The New York Times is reporting the government has been secretly monitoring thousands of Iraqi citizens and Iraqi-Americans. Bush administration officials also warned the government will detain Iraqis or Iraqi sympathizers in the event of a U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Senior government officials say they are monitoring in an effort to identify potential domestic terrorist threats posed by sympathizers of the Baghdad regime.

The previously undisclosed intelligence program involves tracking thousands of Iraqi citizens and Iraqi-Americans with dual citizenship who are attending US universities or working at private corporations.

The officials say some of the targets of the operation are being electronically monitored under the authority of national security warrants. Others are being selected for recruitment as informers. In the event of a US invasion of Iraq, officials will arrest and detain Iraqis or Iraq sympathizers if they are believed to be planning domestic terrorist operations.

Guest:

• Anas Shallal, Iraqi-American who is a “Partner for Peace” with the Seeds of Peace program, one of the founders of the Mesopotamia Cultural Society and business owner in Washington, D.C.