The FBI Doesn't Know the Difference between Sunnis and Shiites - Some scary stuff here

[NNN0LHI]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/12/report_shortcom.html

Report: Shortcomings in FBI's approach to terrorism

Lisa Myers of NBC News used footage of interviews conducted by a lawyer for the FBI's highest-ranking Arab-American agent, one of only six investigators with advanced fluency in Arabic, to examine whether the Bureau is doing its best to combat terrorism.

"Depositions of nearly a dozen top FBI officials in his case have exposed what critics say are serious shortcomings in the FBI's approach to counterterrorism. The taped depositions, which have never been aired before, seem to reveal a stunning lack of knowledge about some terrorism basics," she reported. snip

Here are some of the exchanges from depositions that were included in NBC's report:

• Dale Watson was a top counterterrorism official before and after 9/11.
Lawyer: Do you know who Osama bin Laden's spiritual leader was?

Watson: Can't recall.

Lawyer: And do you know the differences in the religion between Shiite and Sunni Muslims?

Watson: Not technically, no.

• John Lewis, who served until recently as the FBI’s deputy assistant director for counterterrorism, was asked in May 2005 if he could tell the difference between Sunnis and Shiites.

Lewis: You know, generally. Not very well.

Lawyer: Was there any relationship between the first World Trade Center bombing and the 9/11 attacks?

Lewis: I'm aware of no immediate relationship other than all emanates out of the Middle East, al-Qaeda linkage, I believe. Not something I've studied recently that I'm conversant with.

In June 2005, John Solomon of the Associated Press used transcripts from these depositions as the basis for a report that the "Terror expertise not a priority at FBI."

"Watson, who oversaw the first two years of transformation, testified he could not recall a single meeting in the aftermath of Sept. 11 in which FBI leaders discussed the type of skills or training needed for counterterrorism," Solomon reported.

[Dhalgren]

1. This is just one more piece of evidence that "The War On Terror"

is completely phony. There is no war on "terror". Our security apparatus works against international criminals the same way it always has - the same way other countries do - nothing has changed there. The whole concept of the war on "terror" is a gimmick and anyone who buys it is a fool...

[majorjohn]

2. What's your point? n/t

[whistle]

3. Sunnis are darker on their left side while Shiites are darker on their right side

....Every good republican knows that!