Statement by FBI
Director Robert Mueller Regarding the Joint Intelligence
Committee Report Into the Terrorist Attack of
September 11, 2001
Washington, DC - FBI
Director Robert S. Mueller, III issued the following
statement regarding today's release of the Joint
Intelligence Committee Report into the September
11, 2001 terrorist attacks:
"The final report
today released by the Joint Intelligence Committee
into the events of September 11th generates constructive
discussion of how the federal government can best
protect America from terrorism. The FBI thanks the
Joint Committee for their efforts and for its recommendations
to improve the Counterterrorism efforts of the United
States government. We have already implemented or
are in the process of implementing these recommendations.
While the report provides a snapshot of the FBI
at September 11, 2001, the picture of the FBI today
shows a changed organization, including:
Prevention of Terrorist
Attacks is the FBI's Number One Priority.
Both in the field offices and at Headquarters, the
FBI has made preventing future terrorist attacks
its top priority. Prior to September 11th, the FBI
had approximately 1,300 Agents and 218 analysts
working on counterterrorism matters. As of May 2003,
those numbers have increased to 2,501 Agents and
251 analysts.
Improved Information
Sharing with Intelligence Community Through TTIC. The FBI has partnered with CIA, the Department of Homeland
Security and other agencies to integrate terrorist-related
intelligence in the Terrorist Threat Integration
Center (TTIC) in an effort to provide seamless communication
within the Intelligence Community.
Improved Coordination
with the Central Intelligence Agency.
We have increased the operational integration between
the CIA and FBI since 9/11. From my daily morning
briefings with CIA officers and George Tenet to
the widespread assignment of executives, Agents,
and analysts between the two agencies since 9/11,
the FBI and the CIA have become integrated at virtually
every level of our operations.
Improved Technology
to Better Target Terrorists and Identify Terrorist
Threats. The FBI is aggressively solving the persistent
and incapacitating information technology problems.
The Trilogy Program was designed as a 36-month effort
to enhance the FBI's effectiveness through technologies
that facilitate better organization, access and
analysis of information. The overall direction of
the Trilogy Program is to provide all FBI offices
with improved network communications, a common and
current set of office automation tools, and easy-to-use,
re-engineered, web-based applications.
Established the
Office of Intelligence.
The Office of Intelligence will help ensure critical
information is being collected. We have also established
a strong reports officer cadre at FBI Headquarters
and in the field offices to facilitate timely dissemination
of intelligence from agents to analysts within the
FBI and other agencies within the Intelligence Community.
Significantly Increased
Resources Allocated to Counterterrorism Analysis. Since 9/11, the FBI has increased resources for both counterterrorism
and counterterrorism analysis. We have increased
the number of Intelligence Operations Specialists
from 65 to 345. We have increased Counterterrorism
Intelligence Analysts from 41 to 130. We are requesting
an additional 214 analytical positions for Counterterrorism
in its FY 2004 budget.
Improved Information
Sharing with State and Local Law Enforcement. The FBI has increased the number of Joint Terrorism Task
Forces from 35 to 66, which are located in each
of the FBI's 56 field offices and 10 resident agencies,
to allow better coordination and information sharing
with state and local law enforcement. The Office
of Law Enforcement Coordination was created as a
new division within the FBI to enhance the coordination
and communication between the FBI and state, municipal,
county and tribal law enforcement on a national
level. Additionally, the FBI Intelligence Bulletin
is published once a week and provided to state and
local law enforcement agencies through the National
Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS),
e-mail or facsimile.
Established the
National Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) at FBI
Headquarters. The National JTTF complements task forces established
throughout the country and improves collaboration
and timely information sharing with other agencies.
The FBI currently has representation of 26 federal
agencies and two state and local law enforcement
officials who report to the FBI's Command Center
as part of this initiative.
Expanded Recruitment
of Vital Language Skills.
The FBI has expanded the recruitment of agents and
analysts with the linguistic skills needed in counterterrorism
efforts. The FBI has already instituted aggressive
efforts to identify and recruit new agents and analysts
with critical language skills. Currently, the FBI
has 1138 Language Specialists and Contract Linguists
who provide translation support in 60 foreign Languages.
Since February 2002, the FBI has received over 70,000
applicants for agent positions, including over 11,000
who identified themselves as possessing critical
language skills.
FBI Employees Are
a Vital Asset to the Mission of Preventing Terrorist
Attacks. The FBI has another advantage that should not
be underestimated -- its people. FBI employees are
as thorough as they are tireless. Special Agents
and analysts have proven this time and again when
a case is all but forgotten. When it comes to follow
up, FBI personnel are second to none. These attributes
are crucial for tracking down shadowy pieces of
intelligence and determining their validity.
Patriot Act Has
Allowed Sharing of Critical Information Related
to Counterterrorism Investigations. Changes in the Patriot Act and Justice Department
policies have allowed for greater information sharing
among law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The walls that inhibited the sharing of that information
prior to September 11 have crumbled. Additionally,
training for new Special Agents includes specific
instruction on FISA, including detailed instruction
on the U.S.A. Patriot Act, as well as how to use
FISA and Title III effectively, in criminal versus
intelligence investigations.
Increased Efforts
to Infiltrate Terrorist Organizations Operating
in the United States. The FBI's reallocation
of manpower and effort to combat terrorism since
September 11th has resulted in a significant increase
in the use of all investigative collection tools.
While the exact numbers are classified, we have
utilized these methods with much greater frequency
- and to great effect - in terrorism investigations
since September 11, 2001. As a result, terrorist
cells from Lackwanna, New York to Portland, Oregon
to Seattle, Washington have been taken down.
Improved Training. The FBI has re-designed
its core training curriculum to focus on essential
skills for counterterrorism investigations. Additionally,
the FBI has significantly improved strategic analytical
capabilities by creating the College of Analytical
Studies to train new analysts and enhance the skills
of current analysts to better understand the process
of "connecting the dots."
Stronger Accountability. In order to ensure accountability, executive management
has regularly reinforced the new priorities through
regular communication to the field, through inspections
of the 56 field offices, and through frequent gatherings
of the Special Agents in Charge of the field offices.
"In the war against
terrorism, knowing who, what, where and when - before
it happens -
is critical. The FBI is ready and willing to meet
the ongoing challenge of terrorism. By
continuing to restructure, improving our intelligence
capabilities, and building on our traditional strengths,
the FBI will continue to fulfill its mission to
protect America."
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