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Investigation: New tools to track terror

Attorney General John Ashcroft speaking at a recent news conference.

SUMMARY:

In an effort to bankrupt terrorists, the Customs Service launched a multi-agency initiative Thursday aimed at their funding sources.

As part of the increasingly vigilant investigation efforts, Attorney General John Ashcroft said that the moment the new antiterrorism legislation becomes law, he would direct all U.S. prosecutors and FBI offices to immediately use their expanded powers to wiretap phones, monitor Internet traffic and apprehend suspects.

Meanwhile, as the investigation into the September 11 terrorist attacks continues, U.S. federal authorities have moved part of their probe onto the nation's campuses.

UPDATE:

"Operation Green Quest" will target underground money transfers, called the "hawala" system in the Middle East and South Asia, said Robert Bonner, commissioner of the Customs Service. (Full story)

•  Summary   •  Update   •  Key questions   •  Who's who   •  Impact

CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

VIDEO CNN's Lisa Barron reports that since the September 11 attacks more companies are verifying credentials of potential business partners (October 21) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

"This operation will also generate new information on sources of terrorist funding and systems, such as the 'hawala,' used to fund terrorism," Bonner told reporters Thursday.

"Hawala," a primitive method of transferring money from one source to another, especially between countries, is used to evade the legal banking system, Bonner said.

Addressing the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Attorney General Ashcroft said President George W. Bush planned to sign on Friday the legislation that would greatly boost the powers of law enforcement officers in the war against terrorism.

"A new era in America's fight against terrorism is about to begin," he said. Ashcroft had proposed the legislation after the September 11 hijacked plane attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon that killed over 5,000 people.

The U.S. investigation dragnet has placed increased scrutiny on the more than half million international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities. More than 200 universities have turned over personal information about international students to the FBI and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

The attention on the nation's campuses came after it was learned that at least one of the 19 alleged hijackers in the September 11 attacks had entered the United States on a student visa and never attended classes. (Full story)

KEY QUESTIONS:

What tactics are being used to get people in custody to talk about any knowledge they may have of the September attacks?

Is it possible that some of these people will actually have to be let go soon?

What avenues are international investigators pursuing to trace the source of funding for the suspected hijackers?

What clues about the September 11 attacks have U.S. investigators learned from the hundreds of arrests made?

How will the expansion of law-enforcement powers affect Americans' civil liberties? Click here for more.

How long can suspects be held, and on what charges are they being held? Click here for more.

What groups are U.S. investigators focusing on, and what are their aims? Click here for more.

How would law-enforcement authorities go after financial assets of people identified as terrorists? Click here for more.

WHO'S WHO:

George W. Bush: U.S. president

Colin Powell: U.S. secretary of state Click here for more

Condoleezza Rice: National security adviser Click here for more

John Ashcroft: U.S. attorney general

Robert Mueller: FBI director Click here for more

George Tenet: CIA director. Click here for more

Osama bin Laden: U.S. authorities have named bin Laden, a wealthy Saudi exile living in Afghanistan, as the prime suspect in masterminding the September 11 attacks. Click here for more

IMPACT:

Information gained from the investigation could lead to fundamental changes in U.S. security and intelligence systems, as well as surveillance laws.