Investigative journalist Richard Miniter, an internationally recognized expert on terrorism, shared his research into al Qaeda figures Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and Osama bin Laden, as well as his analysis of the 9-11 attacks and their aftermath. Interestingly, he suggested that one of the main beneficiaries of the 9-11 attacks was Iran, with the US fighting their enemies in Afghanistan (the Taliban) and Iraq (Saddam Hussein).

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, whose nickname inside al Qaeda was "KFC" (due to his penchant for eating buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken), had become overweight and out-of-shape. To counteract this impression, he beheaded the kidnapped journalist Daniel Pearl on videotape to show that he was still tough and capable, Miniter recounted. Contrary to other reports, he found nothing to suggest that bin Laden had ever been a CIA operative in the Soviet/Afghanistan war in the 1980s. Killing him off wasn't strategically the best idea for America, he commented, noting that he might have spilled valuable intelligence during interrogation.

Regarding the planes involved in the 9-11 attacks, Miniter said he found no evidence that boxcutters were actually used by the terrorists as weapons-- their supposed usage became "speculation hardened into fact," possibly to make the FAA seem less culpable. But in fact, we know al Qaeda had singled out specific airports such as Dulles and Logan, because they had been ranked in the top five airports for worst security, he pointed out.

Cell Phone Hazards

First hour guest, researcher William Thomas reported on a new study that confirms cell phone hazards. Scientists who conducted the study were surprised to find there were changes that occurred in brains exposed to cell phone radiation, which didn't involve heat. While some advise wearing a headset instead of talking directly into the cell phone, Thomas cautioned that a headset can act like an antenna and conduct even more radiation into the brain/ear.

News segment guest: Mitch Battros