Posted on 08/02/2004 8:53:56 AM PDT by NCjim
At 5 p.m. Thursday, acting CIA Director John E. McLaughlin, in his other capacity as acting director of central intelligence, conducted the daily counterterrorism meeting where the first information about the latest detailed al Qaeda threats was discussed among senior CIA, FBI and military officials. They set in motion plans for antiterrorism operations in the United States and overseas, ultimately leading to yesterday's announcement of an elevated terrorism threat more specific than any the government had ever issued.
Surrounding McLaughlin were officers who once were prohibited by law or habit from working together: CIA operatives from the clandestine service who work today at the agency's Counterterrorism Center and its Terrorist Threat Integration Center; FBI agents; representatives from the National Security Agency, which intercepts communications around the world; analysts from the Defense Intelligence Agency; and senior military officers who help the CIA execute or coordinate foreign operations.
Once considered as separate as church and state in the United States, these agencies have worked together for more than two years, meeting daily at 5 p.m. in response to the missed opportunities recognized after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"Sunday's action is a classic example of how fusion [in intelligence operations] now works in the post-9/11 environment," a former senior intelligence official said yesterday.
The agencies' cooperation on planning counterterrorism activities has not been previously highlighted. Before the developments last week that led to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's announcement yesterday elevating the terror alert for the financial sector and specific buildings in Washington, New York and New Jersey, this cooperation by the FBI, CIA, NSA, DIA and military had led to the arrest of Jose Padilla in May 2002 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport for allegedly plotting possible attacks in the United States with al Qaeda.
Although federal law prevents the CIA from carrying out operations within the United States, nothing bars it from discussing plans for domestic activities with the FBI, and recent changes in the law permit more open sharing of information. For example, CIA officers are stationed at many of the FBI's joint terrorism task force centers in cities across the country.
"There is no ban on talking jointly," said a senior counterterrorism official, citing the case of someone the CIA has been surveilling overseas who arrived in the United States. "The FBI takes the lead but has CIA support in this country," he said, speaking with the understanding he would not be named.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Yes. And that wall was designed by the Democrats to protect the espionage activities of US citizens. The foreign/domestic separation between the CIA and FBI allowed US citizens to spy for the Soviet Union. If the FBI had information on a US agent, it could not be shared with the CIA and vice versa. The "Walls" only reason for existence was to protect US spies. The majority of them were "Red Diaper Doper Babies", like Gorelick.
And what is it they say about sharing intel? Oh, yeah - "Big Brother"!!!!
Big Bro is watching THEM, too.
Limbaugh: The Gorelick wall has come down. Our intelligence services just keep getting better and better. Thanks to Pres. George W. Bush.
Dean says its just a political trick by the Bush bunch.
LOL. Limbaugh's ripping the Dems a new one. Someone should ask Jean if he agrees with Howie.
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