lily
03-17-2008, 10:59 PM
They are keeping us safer? (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23678022/)
FBI gets mixed review on terror watch list
Federal audit says database 'not always' updated accurately
updated 19 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The FBI gave outdated, incomplete and inaccurate information
about terror suspects to be added to the government's watchlist for nearly
three years despite steps taken to prevent errors, a Justice Department
audit concludes.
Responding, an FBI spokesman said gaps identified in the system should be
fixed within six months.
Overall, the audit released Monday by Justice Department Inspector General
Glenn A. Fine gave the FBI a mixed review for its process of submitting an
estimated 8,000 names and other data to the terror watchlist that is
compiled by U.S. intelligence agencies. It found that the FBI has proper
training and other internal controls in place to help make sure names of
suspected terrorists were accurately added to the list.
However, Fine's report rapped the FBI for failing to consistently pass along
newly discovered information about people on the watchlist, or to remove
those who were no longer deemed a threat.
"We found that the FBI was not always providing updated nominations when new
information became known about a nominated individual," the audit concluded.
"We also found that the FBI was not always removing records from the
watchlist when it was appropriate to do so.
"Moreover, FBI headquarters officials reported that watchlist nomination
submissions from field offices were often incomplete or contained
inaccuracies, which caused delays in the processing of nominations," the
audit concluded.
Between January 2005 and November 2007, the FBI processed the names of 8,240
suspects who were nominated to be added to the terror watchlist, the audit
found. At times, FBI agents in field offices nominated terror suspects to be
included on the list without first checking with FBI headquarters in
Washington — preventing a thorough review.
In a statement, FBI Assistant Director John Miller said the FBI has begun
changing the way it submits names of international and domestic terror
suspects to make the nomination process easier and more efficient for
agents. He said many of the problems identified in Fine's review should be
fixed within six months.
"We will always strive for continued improvement in the conduct of FBI task
force coordination and watchlisting process," Miller said. "We remain
committed to working with the Department of Justice to increase coordination
and to find best practices aimed at providing service and safety for our
nation."
The FBI is the only Justice Department agency that can directly choose names
to be included on the watchlist. Other agencies that have that authority
include the departments of Homeland Security, State, Treasury, Defense and
the CIA.
However, Fine's office found that other Justice agencies that can refer
watchlist data to the FBI generally do so on an informal basis — resulting
in omissions.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for example, "did
not categorize criminal activity as being terrorism-related in a manner
similar to the FBI, most notably in cases of domestic terrorism," the audit
found. "As a result, the potential exists for terrorism information to not
be shared with the FBI and for terrorists to not be watchlisted."
FBI gets mixed review on terror watch list
Federal audit says database 'not always' updated accurately
updated 19 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The FBI gave outdated, incomplete and inaccurate information
about terror suspects to be added to the government's watchlist for nearly
three years despite steps taken to prevent errors, a Justice Department
audit concludes.
Responding, an FBI spokesman said gaps identified in the system should be
fixed within six months.
Overall, the audit released Monday by Justice Department Inspector General
Glenn A. Fine gave the FBI a mixed review for its process of submitting an
estimated 8,000 names and other data to the terror watchlist that is
compiled by U.S. intelligence agencies. It found that the FBI has proper
training and other internal controls in place to help make sure names of
suspected terrorists were accurately added to the list.
However, Fine's report rapped the FBI for failing to consistently pass along
newly discovered information about people on the watchlist, or to remove
those who were no longer deemed a threat.
"We found that the FBI was not always providing updated nominations when new
information became known about a nominated individual," the audit concluded.
"We also found that the FBI was not always removing records from the
watchlist when it was appropriate to do so.
"Moreover, FBI headquarters officials reported that watchlist nomination
submissions from field offices were often incomplete or contained
inaccuracies, which caused delays in the processing of nominations," the
audit concluded.
Between January 2005 and November 2007, the FBI processed the names of 8,240
suspects who were nominated to be added to the terror watchlist, the audit
found. At times, FBI agents in field offices nominated terror suspects to be
included on the list without first checking with FBI headquarters in
Washington — preventing a thorough review.
In a statement, FBI Assistant Director John Miller said the FBI has begun
changing the way it submits names of international and domestic terror
suspects to make the nomination process easier and more efficient for
agents. He said many of the problems identified in Fine's review should be
fixed within six months.
"We will always strive for continued improvement in the conduct of FBI task
force coordination and watchlisting process," Miller said. "We remain
committed to working with the Department of Justice to increase coordination
and to find best practices aimed at providing service and safety for our
nation."
The FBI is the only Justice Department agency that can directly choose names
to be included on the watchlist. Other agencies that have that authority
include the departments of Homeland Security, State, Treasury, Defense and
the CIA.
However, Fine's office found that other Justice agencies that can refer
watchlist data to the FBI generally do so on an informal basis — resulting
in omissions.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for example, "did
not categorize criminal activity as being terrorism-related in a manner
similar to the FBI, most notably in cases of domestic terrorism," the audit
found. "As a result, the potential exists for terrorism information to not
be shared with the FBI and for terrorists to not be watchlisted."