Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano fired back at accusations that the White House was shortchanging NYC area counter-terrorism funding, telling Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island) in a letter that the NY Times happened to obtain, "We are concerned. that more than $275 million in federal funding for New York City’s port and transit security since 2006 has not yet been drawn down." more ›

The White House wants New Yorkers—like Rep. Peter King and Senator Charles Schumer—to stop freaking out over funding to counterterrorism programs being cut. Because the White House says NYC's funds actually increased... thanks to stimulus money (and no thanks to the Bush Administration). more ›

After the announcement that city counter-terror cops would be sent back to their home boroughs to fight rising crime, Maybe Bloomberg wants New Yorkers to feel safe on all fronts. "We move people around all the time," he said, according to 1010Wins. "We have enough patrols to keep the city secure." Contrary to what was originally reported, the police department says that just eight of the 67 patrol cars in the unit—usually used to flood Manhattan terror targets like Times Square of Madison Square Gardens—"will patrol in parts of Queens and Brooklyn that have experienced crime increases." more ›

Inside sources suggest that it's not naps or kisses that are putting our nation's airspace in danger, but a "toxic environment" created by federal air marshals. More than 85 current or former sky cops in nearly all of the country's field offices have reported distractions from their anti-terror mission, in the form of "intimidation, retaliation, discrimination against women, minorities, the disabled [and] gays." Morale is low, and the agency is also dangerously understaffed. more ›

Yesterday, the city honored the 110 members of teams from the NYPD, FBI and other agencies who helped foil the terror plot to bomb Bronx synagogues and attack the National Guard base in Newburgh, NY. Mayor Bloomberg said, "I feel safer today in this city than ever before. They have prevented what could have been a terrible loss of life." And Governor Paterson said, "The work was simply outstanding, and it demonstrates the increased sophistication that counterterrorist activity has had to undergo to keep up with the widespread threats. I can't thank all of them enough." more ›

The NYPD will have police officers stationed in Abu Dhabi to, per WNBC, "help in crime fighting as well as share intelligence in the war on terror. " Calling the United Arab Emirates the "crossroads of the Middle East," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said information will be exchanged between the NYPD and Abu Dhabi officials and that the NYPD will help train their personnel. Having NYPD officials overseas is nothing new, as they are in Montreal, Toronto, London, Madrid, Paris, Tel Aviv and other cities. A few years ago, the New Yorker had a great feature on the NYPD's anti-terror work. more ›

A woman educated at Brandeis and MIT will be arraigned today on charges of "trying to kill American soldiers and FBI agents" in Afghanistan. Investigators claim Aafia Siddiqui had taken hold of a soldier's rifle during interrogation and pointed it at an FBI agent and fired two rounds while an interpreter tackled her. Authorities also claim she had per WNBC, "directions on how to build explosive and maps of New York landmarks and other U.S. locations" with her. However, human rights groups, who have been wondering about Siddiqui's whereabouts since 2003, think she's been in U.S. custody for the past five years and her lawyer said, "We’re not willing to believe that the discovery of Aafia in Afghanistan is coincidence.” Feds also believe Siddiqui has ties with high-ranking al-Qaeda members. more ›

A man breaking into a van called the police when he noticed strange materials inside--the Post reports the van was "filled with gas cans and Styrofoam cups containing a mysterious white substance with protruding wires and switches." The van had been parked on Sunset Park, Brooklyn block for a month, and the would-be robber drove the van to a desolate location and then "called a cop he knows from his run-ins with the law." The NYPD anti-terror task force examined the car and a source says cops probably won't charge him with robbery more ›