Freeh Defends FBI's Pre-9/11 Efforts (given GOP budget actions)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3969148,00.html

Freeh Defends FBI's Pre-9/11 Efforts (given GOP budget actions)

Monday April 12, 2004 5:16 PM
By CURT ANDERSON Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former FBI Director Louis Freeh defends the bureau's efforts to combat terrorism before the 2001 attacks but says the government was not then ready to commit the resources necessary to fight a war against al-Qaida.

Freeh, in an opinion piece published in Monday's editions of The Wall Street Journal, said that ``short of total war'' the FBI did what it could given the budget and manpower it had to work with at the time. Freeh wrote. <snip>

The FBI's counterterrorism budget also reflected those pre-Sept. 11 priorities, Freeh said. For example, he said the FBI asked for 1,895 special agents, analysts and linguists in budget requests for fiscal years 2000 through 2002.

"We got 76 people for those critical years," Freeh said.

In the weeks after Sept. 11, Congress hurriedly approved money for 823 counterterrorism positions and the numbers have steadily climbed since then. <snip>

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&ncid=716&e=27&u=/latimests/20040412/ts_latimes/alonglookatresponsetobrief

A Long Look at Response to Brief (How did Bush respond to terrorists in the US to hijack an airplane or use explosives - and what did the FBI do - why did Ashcroft cut counterterrorism budget?)

Mon Apr 12, 7:55 AM ET By Peter G. Gosselin and Josh Meyer Times Staff Writers

WASHINGTON -<snip>Experts fiercely debated Sunday whether the report - titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." - constituted a substantial warning of the attacks to come or was, in the words of national security advisor Condoleezza Rice, little more than a "historical memo." <snip>

Critics contended Sunday that with its insistence that it could not have done more to thwart the attacks without further details of the terrorists' plans, the administration displayed a disturbing passivity in the weeks leading up to Sept. 11....Rand Beers, a former Bush administration counterterrorism official who is now Kerry's top advisor on national security matters, said on CNN's "Inside Politics" Sunday: "With all the information of that summer <2001>, certainly ... someone should have been out shaking the trees to find out what more we knew and what we could do about it."... Although the report was strikingly thin in places, some people familiar with such documents said it should have set off alarm bells in the White House.<snip>

It said that the agency was "conducting approximately 70 full field investigations throughout the US (details unavailable even to 911 staff?) that it considers Bin Ladin-related." But some critics were skeptical that the FBI was taking all the steps it could to track down terrorists..."All they did was send out in late June or July," said the former counterterrorism official, who spent years working closely with most of the agencies involved in national security. <snip>

It doesn't get done.

:-(

Disclosures Put F.B.I.'s Actions Under Scrutiny

By ERIC LICHTBLAU

WASHINGTON, April 11 — New disclosures about the warnings President Bush received before Sept. 11, 2001, are fueling a central question for the commission investigating the attacks on that date: What exactly was the F.B.I. doing that summer to deter an attack by Al Qaeda on American soil?

The answer, Mr. Bush said on Sunday, was that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating known links to Osama bin Laden in the United States, with 70 active cases reported that summer. "That's great, that's what we expect the F.B.I. to do," he told reporters.

Critics of the F.B.I., however, say the bureau missed numerous opportunities to head off the attacks.

Agents that summer were tracking tantalizing leads that included a suspicious flight student in Minneapolis, an ominous warning in Phoenix and a phone call to a United States embassy in the Middle East.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/12/politics/12FBI.html?hp

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THAT WERE DEMANDED BY THE PRO-REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

I was paying attention in the 90s and the public outcry for cutting big government was so fever high it looked like a slasher movie. I was amazed to hear Clarke say that Clinton raised the CIA's budget by 350%, so apparently big Dawg made it happen where he could. But with Freeh as head of the FBI, and with Clinton unable to give the FBI a direct order, it doesn't surprise me that they had to resort to prioritizing. And it doesn't surprise me that with Freeh as head of the FBI, they screwed up. I'm just curious which department got the money. Maybe it went into the "Funds to Investigate Republican's Political Enemies File"

all the FBI time, money and resources that the repugs DEMANDED be diverted to investigate the endless series of concocted Clinton "scandals." I was very glad to see Bill Cohen bring that up to the 9/11 Commission. I wonder if any of the FBI people will have the guts to do the same tomorrow.

Did Freeh submit a budget proposal for this purpose?
Did Freeh testify to Congress or lobby crucial committee members pertaining to his department?
Did Freeh warn anyone else about the threat(s)?

Interesting tidbits:
*between '95 and '99 there was an increase from 8410 to 9477 field agents.
*Freeh requested

http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress99/freeh324.htm
(a couple of excerpts only. It's pretty long)
Another challenge facing the FBI is the changing demographics of our workforce. With respect to agents, nearly 31 percent of all FBI Special Agents have been on the job for less than five years -- nearly double the rate in 1993.

· In October 1995, 9 percent of the 8,410 on-board field investigative agents were at the GS-10 entry level; by February 1999, the percentage of GS-10 entry level agents has nearly doubled to 17 percent of the 9,477 on-board field investigative agents.

· At the same time, we are also experiencing a significant loss in investigative experience. In October 1995, 74 percent of the 8,410 on-board field investigative agents were at the GS-13 journeyman level; by February 1999, the percentage of experienced, journeyman agents had decreased to 61 percent of the 9,477 on-board field investigative agents.

...
Overview of Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Request

For fiscal year 2000, the FBI is requesting a total of $3,293,664,000 in direct budget authority, 26,519 permanent positions (11,339 agents), and 25,576 direct workyears for its Salaries and Expenses/Violent Crime Reduction Program and Construction appropriations. This request includes direct program increases totaling 268 permanent positions (60 agents) and $109,159,000 in five budget initiatives: Information Collection and Analysis; Counterterrorism; Technology and Cyber Crimes; Law Enforcement Services; and Infrastructure.

In addition to direct funded resources, the FBI proposes a total of 2,646 reimbursable positions (454 agents) and 2,454 reimbursable workyears for fiscal year 2000. This represents increases of 89 positions for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and 77 positions (35 agents) for health care fraud enforcement. The fiscal year 2000 budget reflects the transfer of FBI resources previously funded under the Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement appropriation to Salaries and Expenses.

Our highest national priority is the investigation of foreign intelligence, terrorist, and criminal activities that directly threaten the national or economic security of the United States. We have established four strategic goals for this area:

• Identify, prevent, and defeat intelligence operations conducted by any foreign power within the United States, or against certain U.S. interests abroad, that constitute a threat to U.S. national security;
  
• Prevent, disrupt, and defeat terrorist operations before they occur;
  
• Create an effective and ongoing deterrent to prevent criminal conspiracies from defrauding major U.S. industries and the U.S. Government; and
  
• Deter the unlawful exploitation of emerging technologies by foreign powers, terrorists, and criminal elements.
  
  /snip/
  

Information Sharing. Last year, the Committee supported funding for the Information Sharing program which is a critical cornerstone to all of the operational strategies identified by the FBI in its Strategic Plan, 1998 - 2003. What the FBI needs most is to move away from its current collection of "stove-pipe" databases and stand-alone case management systems that cannot talk to each other and implement an enterprise-wide case management system. The Information Sharing project will break down those information and case management stove-pipes.

this guy did nothing to move the fbi forward. all he did was play politics on the hill and get in the way of progress.

freeh was too busy sticking his head up the asses of the republicans in congress to deal with terrorism.

he's just like bush: it's always somebody else's fault.

when our leaders don't have the guts to stand and take the heat for what happens on their watch we are doomed.

all this shit about taking personal responsibility is merely kabuki theater.

Mark my words. Clinton as President got to take a lot of heat caused by the Republican controlled Congress. At least he fought them off one time.

... let alone his freedom. And it's not Clinton's fault. Once the public discovers he knew about those "70 investigations" mentioned in the Aug 6 PDB, the Phoenix memo, the Rowley "mole" memo regarding the Moussaoui FISA, the shut-down Chicago terror funding investigation, and all the other FBI whistleblowers saying, "Gee, there are a lot of Al Qaeda in US flight schools...", Louis Freeh will be running for his life.

Sheesh. Come to think of it. This guy should be in the witness protection program. Freeh has two bosses. One is Ashcan, the other, Cheney. As for Boosh, what a moron.

Everything I have read points to the FBI and Freeh directly.

While DU was down the Freeps had TWO articles from NEwsmax in which Freeh first blames CLinont and then blames Gorelink (9/11 commissioner). He is grasping at straws.


I haven't heard it mention on Fox News yet but I suspect they are polling and focus grouping the hell out of this right now. They should unveil it tomorrow morning.

Doesn't matter Freeh either has to take it himself or let "the Bureau" take it. He obviously isn't a tema player so expect him to let the FBI take this one. My call.

... you can see the big play develop. And tomorrow, the FBI is going to get burned.

I figure the story will go: Freeh and the rest of the BFEE turds say 9-11 was an FBI failure -- an intelligence failure. They'll say, "Sure, we had 70 teams in the field, following these guys. The problem is 'miscommunication.' Each office couldn't get what they were doing to one guy who could put it all together. It was, uh, 'systemic'."

So what if they didn't have a dot-connector? Isn't that Freeh's job? And it seems Pickard -- the guy who John O'Neill, the FBI SA in charge of counterterror, thought ratted him out to the NYT -- must've told Freeh what Dave Frasca knew. That means that Freeh told Ashcan, who should have connected all the FBI dots.

Ashcan is the BFEE inner circle. So when Ashcan did zero with the intel about Al Qaeda planning something big involving flight schools, explosives and New York and Washington, besides stop flying, is proof of Treason. In a democratic republic, his job would be to inform the President. But, hey, that was then.

The picture is clear to DUers, 'Pants. The rest of the country is starting to catch up.

If you have not read his book "Against all Enemies" you should it is good.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
On pages 211-212:
"In the fifteen months since the embassy bombings, National Security Advisor Sandy Berger had held dozens of Principals meetings on al Qaeda. He knew their names, their modus operandi, and he feared they would strike again before we could cripple their organization. He convened the Principals in crisis mode. "We have stopped two sets of attacks planned for the Millennium. You can bet your measly federal paycheck that there are more out there and we have to stop them too. I spoke with the President and he wants you all to know..." Berger looked at Janet Reno, Louis Freeh, George Tenet," this is it, nothing more important, all assets. We stop this fucker." (It was the sort of attention we needed in the summer of 2001, but only got in the CSG, not in the Principals Committee.)"

page 213:

"For the next several days as Christmas and then the Millennium approached, Berger held daily Principals meetings that often sounded like the pre-watch briefings on Hill Street Blues. The Attorney General and FBI Director gave reports that included descriptions of suspect vans and results of search warrants"

"On Christmas Day, Berger and I spent the morning at FBI headquarters with scores of agents"

--------------------------------------------------------------------

At this point one would think that the FBI administration would have learned that they were to be focusing on al Qaeda cells in the U.S. It goes on to say that Louis Freeh interest in terrorist seemed to be almost entirely focused on the Khobar attack. He was giving reports almost daily about arrest and warrants in the U.S. by his agents, but still wanted to pay attention to the Khobar towers. I think it clearly points out that Freeh was to distracted to do the job given to him.

n/t

Of Starve the Beast. they might actually want to change that now seeing as all the problems it's caused. i will be waiting for the spin on his testiomy and i cannot wait for Ayatollah Asscroft's testimony, especially when asked about why he cut funding so much.

(I mangled the quote to fit and for shock value a little. Read the whole thing. Doesn't sound like his hair was on fire.)
Edit - More info below from the FY2002 budget request one week later-


http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress01/freeh051001.htm

Testimony of Louis J. Freeh, Director, FBI
Before the United States Senate, Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, and Select Committee on Intelligence
May 10, 2001
"Threat of Terrorism to the United States"
<snip>

2002 Counterterrorism Budget Request

For FY 2001, the FBI is requesting increases totaling $32,059,000 and 42 positions (8 agents) to improve and enhance existing counterterrorism capabilities and operations.
<snip>



Summary

Combating terrorism is a priority of the FBI. Through the support of the Administration and the Congress, the FBI has been able to greatly improve its crisis response capabilities to respond to such acts when and wherever they occur. The management and operational strategy that the FBI is implementing will further improve its capacity to counter terrorism. We believe this strategy will allow the FBI to continually refine, adjust, and upgrade our response capacities in the face of new threats and groups. Also, this strategy recognizes and emphasizes the importance of the capacity for gathering and sharing intelligence on a timely basis with other agencies involved in countering terrorism. The strategy places a premium on the importance of establishing and maintaining communications and liaison with our federal, State, and local partners. Finally, the strategy emphasizes the effective management and allocation of program resources provided by the Congress.
------------------------------

http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress01/freeh051701.htm

Testimony of Louis J. Freeh, Director, FBI
Before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies
May 17, 2001
"FY 2002 Budget Request"

Counterterrorism

The United States continues to face a serious, credible threat from terrorists both abroad and at home. The number of groups and individuals capable of carrying out a terrorist act has increased over the past several years. Of continuing concern to the FBI are groups and individuals for which political or religious beliefs constitute sufficient motivation for carrying out a devastating terrorist act.

To deal effectively with domestic and international terrorism, the FBI must concentrate on both prevention and response. The FBI's counterterrorism strategy is focused upon five inter-related elements to build and maintain an operational capacity for identifying, preventing, deterring, and investigating terrorist activities. First, the FBI must have the capacity to respond to acts of terrorism committed in the U.S. and abroad when those acts are directed against the U.S. government or its interests. Second, the FBI must have the capacity to receive, react to, and disseminate counterterrorism information. Third, the FBI must develop its internal capacities to support proactive counterterrorism programs and initiatives. Fourth, the FBI must have the capacity to establish and maintain sound and productive relationships with other domestic and foreign law enforcement and intelligence counterparts. Fifth, the FBI must have the capacity to use all of the necessary assets and capabilities of the FBI and other U.S. government agencies to support and initiate complex investigations and operations against domestic and international terrorists and terrorist organizations. For FY 2002, the FBI is requesting increases totaling $32,059,000 and 42 positions (8 agents) to improve and enhance existing counterterrorism capabilities and operations.

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to suddenly fix the INS which had been a documented mess for a long, long time? (Assuming the Newsmax story is more than a dumb hoax.)

I know you do.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/knew/view/

NARRATOR: O'Neill said he could care less what the bureaucrats thought. The only one he was concerned about was Louis Freeh.

FRAN TOWNSEND, Deputy U.S. Attorney general '95-'01: Louis Freeh is extraordinary, in the sense of being sort of a regular person, very committed to his children and his wife. He wasn't one to be out late or wasn't a big drinker, wasn't -- that was not his style at all.

NARRATOR: O'Neill figured a personal connection to Freeh was out of the question. He'd have to find another way to make his case about reorganizing the FBI.

Then, after Islamic militants in Saudi Arabia blew up the U.S. Air Force barracks known as Khobar Towers, O'Neill saw his chance. Both O'Neill and Freeh got deeply involved, taking 14-hour plane rides to Saudi Arabia, time enough for a sustained O'Neill terrorism tutorial.

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http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/knew/etc/script.html

also mentions how Clinton Administation tried to work around Freeh because he preferred to put himself in the limelight on big headline cases and then screwing them up

Clinton was reluctant to fire Freeh because Freeh was in real tight with Repugs in Congress...specifically Gringrich -- and firing Freeh would have set off a partisan war with the repugs

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They spent over 70 million dollars searching the trailer parks of Arkansas for Paula Jones but they couldn't find the money to spare for protecting the American people. Let's face it the real reason for 9/11 was the Republican obsession with getting the Clinton's. That was all they could see for eight long years. So when they finally achieved their dream and got back in the White House. They went back to the agenda of George the first as if nothing had changed in the eight year interim.