10 Questions for John Ashcroft (from Salon.com)

2) Why wasn't counterterrorism one of the seven strategic goals Ashcroft outlined in a May 2001 memo to his division heads? In that memo, he outlined his major goals for the upcoming budget year. Among his priorities: Reducing gun violence, protecting the rights of crime victims and strengthening internal Justice Department financial systems. Counterterrorism was not mentioned. By contrast, Attorney General Janet Reno's budget guidance of April 2000 listed counterterrorism as the area where "up-to-date human and technological infrastructure" was critical.

By August 2001, Ashcroft had created a "strategic plan" document to spotlight his priorities. Out of 36 "objectives" Ashcroft highlighted 13 in yellow. The document explained "Highlight=AG Goal." Although objective 1.3 was "combat terrorist activities," it was not highlighted. Tellingly, in Nov. 2001, Ashcroft released a revised strategic plan which contained the same seven strategic goals as the original and one addition. Now his number one goal: "Protect America Against the Threat of Terrorism." But who had neglected it before 9/11?

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