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Singapore apologizes for terror escape

The Singapore government apologized Thursday for the security lapse that allowed a suspected Islamic terrorist leader to escape from jail, triggering a manhunt across this usually well-policed island nation.</p><p>Authorities said Mas Selamat Kastari, who once allegedly plotted to hijack a plane and crash it into Singapore's international airport, slipped away Wednesday. He is said to be commander of the Singapore arm of Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian extremist group allied with al-Qaida.</p><p>Minister of Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng said Mas Selamat escaped after being taken from his cell to go to a room for a scheduled visit by his family at the Whitley Road Detention Center, which is in a wooded residential area in central Singapore.</p><p>Mas Selamat, 47, was allowed to first go to the restroom and escaped from the heavily guarded facility, Wong said in Parliament, without offering any specifics.</p><p>"This should never have happened," said Wong, who is also deputy prime minister.

Thomas Charged In 17 Home Burglaries

Chattanooga Police have arrested a man in connection with 17 residential burglaries that occurred in the Chattanooga area.

Police said Steven Thomas, 27, was out on bond and on probation for previous burglary charges when he carried out other break-ins.

Thomas was arrested Thursday by Investigator Mike Early and Phil Grubb of the Property Crimes Investigation Unit after police said he confessed to other burglaries that he committed.

According to the investigators, a residential burglary was reported on 5th Avenue. The victim told the investigator that her digital camera and other electronics had been taken. The victim provided the serial numbers for her belongings, and the investigator contacted a local pawn shop and determined some of the belongings had been pawned within an hour of the burglary.

Charles Gibson

Bush, actually pointed out how many doubted the surge strategy and wondered if he wanted to “crow?" Gibson inquired in an excerpt aired on World News: “You took a lot of doubting and rather skeptical questions about the surge. I'll give you a chance to crow. Do you want to say I told you so?" Bush demurred from the opportunity. Indeed, a January MRC report documented the media hostility toward Bush's plan: “TV's Pre-Emptive War Against Iraq 'Surge'; Before Iraq Plan Unveiled, Reporters Said It Was Unpopular, Wouldn't Work & War Was 'Lost Cause.'"(See text below)