Time to get off this mutilation stuff, unless Ron wants to bring it up again....
I find the Attorney General's thought process a little confusing...
Here we have the FBI pleading for help....
washingtonpost.com
FBI Pleads for Help on Attacks
Mueller Seeks Break in Anthrax, Sept. 11 Terror Cases
By Dan Eggen and Susan Schmidt
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, November 3, 2001; Page A09
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III pleaded for help yesterday in finding those responsible for the deadly anthrax mailings and accomplices in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, acknowledging that cash reward offers and other steps have failed to lead to important breakthroughs in either case.
Mueller, indicating that investigators have few major clues in either case, asked the public "to join us in trying to bring leads to the front that will help us solve both the anthrax investigation, [and] the September 11th hijacking investigation."...
then here we have ex-FBI agents who want to help and the FBI doesn't need any help....
latimes.com
FBI Turns Down Hundreds of Ex-Agents Offering Help Investigation: The refusals fuel tension among alumni. The CIA welcomes such aid.
By ERIC LICHTBLAU, Times Staff Writer
WASHINGTON -- Despite an enormous drain on its manpower, the FBI is turning down help in its dual terrorism and anthrax investigations from some of its most experienced supporters: former agents.
As many as 350 former FBI special agents have expressed interest in coming back to work for the bureau to assist in the wide-ranging investigations into the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the anthrax mailings. Some 7,000 FBI agents and support staff are now working the cases, often chasing hoaxes and fruitless leads at the expense of other federal probes that have been forced to take a back seat to anti-terrorism efforts.
While Justice Department officials acknowledge that investigators are "overburdened," the FBI has told most of its former agents that it doesn't need their help. That attitude is stirring tensions among bureau alumni who feel shunned....
I might actually think that the FBI could do a little waiving of the background checks on former FBI agents. I'm pretty sure that it's with in the Attorney General's authority to do so. If nothing else, an EO authorizing it should be a no-brainer even for Bush.
jttmab |
