Midday Roundup: Tracking terrorists' digital messages is nearly impossible

Connecting the dots. The FBI is digging through the digital footprint left by Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik to determine whether the couple had contact with overseas terror groups before launching the San Bernardino, Calif., attack that left 14 dead and 21 wounded. But tracing the messages is proving difficult. Officials faced similar problems decoding messages sent by at least one of the men who attacked a “Draw Mohammed” event in Garland, Texas, in May. Investigators found 109 encrypted messages the attacker sent to suspected militants overseas, but so far they have not been able to crack the code to read what they said. FBI Director James Comey is lobbying for tech companies to create a “back door” in private messaging apps that would allow police to read communications sent between terror suspects. So far, U.S. companies have resisted such a move, noting plenty of private messaging apps are developed by overseas companies not subject to U.S. regulation. And even if all companies could be persuaded to unlock their customers’ messages, terror groups would not. Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) and other groups are creating their own communication apps for fighters and would-be recruits.

Half measures? The U.S. military is prepared to send more personnel and equipment to Iraq, where local forces have advanced on Ramadi. Defense Secretary Ash Carter pledged “additional unique capabilities” to help the Iraqis retake the city from ISIS, including attack helicopters and accompanying advisers. But America will not be sending a large ground force back into the country. That’s exactly what Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., believes is necessary to defeat the Islamic militants. Half-measures won’t cut it, McCain insisted, and in the wake of last week’s attack in California, the United States must do whatever is necessary to defeat the terror group. “Whatever illusions anyone may have had that our national security was not at stake in the conflict in Iraq and Syria, or that ISIL was somehow contained … these attacks make it clear that ISIL’s threat against our homeland is real, direct, and growing.”

High court do-over. The Supreme Court scrutinized affirmative action again yesterday in a case that could eliminate race as a consideration in college admissions. Abigail Fisher’s lawyers argued for the second time before the high court that she was denied admittance to the University of Texas at Austin because she is white. Minority students with lower grades and fewer extracurricular activities were admitted. Two years ago, the court returned her case to the lower court for re-evaluation under strict scrutiny standards. Justice Anthony Kennedy in that ruling set out the obligations of both universities and courts: “To determine that the admissions processes ensure that each applicant is evaluated as an individual—not in a way that makes an applicant’s race or ethnicity the defining feature of his or her application.” The lower court still found the college’s admissions criteria constitutional, prompting Fisher’s current appeal. Past Supreme Court rulings permit race as a consideration to foster diversity on campus, as long as quotas are not used.

Bad for your health? The fees for opting out of Obamacare in 2016 will be steeper than expected, according to a new analysis released this week by the Kaiser Family Foundation. All those eligible to buy insurance through the federal marketplace but who remain uninsured will face a penalty of nearly $1,000, about a 50 percent increase from the 2015 fees. For families who earn too much to qualify for subsidies, the penalty is an average of almost $1,500. The Kaiser Family Foundation speculates the increase in penalty fees could influence future enrollment numbers. Open enrollment for 2016 runs through Jan. 31, but those wanting coverage by Jan. 1 must sign up by Dec. 15.

WORLD Radio’s Mary Reichard and Christina Darnell contributed to this report.