Stratfor Terrorism Analyst Fred Burton says that al Qaeda is engaging in the terrorist equivalent of a Tet Offensive: launching a series of attacks -- some significant, others mere psyops -- in an effort to turn the tide of a war it has been losing. He writes in a terrorism brief there is evidence of such a shift at the strategic level, in terms of the number and pace of operations around the globe, but at the tactical level there appears to be a widespread case of business as usual.

The United States signed an agreement for the use of three military bases in Bulgaria. Approximately 2,500 U.S. troops will be stationed there in 2007 at three facilities -- at Bezmer Air Base near the Romanian border, the Novo Selo army training range near the Turkish border, and the Graf Ignatievo airfield in central Bulgaria. The deal allows Washington a more rapid deployment of troops in third countries in consultation with Bulgaria, but if necessary, without its explicit permission.

French President Jacques Chirac said a World Bank fund should be created to pay the salaries of Palestinian officials. After meeting with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Chirac also suggested that more aid be placed under the leader's authority, and asked Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist. The Hamas-led government is unable to pay its 165,000 employees because of international sanctions. France is to raise the issue during May 9 talks with the United Nations, United States, European Union and Russia, all of which are key players in the stalled roadmap peace plan.

British hacker, Gary McKinnon is waiting to hear whether he will be extradited to the US. McKinnon, faces possible trial under US anti-terror laws over alleged attacks on military and NASA systems between 2001 and 2002. The unemployed systems administrator has been in limbo since his arrest by officers from the UK's National High Tech Crime Unit in March 2002. He was caught after US military agencies traced intrusions in their computer networks back to the UK.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting the Defense Department has stepped up efforts to gather intelligence within U.S. borders, aimed at both protecting military facilities and keeping an eye out for any threat on American soil. After Sept. 11, the Bush administration declared the continental United States a theater of military operations for the first time since the Civil War, creating a demand to better research potential threats to American forces at home. Question is which agency will collect it.