FBI (Federal Bureau of Incompetence) at it again.

Newsmax, FoxNews | 10/28/2001 | Newsmax

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

FBI (Federal Bureau of Incompetence) at it again.

Where is Inspector Clouseau?

Sunday Oct. 28, 2001; 10:33 a.m. EST

FBI Testing Atta's Car, Residence, for Anthrax

In response to reports that the FBI had overlooked leads tying Twin Tower kamikaze hijacker Mohamed Atta to the recent wave of anthrax attacks on the U.S., the bureau now plans to test Atta's rental car and Florida residence for the presence of the deadly bacteria.

The decision to probe a possible Atta anthrax connection, first reported by Fox News Channel late Saturday, comes after a report last week that the FBI had specifically declined to sweep Atta's car and home for traces of the bioterror agent.

"In Florida, agents haven't tested cars or residences used by some of the hijackers, including those of Mohamed Atta," the Wall Street Journal revealed Thursday. "FBI officials said testing isn't a priority, because they assume that by now, the hijackers' cars and apartments would have been cleaned, removing any trace of anthrax."

"At this time, there are no plans to go back and check (Atta's car and apartment) for traces of anthrax," Special Agent Rene Salinas told the paper just four days ago.

The FBI has previously tested Atta's other personal effects, such as clothing he left behind, for anthrax traces.

Weeks before the Sept. 11 attacks, Atta and several of his fellow hijackers were spotted at Florida airfields inquiring about renting crop-dusting airplanes, a move investigators suspect may have been linked to bioterrorism.

Atta was also reportedly spotted in a Florida pharmacy with reddened hands; a symptom some say could have been caused by anthrax contamination.

[Eagle74]

Meanwhile, we're all supposed to be ignorant enough to believe that these events are unconnected, that while Atta may have lived within a mile of the American Media building, and rented a room from the wife of a poisoned man, it's all merely a huge coincidence. The real people behind the anthrax attacks, you know, are those pesky right-wingers, the ones who have created such a problem for the wonderful FBI.

Can't you just see some Iraqi intelligence agent telling Atta to attack the american media. So, he goes to the phone book and looks for the american media, and surprise, surprise, there it is with an address and every thing.

[Eagle74]

Are you blithering idiots paying attention to what patriotic Americans think of you?

We are patriotic Americans. And it is our patriotic Duty, to point out when we think the government is making mistakes. The people in government are human afterall, and they do make mistakes. We patriots must be exceptionally vigilant, now that the nation is a war, and mistakes by those in government, result in lost lives.

[Eagle74]

Why doesn't Ashcroft get on their butts? Because he is too preoccupied in wiretapping anybody and everybodies phones and computers. Why weren't these held over people from Clintons years let go? The more I see of our gov. the more I feel we deserve what we get.

I agree with you. Seeing some bureaucratic heads roll, would galvanize the federal government.

[rebdov]

Tell me it ain't so.

[marajade]

You know with all the fourth amendment wackos posting here on FR lately you can't have it both ways. Maybe they didn't have any indicators that might have led them to believe there was antrax at first. I mean one could simply hide it in something as simple as a baby powder container and not think twice about it. I'm willing to give the FBI a break.

[rebdov]

I heard one official say that it probably is home-grown because it doesn't fit Al-Qeda's pattern. How in the world have they already figured out Al-Qeda's pattern? What pattern? I only know about 911. Did that make the pattern?

[marajade]

Again we still have those here at FR wanting Ashcroft to expend his energy going after Clinton and alleged campaign money from China.

Just how should Ashcroft expend his personnel resources?

[marajade]

"I heard one official say that it probably is home-grown because it doesn't fit Al-Qeda's pattern."

How do you suppose they solve any crime? Solving crimes is all about patterns.

[rebdov]

How in the world from ONE incident do you determine a pattern?!!!!

[marajade]

Last I counted there was plenty of incidents: ABC, CBS, NBC, The Inquirer.

[rebdov]

How did they determine that it must be homegrown terrorism because it does not fit AL-Qeda's pattern. WHAT PATTERN DOES AL-QEDA HAVE?

[marajade]

"How did they determine that it must be homegrown terrorism because it does not fit AL-Qeda's pattern."

How do we know they have?

[Yup!!]

How in the world from ONE incident do you determine a pattern?!!!!

Thats why they are the "professionals" and you, well, are not. LOL!

[monkeywrench]

Another one willing to give them a break. After how many years of breaks? When is enough?

[88keys]

You may call me the "cock-eyed optimist" (in the words of some old musical) but I think the "assumption" that the apartments/cars have been cleaned is valid (yes, check out the cleaners) while I don't think your second assumption necessarily is (re: the FBI assuming a right-wing local is responsible). The optimism comes in in that I'm pretty sure (or at least hopefull) that the FBI's getting a real close look from this administration...(with so much on their plate, don't expect really fast results, but I do think they'll get done what needs to get done, and expect a return to integrity...!)

[Young Werther]

In the Jon Benet case the police waited 14 or so months before they conducted a door to door to see whether the neighbors had seen anything suspicious on the night of the crime. Good police work, huh?

Haven't any of these crime stoppers watched an episode of Columbo?

[Looking4Truth]

The problem is LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY. If you or I (the little people) leave out a comma or don't dot an "I" or cross a "T" there is hell to pay. There is none of that when a member of the bureaucracy does things ten times worse by commission or by omission. (Can you tell I am a small business owner?)

Yeah, I sure can. I've worked in public and private sector and I have to agree with you 100%.

I've met a lot of people who don't want to start a business because of the government regulations and paperwork. They end up becoming 'contractors' and take cash jobs.

Once at a private company, I got chewed on unofficially by upper management because I hired a black woman I had gone to school with. They let it be known that they didn't want to be open to any lawsuits. Seem they had prior experience with a 'quota filler' type in the past.

Oh my, now I've gone and done it. I'm sure that the FBI is going to cease all current investigations and come after me for revealing that I've had conversations with people who work under the table and dealings with managers who didn't want to get burned in a bogus discrimination suit.

[nicmarlo]

I do think they'll get done what needs to get done, and expect a return to integrity...!

Integrity . . . now there's a word missing from the previous administration's vocabulary. If only the people who have been installed by the previous administration would take it out, dust it off, and remember what it means and how to use it. W. and his cabinet can't be the only ones with this important and necessary character trait to steer the ship back on course.

[freddy]

IMO...
We will NEVER see the pilots/crew be allowed to carry guns that shoot REAL bullets...

[marajade]

What would you suggest to them to help in their investigative effort to find who the perpretrator is?