FBI rap on terror failures.THE FBI failed miserably over several years to reorganise Verb 1. reorganise - organize anew, as after a setback regroup, reorganize form, organize, organise - create (as an entity); "social groups form everywhere"; "They formed a company" 2. and respond to a steadily growing threat of terrorism, the commission investigating the September 11 attacks September 11 attacks Series of airline hijackings and suicide bombings against U.S. targets perpetrated by 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda. said yesterday. It revealed that Attorney General John Ashcroft John David Ashcroft (born May 9 1942) is an American politician who was the 79th United States Attorney General. He served during the first term of President George W. Bush from 2001 until 2005. Ashcroft was previously the Governor of Missouri (1985 – 1993) and a U.S. rejected an agency appeal for more funding - on the day before al-Qaeda struck. The commission said in a report that, on September 11, the FBI was limited in several areas. It cited 'limited intelligence collection and strategic analysis capabilities, a limited capacity to share information internally and externally,insufficient training,an over-complex legal regime and inadequate resources'. On theday of the attacks, it said, about 1300 agents, or six per cent of the FBI's total personnel, worked on counter-terrorism. The commission released its stinging report which chairman Thomas Kean described as an 'indictment' at the start of two days of hearings in Washington from current and former officials atthe Justice Department and FBI. Former FBI director Louis Freeh argued that, given its resources, his organisation had a 'very effective' counter-terrorism programme before September 11. Freeh also pointed out that the report found inadequate resources and legal restrictions were key ingredients in the agency's failings. That wasan apparent reference to Congress, which approves funding, and president Bill Clinton's Attorney General Janet Reno Janet Reno (born July 21, 1938) was the first and to date only female Attorney General of the United States (1993–2001). She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11. . It was she who issued guidelines meant to strengthen civil liberties protections by keeping the fruits of intelligence separate from criminal prosecution. But in the report, Reno says that Freeh 'seemed unwilling to shift resources to terrorism from other areas such as violent crime'. CAPTION(S): FORMER CHIEF: Freeh |
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