gestation.I do not know how often Vice President Dick Cheney visited CIA Headquarters during the gestation period, but I am told he voiced his displeasure as soon as he saw the first sonogram/draft very early this year, and is so displeased with what issued that he has refused to be the godfather.

This time Cheney and his neo-con colleagues were unable to abort the process. And after delivery to the press, this child is going to be very hard to explain-the more so since it is legitimate.

McAfee, Inc. to Secure E-Commerce Through Acquisition of ScanAlert ...

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- McAfee, Inc. (NYSE: MFE) today announced a definitive agreement to acquire the privately-held ScanAlert, Inc., creators of the fast-growing HACKER SAFE(R) Web site security certification service, for approximately $51 million in cash up front and with an earn-out of up to an additional $24 million if certain performance targets are met. The acquisition will extend McAfee's leadership position in Web security, and will help to guide the more than 116 million U.S. consumers who shop online to safe e-commerce Web sites.

"Consumers are expected to spend nearly $160 billion dollars this year on products and services online, providing personal credit card information to e-commerce Web sites, many of which have traditionally been under-protected," said Dave DeWalt, chief executive officer and president of McAfee.

Oregon Recreation Report

Many of the fish are now up towards the hatchery.Right now most of the coho in the creek are fairly dark. The most popular spots to try include the Bonnie Lure area, the water above and below the lower fish ladder, Eagle Fern Park, and up near the hatchery. Much of the creek meanders through private property so pay attention to your location and secure permission before fishing on private land. Eagle Creek will remain open for coho angling until Nov. 30 with a bag limit of three adipose fin-clipped fish.FOSTER RESERVOIR: Rainbow TroutFoster Reservoir water levels were very low as of Nov. 5. Late-season trout angling has picked up for 11-13 inch rainbow trout.GREEN PETER RESERVOIR: kokanee, chinookGreen Peter Reservoir water levels have gotten lower during the beginning of the week of Nov. 5.

Castro thought illness 'was end'

Cuban President Fidel Castro has told how he "thought it was the end" when he fell gravely ill in July 2006.

The veteran 81-year-old leader wrote in an essay how he had been instructing officials what to do after his death as doctors battled to save his life.

But Mr Castro said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was impressed by the improvement in his health when he visited Cuba a week ago.

The Cuban leader said he had dedicated himself to "thinking and to writing".

"When I became seriously ill on the night of the 26 into the morning of the 27 July I thought it was the end," wrote Mr Castro in the essay dated Tuesday.

"While the doctors were fighting to save my life the head of the office of the Council of State [the island's supreme governing body] was reading the text of a proclamation and I was dictating the things that needed to be done."

Mr Castro has not been seen in public for almost a year-and-a-half, since the time he ceded power to brother Raul as acting leader.