1. Aum Shinrikyo

A doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, which means “Supreme Truth” was formed in 1987 by Shoko Assahara, a blind 32-year-old yoga teacher. He attracted 18.000 Japanese followers, including many young scientists, convinced that the end of the world is at hand and that a catastrophic war or natural disaster will land them in heaven. The cult’s treasury mounted to an estimated $1 billion.

At an Aum “training center” 70 miles from Tokyo, Japanese investigators found tons of chemicals for producing sarin and other deadly poisons. They also found materials for making botulism and anthrax toxins. Aum leaders had smuggled in a Russian Mi-17 helicopter and at least two radio-controlled drone aircraft, intending to spray biological weapons. Astounded police agencies tracked Aum around the world.

2. Plotters exposed

In 1991 sheriff’s deputies in Alexandria, Minn., learned of a shadowy group of tax protesters called the Patriots Council. One informant reported discussions of blowing up a federal building. Another turned over a baby-food jar containing ricin, one of the most deadly weapons known. In 1995 three of the plotters were convicted under the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act.

3. Rogue Regimes

Several countries, among them Sudan, Lybia and Syria give money and haven to terrorists. While George Bush was visiting Kuwait in 1993, authorities there confiscated a huge bomb and arrested 16 people suspected of plotting to assassinate the former President for his role in the Persian Gulf War.

4. Wahhabism

Wahhabism is a religious and political movement within Islam that advocates return to the norms of early Islamic community. It was founded by Sheik Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab (1703-1787). He recognized only the authority of the Koran and the Sunnah, and rejected the cult of Islamic saints.

When he married the daughter of Muhammad ibn Saud, the founder of the royal house of Saudi Arabia, Wahhab took an active part in creating an early Saudi Empire which managed to take control of the main Muslim holy shrine – Mecca.

In early 20^th century the Saudi dynasty regained its control over the greater part of the Arabian Peninsular, proclaiming Wahhabism its official religious doctrine. Now the term “wahhabism” is applied to any representatives of radical Islamic movements based abroad.

5. Hezbollah Could Be Gaining Strength

BEIRUT – The continuing Israeli bombing of south Lebanon and south Beirut might just have strengthened the Hezbollah. The bombings appear particularly to have strengthened the hand of Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the charismatic Hezbollah leader. Hezbollah now controls, for example, more than half of about 100 schools in Beirut that have been converted into refugee shelters. A Hezbollah member in charge of a group of fighters in southern Beirut claimed that support for Hezbollah has increased dramatically since the Israeli attacks began two weeks ago. "People are afraid, and in need, and we are protecting them. The longer this fight continues, the more support we will have. We are prepared to fight to the very end."