asked some
questions that a whole lot of people have been asking. The topic of
discussion, 'FBI Reorganization After 9/11', involved sensitive issues
that Mueller was forced to address in trying to convince the audience, of
the FBI's honorable intentions and noble efforts. Key figures have their
story and are sticking to it, no matter how many lies they are caught
telling or how much information surfaces to the contrary.
Mueller
had a busy speaking schedule last week, which basically centered on the
well-rehearsed "FBI Reorganization Plan", damage control for past
failings, and justification of present actions. In addition to his
appearance at the A.C.L.U. Membership Conference on June 13, he testified
in a hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on June 18, and
also attended a luncheon to address the National Press Club on June 20.
These events were covered by C-Span and can be watched at www.c-span.org/.
An article in the
New York Times, 'F.B.I. Leader Wins a Few at Meeting of A.C.L.U.', likened
the event to a lion's den that he had wandered into and emerged from
mostly unscathed after fielding tough questions on the Patriot Act,
diffusing tensions with a lively wit, and impressing many listeners. One
would think by reading Eric Lichtblau's article that "Bob" was a
sensational personality deserving of shouts of laughter and a standing
ovation. As the ACLU has raised concerns about the government's
antiterrorism campaign, Mueller "quipped" they should be thanking him for
the increase in membership since 9/11 and said, "I think you really do owe
me".
Lichtblau goes on to say that Mueller sought to dispel
"unfair" accusations about the bureau's power to monitor library checkouts
as "somewhat overblown", but conceded there was room for improvement. This
would include clearer criteria for deciding who is a terrorism suspect,
more resources to investigate, and better communication. Lichtblau
concluded Mr. Romero was so encouraged that he closed the event with a
playful question about Mueller joining the ACLU. Mueller replied, "I've
got the last response...which of you will join the FBI"? To this remark
there was plenty of laughter, but no firm commitments. (Ha ha ha! Will
someone please tell me what's so funny?)
Anthony Romero's
introduction for Robert Mueller included concerns about further expansion
of law enforcement powers, harsh treatment of detainees, secret
detentions, secret hearings, and secret access to library records, the
creation of a surveillance society. He said the ACLU has been charged by
its members and founding mandate to ensure that the government's new
terrorist prevention policy does not run roughshod over civil liberties
and to protect Americans from a steady, dangerous erosion of our civil
liberties. Their slogan - "Keep America Safe and Free".
Listening
to Robert Mueller reading and reciting his script in a monotone voice can
put one to sleep, but I managed to stay awake to write down a few excerpts
from his speech. The entire transcript of Mueller's address can be read at
www.aclu.org/Conference/Conference.cfm.? .
"...And while there
have been mistakes of the past and there have been (no kidding), it is in
response to these mistakes that the bureau has become better. Over the
years, strict legal limitations and vigorous oversight structures have
been enacted to specifically regulate how domestic intelligence operations
are conducted and to enforce strict adherence to the Constitution. We have
to continue of course, to evolve and make changes and adjustments as
necessary. The FBI puts a premium on early training of special agents
about their responsibility to respect the rights and dignity of
individuals (applause). In addition to extensive instruction on
Constitutional law, criminal procedure, and sensitivity to other cultures
every new FBI agent makes a visit to the Holocaust Museum, to see for
themselves what happens when law enforcement becomes a Tool of Oppression
(loud applause).
"We do not and I do not shy away from using every
tool that Congress has given us, to protect Americans against terrorism.
In using those tools we must concentrate on obtaining the facts and
presenting them in an objective, unbiased manner to prosecutors, oversight
committees, or decision-makers that forge policy and legislation.... The
FBI will live up to its obligation to protect the citizens of the U.S., as
well as the rights afforded to each citizen under our Constitution. In our
free and exceptionally open society, there is no guarantee that there will
never be another attack and therefore we must thoroughly investigate,
whether at home or abroad, while carefully, carefully observing the
Constitutional rights of all."
"The ACLU seeks to prevent the
tyranny of the majority from destroying our fundamental liberties, but in
fighting terrorists we (FBI) seek to prevent the tyranny of the minority
from destroying our fundamental way of life.... So that future generations
can enjoy lives that are both safe and free (shouts and applause).... I
will tell you that the FBI is dedicated to protecting Americans and
America's freedoms, and we will."
Out of hundreds of written
questions collected from over a thousand people, there were only seven
asked that I could distinguish, not including the final three "rhetorical"
ones. They had to do with concerns about intrusions in libraries,
safeguards to prevent FBI from being misused, profiling of Arab American
communities, the Patriot Act, Operation TIPS, DOJ Inspector General's
Report on Detainee Abuses - www.hrw.org/press/2003/06/us060203.htm, and
Jose Padilla being denied the Writ of Habeas Corpus. At the beginning of
the questions and answer segment, Romero made a comment about the probable
cause standard to which Mueller rudely said, "Is this going to be a
debate, or am I going to be allowed to answer questions?"
Main part of fourth question, "...last month (Alaska) became one
of three states in more than a hundred communities around this country, to
pass legislative resolutions dealing with those sections of the USA
Patriot Act that violate our rights. I heard an administration
spokesperson on NPR dismissing this movement as nothing but a bunch of
liberals. What more do we have to do to get the Administration to take us
seriously?" (Applause)
Main part of Mueller's answer, "...I will
tell you this is an area that we are going to disagree, on what exactly
the Patriot Act did, the first Patriot Act, and I will tell you that from
our perspective the benefit of the first Patriot Act was to tear down the
walls between the criminal side and the intelligence side, not only within
the FBI but also between the FBI and intelligence communities. And if you
look at the reports of the Joint Intelligence Committee and others, you
will see that we are faulted and I think justifiably so prior to September
11th because we did not exchange information, that some would say that
would prevent another attack. What the Patriot Act did, what the recent
ruling from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court did was break
down those walls to allow us to exchange that information that may save
lives in the future. So we are going to have to agree to disagree on the
Patriot Act." (No applause)
There is a plenteous assortment
of information at www.icdc.com/~paulwolf/cointelpro/cointel about FBI/CIA activities
and other related subjects. This would include the COINTELPRO Papers
(FBI's secret wars against dissent), Operation Chaos (massive domestic
covert surveillance), Operation Mockingbird (CIA's subversion of the Free
Press), and the 1976 Final Report of the Select Committee to Study
Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities,
etc.
Getting back to the ACLU event for the grand finale,
which didn't happen exactly the way Lichtblau described in his article.
Mueller's attitude and tone of voice smacked of superiority and animosity,
especially when the Q & A segment was awkwardly brought to a close,
prior to making a hasty exit.
Romero - "Three quick final
questions. Number one..." (laughter and applause before he was abruptly
interrupted by Mueller)
Mueller - "I thought that was (last
question)...what, don't you and Nadine talk?" (Not very
good-natured)
Nadine - "These are rhetorical (questions)."
Mueller - "I don't need rhetorical questions from you Anthony."
(Lack of good manners)
Romero - "Is the FBI censoring the
questions?" (Laughter)
Mueller - "I wish." (Laughter)
Romero - "How can we be sure if you say no?" (Laughter)
Mueller - "You will know." (No laughter)
Romero - "Will
you join the ACLU?" (Loud applause and laughter)
Mueller - "Wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait, no, no, I've got the last response, which of you
will join the FBI?" (Irritated as he turns toward audience pointing
finger)
There wasn't much laughter, though the audience
courteously applauded the guest speaker before he left the stage in 30
seconds flat. Their concerns were not assuaged, according to later
comments.
As usual, there is more that could be said about any
particular topic and before bringing this article to a close, I will
mention only a few of many things about Robert Mueller's background. He
has been in a number of high-profile positions in the Justice Department
in both Republican and Democratic administrations. Bush nominated him to
replace Louis Freeh and Mueller had the backing of John Ashcroft after
serving as acting deputy attorney general from January to May of 2001.
Ashcroft's support was key because the Bush administration wanted to bring
the FBI under tighter control of the Justice Department. Mueller has
supervised the prosecution of Manuel Noriega and crime boss John Gotti. He
also led the investigations of the 1991 collapse of the Bank of Credit and
Commerce International Banking and the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
In regard to some of the mistakes Mueller alluded to (as
previously quoted), let us not forget the famous accusatory Phoenix
Memorandum and Rowley Letter, http://grassley.senate.gov/releases/2002/p02r5-24a.htm. Certain facts have been
omitted, downplayed, glossed over, and/or mischaracterized in an effort to
avoid or minimize personal and/or institutional embarrassment on the part
of the FBI and/or perhaps even for improper political reasons. Basically
the whistleblower accused the FBI of 'sabotage', as they failed to act on
clear clues and actually intervened to suppress the investigation. Mueller
acknowledged that changes must be made to counter bureaucratic inertia at
headquarters that led to miss clues in the attacks of Sept. 11th.
Robert Mueller's speech to the Commonwealth Club on April 19,
2002, where he admits cover story lies, can be listened to at
http://audio.commonwealthclub.org/audio/02-04mueller-qa.ram. Watch streaming video
of Mueller speaking at Stanford Law School at www.law.stanford.edu/alumni/events/weekend/2002/.
And just
for fun, read the satirical piece by J.J. Johnson in the Sierra Times
called 'A Real American Terrorism Threat Warning, From Real Americans
Inside the FBI' at www.sierratimes.com/02/04/26/arjj042602.htm.
In high
stakes political power games the American people are played for fools,
while the players deceitfully win total control of everything at our
expense. Americans must loudly demand accountability from those who have
been entrusted with the privilege of safeguarding our rights. If there
isn't going to be an open and thorough investigation into all important
information regarding September 11th, then the incumbent liars and
accomplices must be shown that we are not fools, by firing and retiring
them from their prestigious positions with our votes and other lawful
actions. This Administration should not be allowed to withhold
incriminating information under any circumstances and rightfully forced to
release pertinent classified documents. They should then be indicted and
put on trial, with all of the facts and evidence clearly and openly
presented to the public, for all to see the treacherous crimes that have
been committed. |
