Ashcroft rejected FBI plea

2004-04-13 20:20

Washington - United States attorney-general John Ashcroft rejected an FBI plea for increased counterterrorism funding the day before the September 11 attacks, the official inquiry into the devastating strikes said on Tuesday.

A preliminary report by the commission on action taken by US intelligence and law enforcement agencies before the 2001 attacks by al-Qaeda said counterterrorism advisors were stunned by the lack of emphasis put on terrorism by Ashcroft's justice department.

Ashcroft was expected to be intensely questioned about the funding and his commitment to fighting terrorism when he appeared before the commission on Tuesday.

The report said that on May 9 2001, Ashcroft told a federal hearing his department's highest priority was to "protect citizens from terrorist attacks".

'Almost fell out of his chair'

"On May 10 2001, the department issued guidance for developing the fiscal year 2003 budget that made reducing the incidence of gun violence and reducing the trafficking of illegal drugs priority objectives."

The report said Dale Watson, the first head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation counterterrorism division, "told us that he almost fell out of his chair when he saw the memo, because it made no mention of counterterrorism".

The commission added that the budget prepared for 2003 did not increase counterterrorism funding over its proposal for 2002.

The FBI sought increased finance for improved technology for its investigations, according to the report.

"Acting FBI director Thomas Pickard told us he made an appeal to attorney-general Ashcroft for further counterterrorism enhancements not included in this budget proposal. On September 10, the attorney general rejected that appeal."

- AFP