If the CIA and FBI were two lovers facing serious charges and a trial, their defense strategy would be obvious: point the finger at the other person until a cloud of doubt overshadows everything and both defendants are found not guilty by reason of confusion.
For the past couple of weeks the two powerful agencies have done plenty of finger-pointing and it has been confusing, but the public is unlikely to let either off the hook for bungling and overlooking information regarding the Sept. 11 attacks.
First, it should be said that neither agency is responsible for causing the attacks. It’s unfortunate the who knew what, when debate has taken so much of the focus away from the terrorists, who actually plotted and carried out such evil. And it’s still uncertain if either agency could have completely or even in part, prevented the tragedy had they paid heed to certain information or coordinated efforts. But for now at least some of our attention should center on how well our national intelligence and investigation agencies work.
Poor FBI Director Robert Mueller will get plenty of heat for an agency he took over just one week before the attacks. It’s tough to blame him for wanting to protect his agency from taking the fall. Late last month, he finally acknowledged maybe his people could have done something to uncover part of the plot if they had put all the pieces together (but it’s really the fault of "very cumbersome" computer systems, he told senators Thursday). He has promised to overhaul his embattled agency and is proposing a "supersquad" to tackle terrorism. Talk about having to prove yourself on the job.
Next it came to light that the CIA had information about one of the hijackers months before Sept. 11 and could have used it to keep him from renewing his visa. Again, that doesn’t mean the whole plot would have been foiled had they acted on the juicy tidbit. But it doesn’t look good for them. If they’re missing out on that, what else is getting by them?
Before that revelation had time to settle in the public’s mind, the CIA started finger pointing at the FBI. Hey, the CIA announced, the FBI got wind of an eventual Sept. 11 hijacker back in January 2000. Again, it’s doubtful this would-be terrorist was wearing a sign around his neck saying "eventual Sept. 11 hijacker," but the CIA had to hope no one would pick up on that in the flurry of flying accusations.
Now President Bush is announcing a brand new office to take over border security and other matters currently scattered among eight federal agencies. If the agency actually offers the coordination the FBI and CIA seem to lack, that’s great. But creating more government also poses the possibility of another agency to point the finger at later on. Then again, maybe that’s exactly what the CIA and FBI need.
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