[pointsal]

I suppose that means the FBI is admitting a lack of competence when it comes to vetting the job applicants?

[muawiyah]

Concerning the FBI's competency, we know they are not competent to find the anthrax attackers, but when it comes to your more humdrum type of investigation, they have a lot of that contracted out ~ particularly if it also involves Department of Defense activities.

The problem with any foreign born person and the basic security clearance background check is getting around and doing a short interview with folks who knew them "way back when".

Before 9/11 there was a tremendous backlog in getting background checks done. After 9/11 it only got worse.

Darned shame FBI hasn't been prepared to do all of it's own clearances for a couple of decades.