Not denying the charges: FBI Director MuellerPosted on 05/24/2002 10:25:27 PM PDT by Spar
Why Didn't the FBI Fully Investigate Moussaoui?
In a letter to bureau chief Robert Mueller, an FBI agent speaks out against what she calls a 'climate of fear' that prevented agents from doing their jobs
BY MICHAEL WEISSKOPF
Not denying the charges: FBI Director Mueller
Thursday, May. 23, 2002
In the hours after September 11th, FBI agents in Minneapolis shared a macabre joke. For weeks prior, they had tried to interest FBI headquarters in Washington in Zacarias Moussaoui, now known as the 20th hijacker. They had begged FBI Headquarters to give them permission to seek a search warrant of Moussaoui's computer. They were denied. In their frustration, they joked that headquarters back in Washington must be infiltrated by agents of Osama Bin Laden. Why else would their work have been thwarted?
This disturbing story is told in a 13-page, single-spaced letter written to FBI Director Robert Mueller by Colleen Rowley. The letter, portions of which TIME magazine has obtained, chronicle the efforts of Rowley, the Minneapolis Chief Division Counsel, to get the FBI interested in Moussaoui. Moussaoui was arrested in August on a visa violation after the Minnesota flight school at which the French national was taking lessons notified the FBI about his suspicious behavior.
Much of the letter recounts Rowley's efforts to convince FBI headquarters to pursue a search warrant of Moussaoui's computer. The FBI maintained that probable cause did not exist and that a warrant would not be approved by the U.S. Attorney. Rowley argues forcefully that a warrant was indeed appropriate, citing French intelligence reports given to the bureau that linked Moussaoui with radical Islamic causes.
The letter portrays the FBI as a place where agents are thwarted from doing their job by a "climate of fear." She writes: "Numerous high-ranking FBI officials who have made decisions or have taken actions which, in hindsight, turned out to be mistaken or just turned out badly (i.e. Ruby Ridge, Waco, etc.) have seen their careers plummet and end. This has in turn resulted in a climate of fear which has chilled aggressive FBI law enforcement action/decisions. In a large hierarchical bureaucracy such as the FBI, with the requirement for numerous supervisors' approvals/oversight, the premium on career enhancement, and interjecting a chilling factor brought on by recent extreme public congressional criticism/oversight, and I think you will see at least the makings of the most likely explanation."
As an example she claims that a supervisory special agent at headquarters balked at approving a request for a warrant because the French intelligence information might be "worthless." Why? The supervisor was concerned that the French only identified Moussaoui by name and that there might be more than one Zacarias Moussaoui in France.
Rowley, an agent at the bureau for more than two decades, describes herself as a whistleblower and asks Mueller not to take retribution against her for her criticisms. She said she wrote her letter "from the heart." Rowley did not return calls from TIME.
While explicitly saying that she does not believe the FBI director engaged in a cover up she accuses Mueller and senior officials at FBI headquarters of having "omitted, downplayed, glossed over and/or mischaracterized" her office's investigation of Moussaoui "in an effort to avoid or minimize personal and/or institutional embarrassment on the part of the FBI and/or perhaps even for improper political reasons."
Rowley takes aim at what she characterized as Mueller's assertion after September 11 that the FBI may have been able to prevent the attack if it had had advanced warning. She said that she made numerous efforts before writing this letter, dated May 21 of this year, to make it clear that there had, indeed, been such a warning. She attributes the revisionism of FBI leaders to a "circle the wagons" mentality "in an apparent effort to protect the FBI from embarrassment and the relevant FBI officials from scrutiny."
Rowley says that had the FBI supported instead of stymied the Minneapolis investigation the bureau may have uncovered other terrorists in flight training but she does not go so far as to say that the 9/11 attacks might have been prevented entirely.
FBI director Mueller isn't denying Rowley's charges. He said Thursday night he has asked Justice Department Inspector General Glen Fine to investigate her claims. "While I cannot comment on the specifics of the letter, I am convinced that a different approach is required," Mueller said. "New strategies, new technologies, new analytical capacities and a different culture make us an agency that is changing post 9/11. There is no room for the types of problems and attitudes that could inhibit our efforts."
(i love doing this)
On a serious note --- my first thought is that Hanssen is a just one traitor in a crowd of traitors working as FBI agents.
This statement is one of the most sickening things that I've seen printed in a long time. Waco and Ruby Ridge were mistakes because both involved an attempt by the federal government to harass people who were minding their own business and who happened to be gun owners. Real Americans have never failed to support the FBI when it seeks to investigate evidence of foreign terrorists planning violent actions in this country. However, neither of the examples mentioned fell into this category. In case this idiot doesn't realize it, there's a big difference between searching a foreigner's computer and shooting a 14-year-old boy in the back or shooting a woman holding a baby. For FBI agents who haven't figured it out, here's a clue. When you use force against our enemies because they are trying to attack Americans, we will support you. When you become the tools and dupes of people like Bill Clinton and Sarah Brady, both of whom want to destroy our nation, we will not support you.
WFTR
Bill
Yeah, the Clintonistas.
The great turf war for the cure of systemic failure in the intelligence establishment has started. The left wants an independent commission for a reason. At first, I thought they wanted it because it would provide a vehicle to bash Bush but now I think they see it as a vehicle for the overhaul of the FBI and the Department of Justice by extension.
There is no question that the war against terrorism will result in more intrusive Federal law enforcement and intelligence apparatus. It is imperative that the left does shape the new order to its liking.
So her 'agenda' is determined by how others treat her?
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Not at all. My point is that her agenda, if any, will be REVEALED by the way the media treats her.
I disagree. I think her 'agenda' may be revealed. I do not think the way she may or may not be treated in the coming weeks is determinative of what that agenda may be.
Lets get to the issue: Her letter is filled with more than just facts about this intelligence failure. Reports indicate that it was chocked full of characterizations of upper level bungling and CYA. I am suspicious that she might have an agenda that is more than meets the eye. She may be a willing tool for a return to a Rino-like Department of Justice. Note her take on Ruby Ridge.
Now, can we move on?
I concede that she probably did her job, and brilliantly. But before we deify her and give her credibility which leaks into the policy area of reshaping the FBI the JOD and CIA, lets take a breath and see where she is coming from. Does the name Scott Ritter ring a bell?
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/689293/posts
The failures and corruption in the FBI are too widespread to just be blamed on the Clintons.
If we just use that "standard" explanation, (sorta like the FBI files excuse) we will never come close to cleaning up the mess.
Regardless of my unbounded enmity for the Clintons, they are not the source of all the Washington corruption and its just too easy to blame it all on them.
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