U.S. foes seek edge in the dark

WASHINGTON -- The e-mails, found on computer equipment seized from an accused terrorist supporter, detail items the Taliban wanted to use against U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"What equipment do they need?" asks one message, described in a Justice Department affidavit filed as part of an ongoing effort to have Babar Ahmad extradited from Britain on charges of funneling money and supplies to the fighters. "Is there a (smuggling) route for equipment such as tents, torches, night vision?"

The response, according to the affidavit, uses the code words "Students" for Taliban members and "Arabs" for foreign fighters in Afghanistan. But there's nothing cryptic about its thrust: "Night visions are VERY important, as Students and Arabs, both are concentrating on the special covert operations."

The e-mail exchange, which includes other references to smuggling night-vision goggles via Pakistan, occurred at the end of 2001, soon after U.S. troops invaded Afghanistan. Since ...