FBI 'Unprepared For New Attacks'

BBC ^ | 11-12-2002

[blam]

Tuesday, 12 November, 2002, 13:06 GMT

FBI 'unprepared for new attacks'

Critics say the FBI is failing to get enough information

A senior American senator has said the FBI is unprepared to prevent new terror strikes on US soil.

They still don't know where the terrorists are, how many are here, what their intentions are, what kind of support network they have

Senator Bob Graham

Senator Bob Graham, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told The Washington Post that the bureau lacked knowledge of any domestic terror network.

Senator Graham is said to have been briefed regularly on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's plans and its knowledge of suspected terrorists based in the US.

"They still don't know where the terrorists are, how many are here, what their intentions are, what kind of support network they have," he was quoted as saying, 14 months after the al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington.

FBI officials disagree with their critics and say they are taking every possible measure to prevent new attacks.

"We are doing things far beyond what has been done before," an official familiar with the FBI's efforts told The Washington Post.

Status unknown

Other intelligence agencies also are said to have increased their activities in the hunt for suspected militants.

The CIA killed alleged al-Qaeda members in an operation in Yemen

Last week, the CIA fired a missile at a car in Yemen, killing six suspected members of al-Qaeda.

But several key members of the group's leadership remain at large.

US officials believe many are laying low in Pakistan.

Osama Bin Laden's whereabouts and status remain unknown, although many CIA and military officials say they assume he is alive.

They believe he is in the mountains along the Afghan-Pakistani border.

Recent communications said to be from the al-Qaeda leader give no clues as to their origins, and officials say it is possible they were made some time ago.

European alert

There have been concerns of possible new attacks in the US and in Europe as well.

Senator Graham said he wanted to see a sense of urgency

Ferry ports across the UK have been put on a high state of alert following warnings of an attack on a ferry from French and Dutch intelligence services.

The information was said to have originated from the FBI.

But the British Government said no-one should change their travel plans as there had been no new specific information.

Revenge warning

Security experts have been reported as saying that if military action is launched against Baghdad, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein might seek help from outlawed groups for acts of revenge against the West.

But Senator Graham said he had not seen signs of any increase in pace as the arguments with Iraq intensified.

"No evidence I've seen shows they have a sense of urgency or a thoughtful plan or very much information to predicate a plan on," he said.

According to The Washington Post, he is not alone in his concerns.

Members of the US Congress and the US National Security Council as well as intelligence experts are discussing the FBI's ability to convert from a criminal justice agency into a national investigatory body, it said.

[Pern]

They aren't called 'Famous, But Incompetent' for nothing!

[LibertarianInExile]

I wish I could say that I disagreed with 'moderate Bob,' but I don't.

But I do think that one big reason he's spouting is because he's looking to keep up his press coverage. He could be on the Dem ticket in the next election. He's a prime VP pick: if there is ever a swing state he could help, it's Florida. He's just not telegenic enough to lead the ticket, but he could be the perfect Cheney to Gray Davis...just wait and see.

[blam]

"Was Bob one of the suspects in the classified release of info last year? (The 9/11 taped conversations)."

I haven't heard anything about that investigation lately, have you?

[Zathras]

Thats not true!
They are perfectly prepared assuming the terrorists are white and drive a white van.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Why anyone would believe one thing Senator Bob "I love liars like Buba" Graham would say is beyond me. This guy has the integrity of a molesting priest. We can't wait to vote this bum out and get someone with some hutspa in there. Graham's a coward, always has been, always will be.

[Asmodeus]

The Inept FBI "302" Interview Procedure

[Nuke'm Glowing]

That should read "Bubba"...

[geopyg]

I saw Graham's interview and he has positioned himself nicely. Be critical of the FBI (and their ultimate leader - Bush) so if (when?) another terrorist attack happens he can say "I told you so". If no attack happens, he'll say "I'm glad they took my comments seriously and upgraded the defenses against Terror, and I will maintain my vigilance so that we may indeed live in the Land of the Free." (Although I didn't see any suggestions as what he would like to see be done.)

[Nuke'm Glowing]

This is the same lying Bob Graham who would not criticize Clinton's ethics, thought that the missle attack in Somalia was legit, and said that Algore was being robbed in 2000. He's a piece of garbage and us Florida pubbies plan to take him out to the curb where he belongs with the rest of the demorats down here in 2004.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Well said, Nuke'm. (^:

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Thank you Ragtime. The more we can get out on this two bit liar Klintoon clone, the more money we can raise to get rid of him. He is scum. Period. I remember his voting record, I hope everyone else does also.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

He's also under investigation for possibly funneling campaign $$$$ through an "initiatives and referendum" institute in DC. If we can get the truth about our Sr. Sen. past the Fla. press to the Fla. voters, he's out of here in 2004.

It must drive the Dems. crazy that no one pays us to do this. (^:

[Jim Noble]

How could the FBI, or anyone else, know "where they are, how many are here" in the absence of visa tracking? What does this pompous ass think the FBI should do, monitor all the 7-11s in the country?

Fourteen months since 9-11-01, and still no interior enforcement, no visa tracking, and no moves to locate, detain, and deport illegal enemy aliens.

OK, here's what to do (and it's not the FBI's job):

GET 'EM OUT!!!

Cancel all visas from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Pakistan. Give holders of cancelled visas 48 hours to report for internment and repatriation.

Turn INS Interior Enforcement over to DOD. Begin arrests of any holders of cancelled visas immediately upon expiration of the 48-hour reporting period.

Begin military action against non-visa holding nationals of the above countries. Execute any males from the above seven countries aged 17-50 apprehended without papers or evading pre-repatriation detention.

GET 'EM OUT!!!

[blam]

Works for me.

[MHGinTN]

I'm curious, how is it that we have maps which show where terrorist cells are located? Doesn't info like that come from the pheebs? Could it be that the partisanship and leakiness of the Leahys and Grahams causes the pheebs to withhold info from such traitorous pols?

[Nuke'm Glowing]

I think it does drive them nuts. If you visit the enemy website
you notice that they freak out everytime we start posting things. I can see why. These people will protect everyone in their party, even if they are criminal or just morally bankrupt. Graham used lies and deceipt to scare the elderly into winning the last election. Now I think it's time that we say he wants to protect the terrorists by weakening our President during a time of war. The elderly will get pissed and not forget that, that's for sure, as they scare easily down here.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Don't hold your breath. There are too many liberals and socialists in the State Department and in the giant mess known as the fedgov to repair this problem in one year. It will take at least a 50,000 Americans losing their lives inside our own borders before something is done to fix the problem.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

The Leahys and Grahams are willing to sacrifice American civilian lives if it insures their re-election. I will state that and believe it because these people are morally bankrupt.