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| FBI the problem, not the solution! |
| 2005-06-20 |
| FBI Failed to Hire, Promote Terror Experts (WAPO/AP) In hundreds of pages of sworn testimony obtained by The Associated Press, senior FBI managers argued repeatedly that Middle East and anti-terrorism experience aren't required for promotion and that they see little difference between solving a traditional crime and a terror attack. THAT is why we will have another 9/11 type attack: The FBI refuses to treat terrorism like it should. Internal counter-intel and security should be taken away formt he FBI, given to the DHS - and a new organization formed with powers and accountability for Counter-Intelligence, Coutnerterrorism, and security of the US. IT falls under DHS, and would report to the Director of National Intelligence, liek the CIA, DIA, and NSA, whith whom it would work. Strip the FBI of all this and turn it into what it wants to be: federal police. |
| Posted by:OldSpook |
| #11 Well, this was telling enough: I know personally of a young man in his late 20's. Fluent in Arabic, Saudi dialect. Former US Army Intel Analyst (thats how I know him), solid clearances, a pile of accesses, SSBI, CI & Lifestyle polygraph, etc. Been working as a computer programmer with a defense contractor since he got out of the Army in 1999 (disability). Tried to get hired by the FBI in 2001, right after 9/11. Turned down, no reason given. Tried again in 2003. Turned him down as not having enough "law enforcement background". I got him on elsewhere. But the FBI really passed up a good chance to hire in an intel pro, because his background was military (not law enforcement), his degree was engineering (not social science or criminal justice), and I think there may have been a bit of prejudice in that he is of Iranian descent (3rd generation American) and is very "Arab" looking (instead of Persian) when he has gotten a lot of sun. The FBI is broekn when it comes to CI and CT, especially preventative or preemtpive cross-agency CT. Most FBI people I have worked with have ben competent, but snobs when it comes to intel on US soil, thinking they know it all and that other agencies dont have anything of value to contribute. Thats just opinion. Others experiences may differ. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-06-20 21:15 |
| #10 Olde DOA joke: Administrative Assistant to the UnderSecretary: "what on earth happend? Why are you crying?" Assistant UnderSecretary of Agriculture: "My farmer died!" |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-20 17:11 |
| #9 One of the ironies with the FBI and intel applicants is that their Human Resources is the biggest obstacle to bringing on experienced and willing intel folks. I refer to the failed attempt by the FBI to hire on hundreds of new intel folks last summer. Overall, it was a failure. The announcements and criteria were well done, but the process was a failure. Many folks with an intel background, languages, and expensive security backgrounds were stunned to find that their application efforts were pointless and suspiciously handled. I encourage no one but the traditional law enforcement disciplines pursue a career with the FBI. They do great work in most areas, but intel is not one of them. Its a management problem since the leadership is lacking. The Dept of Agriculture runs a better information collection, analysis and dissemination system than the FBI. Thats one reason we lead the world in agro-superiority. Shhh! Don't tell nobody! |
| Posted by: Flavins Flineque6690 2005-06-20 13:04 |
| #8 I'll say it again, in the hopes that somebody will hear me. What's wrong with the FBI is that all they do is collect information while the bad guys root and multiply. Oh sure every so often, they take down a Escobar or a mob boss, but usually, by the time they do, the distribution networks have been firmly established, and a new market created. The FBI is good at collecting information and doing very little of substance with it. They pride themselves on this. I'd prefer they took pride in walking downtown DC without a drug dealer to be seen - or to go downtown NY and not see everyone cow-towing to the mob bosses. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-06-20 12:38 |
| #7 Old Spook: fixed it. Does it look ok? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2005-06-20 12:27 |
| #6 Why is everyone surprised now? Just go back to perusing the press and network news of what Muller was doing after 9/11. Being PC in today's world is crazy and cozying up to organizations since shown to have terrorist links shows just how inept the FBI has been, not to mention the behaviour in response to those in the field reporting on the would be airline pilots. |
| Posted by: Cynic 2005-06-20 12:17 |
| #5 the FBI can work on fugitives and child porn cases. yeah, as if they have been successful even at that. There is a reason the mob thrives, the drug war is lost and women disappear everyday never to be found. It's cause the FBI is a failed institution. My apologies to the good FBI agents out there who work hard and do a good job - but I think we all agree the FBI is a horrid mess mired in bureaucracy, political correctness. The mob is comfortably rooted in our cities, the child porn trade thrives, drugs are openly traded on the street corners, women and children disappear daily never to be seen again. soooo...exactly what are they good at? |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-06-20 12:16 |
| #4 I'm all for stripping the FBI of all counter-terrorism. There still needs to be inter-agency communication though. I can see terrorists linking up with drug trafficers for money, smuggling, etc. But with no need to go after terrorists, the FBI can work on fugitives and child porn cases. Maybe actually do something worthwile for a change. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-06-20 11:53 |
| #3 Hear hear. Bring in some Brits to advise DHS about how to make an American MI5 and let FBI handle the mob and whatever. They're only in the counterintel business because J. Edgar Hoover won a turf war a long time ago and they've never been good at it. |
| Posted by: Jonathan 2005-06-20 11:25 |
| #2 Here is another telling comment: Dale Watson, the FBI's terrorism chief in the two years after Sept. 11, 2001 couldn't describe the difference between Shiites and Sunnis, the two major groups of Muslims. "Not technically, no," Watson answered when asked the question." The FBI's current anti-terrorism chief ... when asked about his grasp of Middle Eastern culture and history, he replied: "I wish that I had it. It would be nice." OUTRAGEOUS!! The FBI, as ignroant as they are, (and as I suspected) are STILL concentrating on law enforcement techniques - which mainly amounts to examining things AFTER THE FACT and then going after bad-guys based on what they find at the smoking crater or antrhax envelope. Thats what they knwo how to do and they apparently will not budge off their butts to change. The FBI, in general, did and continues to do, precisely dick when it comes to prevention and preemption of terrorism inside the US. Its not as active as it shoudl be and furthermore itsis taking the wrong approach - and has little to no expertise. ITs starting to show itself as a rotten agency, like the CIA has been, rife with "old-boys networks" and "do it the way we always did it" The rot of the FBI started under Louis Freeh & Janet Reno (Worst director & worst Attny General ever), and continues today. Director Mueller is NOT getting the job done and should be sacked. Just like Porter Goss was needed at CIA, we need someone to go through the FBI with a flamethrower and burn out the dead wood and complacent mind-sets that are screwing over subject matter expertise and CT/CI people in favor of thier police attitude "leaders". Will it take another 9/11 to restructure domestic intel and take it out of the hands of the plodding ignoramuses who continue lead the FBI with "its just a crime" way of thinking? President Bush - get off your ass and fire this guy - and push Congress for the reorganization that is truly needed, a new internal intel agency tasked with protecting the nation inside out borders. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-06-20 11:18 |
| #1 Eds: My comments above lost thier "hilite" please delete them other then whats hilited now. I repeat there here. Internal counter-intel and security should be taken away from the FBI, given to the DHS - and a new agency formed with powers and accountability for Counter-Intelligence, Counter-terrorism, and security of the US. THis agency would belong to DHS, and would also report to the Director of National Intelligence, like the CIA, DIA, and NSA, with whom it would work. Strip the FBI of all this and turn it into what it wants to be: federal police. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-06-20 11:04 |