I think you've narrowed in on the crux of the problem. the "national crime database," if there is one, is not working. Information is not shared -- from one jurisdiction to another, from the federal to the local level, and in this case, as even the PC Washington Post reported, it was not even filtered down from the task force to the LEO's on the street in Maryland.
Take just one part of this mess: the murder in Alabama. A local cop got a good look at Muhammad, and Malvo's fingerprint was left on the scene. Now, Alabama LE is decidedly not PC, and wanted this perp badly. Muhammad's photo had to be on file in at least two jurisdictions, since he was arrested in Miami by the INS for possessing false ID and skipped on a court appearance in Tacoma for shoplifting. In addition, neighbors in the California town where he lived when stationed at Fort Ord report that they were questioned about him by the FBI in 1992, and two people in Bellingham reported him to the FBI, in 2001, and as late as July, 2002. The booking picture currently being used on TV is from one of those incidents. Malvo's fingerprints were on file with the INS in Spokane, where he was imprisoned for immigration violations.
These are incidents that have been reported in the last few days from various locations; given Muhammad's background, I would suspect there are many more brushes with the law that may never get reported.
So, given these facts, how did Alabama LE catch up with Muhammad and Malvo? Because Malvo, in a note left at the Ponderosa, and a phone call to a local priest, bragged about the shooting in Alabama.
IMO, this case is the textbook example of what's wrong with our LE and INS system -- the system that terrorists, criminals and illegal aliens have exploited, not because they possess overwhelming intelligence (in fact, many of them are dumb as dirt), but because the system literally invites them to exploit it -- with PC, culturally and racially-sensitive attitudes that have permeated LE from the federal level to the cop on the street.
We keep hearing about the "tremendous resources" the FBI and ATF brought to this case, and we have not one iota of proof of that, unless you want to include the automotive profilers who did such a fine job in identifying the sniper's vehicle, and the probable race of the perps.
We heard the "Rapid Start" tip system authoritatively described on TV by "experts" as a "computerized" method of sorting tips and matching similarities. The Washington Post reported on 10/23, that "Rapid Start" was nothing more than multi-carbon, handwritten forms, often handed out in duplicate, with two or more LEO's wasting their time chasing the same tip at the same time. According to the story, "The system handling the huge volume of leads, dubbed "Rapid Start" in the days after Sept. 11, is anything but that, say some police and FBI sources who have called it "Rapid Stop."
We've heard about the FBI's "terrorist database" -- it's apparently so efficient that at least two cities -- Houston and Boston -- compiled their own databases in frustration with being unable to link to the FBI system.
Mueller moaned to Congress early this year that the database doesn't have a "sounds-like" or alternate spelling feature, so if names (many times Arab names, which are spelled every which-way all over the globe) are not put in with the exact spelling, a match won't be returned. That feature hasn't been fixed.
Does the FBI's apparent computer illiteracy stem from lack of sophistication/funding, or the convenience of using lack of technology to mask their unwillingness to share information with local LE? Since the problem has existed for years, despite millions of dollars allocated for technology upgrades, I think we all know the answer.
Malvo's prints are on a magazine cartridge in Alabama. I believe his prints are also with the INS as well as Muhammed's.
Apparently there is no loop for matching so what's the point.
Again and again, INS is the weakness AND the uncooperative member of the team.
Every immigrant and/or visitor should be fingerprinted. Hearings should be immediate as well as a trip to the docks.
The Computer: One female officer said they had a computer and she could see the blue screen glowing. She didn't think that was unusual??? They hardly looked like businessmen. "No gut instincts"?? She's in the wrong profession.
Moose: Was sworn in on Aug. 2, 1999 at the University of Maryland, Shady Grove Center in Rockville.
He was pinned by Robert Lamb, Jr. of Seattle, Washington.
Earlier in 1999, in Oregon, Moose brought about a resolution against racial profiling. The DOJ officials said it was the first in the nation.
At one point in time during this, Moose said something about suggesting a particular group. I believe he had this in his head and failed to alert "everyone" to his "gut feeling".
We're all glad this is over. We need to learn from our mistakes.
The INS needs a total revamping. They are supposed to be on our side but they keep shooting us in the foot.
I do not think think the $10 mil was part of the original plan and we've lost sight of the possibility of what it really was. BUSHmaster says it all.