FBI hampered in terror fight
2004-04-13 18:58
Washington - The FBI was hampered in its fight against terrorism before the September 11 attacks by poor intelligence, insufficient staffing and resources and a bureaucratic culture, said a report released on Tuesday by the official report into the al-Qaeda attacks.
"On September 11, 2001, the FBI was limited in several areas critical to an effective, preventive counterterrorism strategy," said the report released as the commission started public hearings concentrating on the intelligence agencies role before the attacks.
"Those working counterterrorism matters did so despite limited intelligence collection and strategic analysis capabilities, a limited capacity to share information both internally and externally, insufficient training, an overly complex legal regime and inadequate resources," the provisional report concluded.
Attorney General John Ashcroft and past and present leaders of the CIA and FBI were to testify at public commission hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday into the attacks.
The FBI has faced mounting scrutiny since a memorandum to Bush, released on Saturday by the White House, indicated that before September 11, the bureau had about 70 investigations in the United States related to al-Qaeda.
Members of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States have indicated they will closely question the FBI and CIA leaders in hearings.
- AFP