We need an MI5, not an FBI

Is the FBI doing its best to combat terrorism?

No.

excerpt:


Though he's one of only six FBI agents with advanced Arabic skills, Youssef believes that, since 9/11, the FBI has blocked him from playing a significant role in the war on terror. He claims discrimination, and sued the FBI in 2003.
...
Beyond Youssef's own employment claims, depositions of nearly a dozen top FBI officials in his case have exposed what critics say are serious shortcomings in the FBI's approach to counterterrorism. The taped depositions, which have never been aired before, seem to reveal a stunning lack of knowledge about some terrorism basics.

Terrorism 101
Dale Watson, now retired, was the FBI's top counterterrorism official before and after 9/11.

In a deposition taken on Dec. 8, 2004, Youssef’s lawyer Stephen Kohn asked Watson: “Do you know who Osama bin Laden's spiritual leader was?"

Watson: Can't recall.

Lawyer: And do you know the differences in the religion between Shiite and Sunni Muslims?

Watson: Not technically, no.

John Lewis was until recently the FBI’s deputy assistant director of counterterrorism. During his deposition on May 17, 2005, he was asked if he knew the difference between Shiites and Sunnis.

Lewis: You know, generally. Not very well.

Lawyer: Was there any relationship between the first World Trade Center bombing and the 9/11 attacks?

Lewis: I'm aware of no immediate relationship other than all emanates out of the Middle East, al-Qaida linkage, I believe. Not something I've studied recently that I'm conversant with.

...

Senior FBI officials argue on the tapes that it's not necessary to have expertise in Arab culture — even in terrorism — to run the FBI's war on terror. It's leadership that matters most, they say.

"The subject-matter expertise is helpful, but it is not a prerequisite. That's not what I look for," said Gary Bald, the former executive assistant director for the National Security Branch of the FBI, in his March 14, 2005, deposition.
...
Five years after 9/11, critics say the FBI has been slow to hire agents with Arabic skills or knowledge. In fact, only 33 of the FBI’s 12,000 agents have even a limited proficiency in Arabic, the agency says. Until recently, new agents used to get just two hours of Arabic culture training at the FBI facility in Quantico, Va. They now receive 12 hours of instruction in Islam and the evolution of militant Islamic ideology, plus much more extensive counterterrorism training.


12 whole hours! Wow, they must know everything then!


The article goes on to indicate that a native Arabic speaking agent was not being used for his language skills. He went through the chain of command and they ignored him. He took it up with a Congressman which got him sidelined by the bosses at the FBI.

When the guys at the top are woefully ignorant of terrorism, arabic languages and culture they are simply not serious about this. The NYPD has these guys beat by a country mile. They have a number of native speakers who live in the suspect neighborhoods and even poached a high ranking CIA GS-13 to handle the CT portfolio. Add to that the Hercules teams and SWAT teams trained by retired SEAL and Green Berets and you have a recipe for success.

Comments

The Last Ephor said…
I think this is beyond party. Most of these guys are not appointed but rather, stick around long enough to get promoted. They're bureaucrats masquerading as cops. Presidents come and go but they'll be there for decades.
3:19 PM
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