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Agent: FBI Could Have Prevented 9-11
Newsmax.com ^ | May 31, 2002 | Wes Vernon

Posted on 05/30/2002 8:36:48 PM PDT by tgslTakoma

WASHINGTON – A veteran FBI agent Thursday charged that corruption inside the bureau derailed investigations that could have averted the terrorist attacks on America on Sept. 11. His lawyers said the FBI had evidence that the World Trade Center was a possible terrorist target. In a memo written 91 days before Sept. 11, the man, Special Agent Robert G. Wright Jr., warned that Americans would die as a result of the FBI's failure to investigate terrorists living in this country.

Wright went public at a press conference even though FBI Director Robert Mueller ordered him to stay in Chicago and threatened him with criminal prosecution if he spoke publicly about the agency's wrongdoing.

"The FBI is not protecting the American people,” declared Wright at a conference sponsored by his attorneys at the public interest law firm Judicial Watch.

Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman termed Mueller’s comments Wednesday, that open criticism of him and other top FBI brass was welcome, were nothing more than "politically convenient statements.”

'They Got Caught'

"They said that because they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar,” declared Klayman, referring to a memo written by FBI legal counsel Coleen Rowley. She alleged in a memo that the FBI could have prevented the 9-11 attacks and that Mueller, though new to the job, has covered up for senior FBI officials.

Klayman said Mueller’s reorganization plan announced this week was noting more than "icing over a stale cake."

Wright produced a sworn statement relating to an FBI agent who refused to record a telephone conversation during the meeting with a suspect in an FBI criminal investigation related to terrorism.

Muslim Agent 'Does Not Record Another Muslim'!

The agent in question is quoted in two sworn statements, one by Wright and the other by retired agent Barry Carmody, as refusing to record the conversation because "a Muslim does not record another Muslim.”

Carmody’s statement said that refusal "may have negatively impacted the conduct of the FBI’s investigation. I informed FBI headquarters twice about this incident in 1998 and again in 2000, but I am aware of no disciplinary action being taken against him in this matter.”

Wright, whose whistle-blowing was first reported by NewsMax.com weeks ago, urged the Bush administration and Congress to "consider removing terrorism investigative matters from the hands of the FBI. For reasons of consistency, reliability and national security, these responsibilities should be assigned to a new federal Anti-Terrorism Agency.”

The assets of the Drug Enforcement Agency could be used to fund an anti-terrorism agency, he said. "Simply switch the terrorism responsibilities of the FBI with the nation’s illegal drug responsibilities.

FBI's Gross Incompetence

"Knowing what I know,” Wright continued, "I can confidently say that until the investigative responsibilities for terrorism are transferred from the FBI, I will not feel safe.”

The agent, stationed in Chicago and now demoted to "meaningless paper-pushing” work, according to Klayman, charged the FBI "cannot identify and prevent acts of terrorism against the United States and its citizens at home and abroad.”

Even worse, he said, there is "virtually no effort on the part of the FBI’s International Terrorism Unit to neutralize known and suspected terrorists residing in the United States. Unfortunately, more terrorist attacks against the American interests, coupled with the loss of American lives, will have to occur before those in power give this matter the urgent attention it deserves.”

By phone from his law office in Chicago, Wright’s lead attorney, David Schippers, who represented the House Judiciary Committee in its impeachment of Bill Clinton, chided the FBI for dropping the ball in dealing with domestic and international radical Islamic "charities" that were laundering money on American soil through U.S. financial institutions and other channels.

Stopping Muslim Terrorism Isn't P.C.

Had the bureau not been cowed by "political correctness,” Schippers said, the money for much terrorist activity "would have been cut off.”

In his opening statement, Judicial Watch’s Klayman said the FBI had threatened Wright with his job if he were to go ahead and tell his story either in media statements or in a book he has been writing.

When Wright attempted to travel to Washington on his own time to meet with members of Congress about the FBI’s incompetence and dereliction of duty regarding terrorism during the week after Sept. 11, his attorneys were threatened by the Justice Department, which oversees the bureau.

Klayman says Attorney General John Ashcroft should be required to answer for that interference. Moreover, the FBI informed Wright he could not travel outside of the Chicago division without the express permission of the bureau.

The Judicial Watch counsel said the FBI did have intelligence about terrorist activity planned against the World Trade Center and "other monuments.”

Wright listed several major failures of the FBI. They included lack of high-quality managers and modern computer technology, failure to modernize investigative objectives to deal with the new terrorist threat, too many investigative violations, incompetent managers not held accountable for their mistakes, an internal affairs unit that was "bias[ed] and unfair” to whistle-blowers and others, criminal conflicts that have "contributed to the preventable deaths of American citizens," and FBI duplication of the investigative jurisdictions of other federal law enforcement agencies such as the DEA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

"I love America, and likewise I love the FBI, particularly its purpose and mission” Wright told reporters at the National Press Club, "However, the mission has been seriously jeopardized to the point where American lives have been needlessly lost.”

At the news conference, in answer to questions from NewsMax.com, Klayman said he hoped Congress would use its subpoena powers to require Wright and responsible officials to testify.

He also told NewsMax that if the FBI tries to drive Wright out of the bureau by isolating him and passing him up for promotions, "he will be a rich man,” because Judicial Watch would take necessary legal action to see that the powers that be do not get away with this familiar bureaucratic tactic of retaliation.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alqaida; espionagelist; fbi; inexcusablescrewups; terrorism; terrorwar
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CSPAN-2 aired this news conference live today. It will be re-aired tonight/tomorrow (May 31) on CSPAN-2 at 2:45 and 8:15 am EST.

Why don't y'all do what FReepers used to do... Watch it and decide for yourself. View it from your own POV and disregard the nasty comments sure to show up here from the usual gang of Klayman-bashers and Schippers-haters.

1 posted on 05/30/2002 8:36:49 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
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To: tgslTakoma
Where is J. Edgar Hoover when we need him?
2 posted on 05/30/2002 8:40:45 PM PDT by Commander8
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To: tgslTakoma;AF_Blue
Bumping and pinging!
3 posted on 05/30/2002 8:45:09 PM PDT by TruthNtegrity
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To: tgslTakoma
... The agent in question is quoted in two sworn statements, one by Wright and the other by retired agent Barry Carmody, as refusing to record the conversation because "a Muslim does not record another Muslim" ...
Suicide murder, killing civilians, targeting journalists--that's OK. But recording another Muslim? Why, that's haram.
4 posted on 05/30/2002 8:45:37 PM PDT by Asclepius
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To: tgslTakoma
News today had them recruiting at the local Mosque,"come be an Islamic Robert Hanson",surely fieldcraft would have such recruits as operatives and informers not EMPLOYEES!!!
5 posted on 05/30/2002 8:45:49 PM PDT by Governor StrangeReno
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To: tgslTakoma
I wont bash anybody, but it would stand to reason that we were sitting ducks at any given time during Clinton's administration. It was truly by God's grace that we were not hit to the extent that destruction could have happened. Everyone was asleep at the wheel just trying to keep Clinton in office without being removed.

What angers me now is to continuously hear information in the public of how much the FBI knew and when they knew it. At what point will individuals begin to lose their jobs or demotions begin to happen? To take a failed corporation and just reshuffle those who are incompetent will not accomplished the desired goal.

6 posted on 05/30/2002 8:47:53 PM PDT by swheats
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To: tgslTakoma
"...if the FBI tries to drive Wright out of the bureau by isolating him and passing him up for promotions, "he will be a rich man,” because Judicial Watch would take necessary legal action to see that the powers that be do not get away with this familiar bureaucratic tactic of retaliation..."
********************

I bet that scares the FBI.
Has Judicial Watch ever won a case?

7 posted on 05/30/2002 8:48:56 PM PDT by exodus
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To: tgslTakoma;OKCSubmariner;iwentsouth;aristeides;rdavis
Thank you!

Yes, FBI-Mueller and CIA-Tenet and Ashcroft and Bush and Condi could have prevented 9/11 if any of them knew what they were supposed to do.

But no, all they know is running around,campaigning for cash, chasing phantoms.

Posing and posturing!

Fire them all!

8 posted on 05/30/2002 8:55:27 PM PDT by Betty Jo
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To: swheats
I wont bash anybody, but it would stand to reason that we were sitting ducks at any given time during Clinton's administration. It was truly by God's grace that we were not hit to the extent that destruction could have happened. Everyone was asleep at the wheel just trying to keep Clinton in office without being removed.."
# 6 by swheats
********************

This can't be blamed on Clinton.
Everyone, especially Republicans, knew the damage Clinton did to our security.
Everyone, especially after Waco, knew that the FBI was both incompetent AND corrupt.

This problem can't be laid at the feet of Bill Clinton.
The Republicans are in charge.

9 posted on 05/30/2002 8:57:06 PM PDT by exodus
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To: exodus
Read FISA and Teddy Kennedy to see who hand tied the Local Agents
10 posted on 05/30/2002 9:04:09 PM PDT by scooby321
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To: exodus
This can't be blamed on Clinton. Everyone, especially Republicans, knew the damage Clinton did to our security. Everyone, especially after Waco, knew that the FBI was both incompetent AND corrupt. This problem can't be laid at the feet of Bill Clinton. The Republicans are in charge.

Yes Republicans are in charge and I can only hope that Bush will start taking names, and tells the incompetent ones it's been nice but you've outserved your time with the FBI, CIA, Justice Department and any other Departments that have lost sight of their purpose in working for the American people.

Everyone, especially Republicans, knew the damage Clinton did to our security. Look at least keep your argument consistant. From what you wrote it's apparent Clinton does share a large portion of the blame. But that is dark history right now.

11 posted on 05/30/2002 9:05:53 PM PDT by swheats
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To: tgslTakoma
Why don't y'all do what FReepers used to do... Watch it and decide for yourself. View it from your own POV and disregard the nasty comments sure to show up here from the usual gang of Klayman-bashers and Schippers-haters.
# 1 by tgslTakoma
********************

I bash Klayman because he doesn't seem to do anything.

I love Schippers.
I'd vote Democrat if he would run for office.

12 posted on 05/30/2002 9:07:19 PM PDT by exodus
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To: tgslTakoma
Why don't y'all do what FReepers used to do... Watch it and decide for yourself."

Most of them have already made up their minds. Something like: 'Thou shalt not speak unkindly towards the President and the national treasures (I actually read someone making a comment like that about one of them), in his administration.'

That news conference doesn't cover the half of it, and even without it, if one but connects the dots, the image revealed thereby is in itself, terrifying.

God Save the Republic (because the Republicrats sure won't)!

13 posted on 05/30/2002 9:09:05 PM PDT by Washington_minuteman
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To: tgslTakoma
Well , read The Secret Life of Bill Clinton and perhaps gain some insight into why the FBI is so corrupt and screwed up!
I have my doubts that anyone could have prevented this, especially after this nation has become so PC that known enemies of ours are welcomed into our shores, and given welfare to boot.
14 posted on 05/30/2002 9:10:17 PM PDT by ladyinred
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To: scooby321
Read FISA and Teddy Kennedy to see who hand tied the Local Agents
# 10 by scooby321
********************

The FBI is under the direct control of the President.
The local agents aren't the only problem.
The leadership is corrupt.

Bush didn't fire even one man..
The President didn't do his job.

15 posted on 05/30/2002 9:11:06 PM PDT by exodus
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To: tgslTakoma
BTW: I am a little appalled that this FBI director is being the fall guy. He had been in office about 10 minutes when this happened. What about Louie, the most corrupt regime known to man's appointee?
Personally I believe he was handpicked by the Clintons to help hinder the agencies effectiveness.
Where are the cries about this?
16 posted on 05/30/2002 9:13:19 PM PDT by ladyinred
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To: swheats
Everyone, especially Republicans, knew the damage Clinton did to our security.- exodus

Look at least keep your argument consistant. From what you wrote it's apparent Clinton does share a large portion of the blame. But that is dark history right now.
# 11 by swheats
********************

I could share blame all the way back to Lincoln.
Bush is in charge now, and he had plenty of time to fix the problem.

17 posted on 05/30/2002 9:16:40 PM PDT by exodus
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To: ladyinred
"...I have my doubts that anyone could have prevented this, especially after this nation has become so PC that known enemies of ours are welcomed into our shores, and given welfare to boot."
# 14 by ladyinred
********************

I realize that I'm going to sound like a broken record,
but the President personifies the Executive Branch.
He has total control over his subordinate's actions.
He is charged with defending our nation.

Bush failed.
And he hasn't done anything to date that makes me feel safer.

18 posted on 05/30/2002 9:22:46 PM PDT by exodus
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To: swheats
To take a failed corporation and just reshuffle those who are incompetent will not accomplished the desired goal.
# 6 by swheats
********************

It's more than just incompetence.
The people who planned the murders at Waco still have a government job.

19 posted on 05/30/2002 9:26:36 PM PDT by exodus
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To: *TerrorWar;*Espionage_list

20 posted on 05/30/2002 9:31:07 PM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP
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