FBI missed 5 chances to stop 9/11 attacks

A report by the Justice Department's Inspector General says the FBI missed at least five opportunities to find the 9/11 hijackers. The New York Times, in a review of the OIG report, says it was kept secret for a year before being issued yesterday. The failures have been attributed to "bureaucratic obstacles, communication breakdowns and a lack of urgency."

But, once again, there is no recommendation of disciplinary action against any FBI official. In an interview with the Times, Glenn A. Fine, the inspector general said, "What we found were significant deficiencies in the way the F.B.I. handled these issues. We don't believe it was misconduct on the part of individuals so much as systemic problems, but we do recommend that the F.B.I. review the performance of individuals on its own."

This is the standard response of government to any major failure, whether the deaths of a few in a space shuttle disaster or the deaths of thousands in a terrorist attack on office towers. So-called "systemic problems" do not arise out of the mist. They are the consequences of actions by individuals who give priority to their personal needs and those of their promoters over that of the public they are sworn to serve. Any proposed reform that does not impose individual accountability on federal managers will - without question - fail. Thus, today's assurances from Attorney General Alberto Gonazales, that government is in a better position to avert such attacks, are simply more smoke and mirrors.

Journalist pressured to reveal anonymous source

A national security whistleblower brings to Deep Harm's attention the plight of online journalist Bill Conroy, who published an article embarrassing to the Department of Homeland Security(DHS) and then was pressured by two DHS agents to identify his source. Conroy's ordeal was previously described in the May 31 edition of Secrecy News.

Bill Conroy's problems began after he wrote an April 7 article for Narco News (Narcosphere), entitled "Homeland Security memo reveals terrorism records are being sanitized." In it he cited a leaked DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) memo that ordered field supervisors to "sanitize terrorism-related case files maintained in a major law-enforcement computer system," and to purge "existing records originated by ICE and deemed to be terror-related...by reclassifying them to make them appear to be unrelated to terrorism." The implications for national security and civil liberties worried Conroy.

Not long after the article was published, two agents from DHS made surprise visits to Conroy's home and office and demanded to know the source of the leaked memo, reports Al Giordano in "Customs Cops Visit Bill Conroy with an Attack on Press Freedom," (Narcosphere, May 24).

Giordano writes, "These goons tried to intimidate his family with slimey underworld “we know where you live” tactics. And they tried to get Conroy fired from his day job by talking to his boss at a newspaper that had nothing to do with his report."

The incident confirms the fears of those who criticized DHS' recent proposal to search the homes of any employees who release information, whether or not the information is classified. Hopefully, some Congressional office is making inquiries into the questionable tactics of DHS officials.

Today's Watergate

Expectedly, the June 13 issue of Newsweek Magazine devotes much attention to "Deep Throat," the famed Watergate whistleblower. One article, "If Watergate Happened Now, " by Jonathan Alter, is must reading for anyone attempting to understand the current state of homeland security.

The subtitle reads, "With the GOP controlling Congress, there'd be no Watergate hearing." But, more than a one-party lock on Congressional action is at issue, as Alter points out. As well, there is a conservative media machinery relentlessly churning spin (AKA propaganda), and a Supreme Court inclined to let the Executive Branch shield its activities from public scrutiny. In Alter's alternative history, Woodward and Bernstein do jail time for refusing to identify sources, and Mark Felt goes public with his concerns - only to find the concerns ignored and his career burned beyond recognition. A group called "Watergate Burglars for Truth" spins the Nixon tapes into political gold.

Substitute the war on terror for "Watergate" and you have a good picture of the difficulties faced by homeland security whistleblowers today. Since the 9/11 attacks, there have been many reports that whistleblower concerns are being rejected in venues that should be receptive: Congress, the courts, the Office of Special Counsel, the news media and even the 9/11 Commission. But, national security vulnerabilities do not disappear just because they are ignored. As Alter concludes in his article, "Our long national nightmare was just beginning."

Los Alamos whistleblower assaulted

Authorities are investigating the weekend assault of a whistleblower, reports ABC news and other media sources. Yesterday, June 6, the Project on Government Oversight held a press conference, describing the brutal attack that left whistleblower, Tommy Hook hospitalized with a fractured jaw, herniated disk and severe lacerations. Mr. Hook, who is scheduled to testify before Congress on fraud at Los Alamos National Laboratory, was warned by his assailants to stay silent.

A news advisory issued Monday by POGO, offers this quote from POGO's Executive Director, Danielle Brian.

"As our nation celebrates the revelation of Deep Throat's identity, we should be mindful that blowing the whistle on corruption is still dangerous. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tommy Hook and his family. We have grown to admire Tommy's courageousness and integrity over the many months we have worked with him. This assault will only steel the resolve of Tommy Hook, Chuck Montano, and others to tell the truth."

Our thoughts and prayers are with Tommy, as well.

RELATED LINKS

CBS Evening News interview of Mr. Hook and whistleblower Chuck Montano
POGO's Hook & Montano resource page
Background information about Los Alamos
POGO blog - "Violence Against the Truth"

All can be heroes

Following is an open letter from Matthew Fogg, a member of the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition and a tireless defender of worker rights.

My Dear Deep Throat/Security Whistle-blower Coalition Colleagues,

The commentary on 'Deep Throat' has been 'deep' to say the least. Mr. Mark Felt's timing coming forward now, I believe is a 'Godsend' especially, for the likes of us who are seeking ways to bring attention to reprisals from official terrorists who work inside the government with authorized security clearances.

Yes, Supervisory Special Agent Mark Felt, a wise younger FBI agent at the time, was trained well and knew they would have burned him and his family the way Americans did run away slaves had he uncovered his identity during the Nixon Administration, irregardless of the outcome of Watergate. Many of us may not have seen the end of the terror lurking within, subsequent to our heroic modern day whistle blowing acts. But, we are still true patriots, nevertheless.

We're probably even greater patriots beyond the traditional definition because we had co-conspirator's rewards awaiting us to simply participate in the Cesspool and by placating to the majority who are led like sheep to slaughter.

The Bush administration recently publicly condemned Amnesty International USA's comparison of U.S. involvement in prisoner abuse around the world to Russian Gulags. As a board member of Amnesty International, I find this condemnation quite ironic in light of the recent 'Deep Throat whistleblower dialogue.

Well that again is a good thing because large Goliath type empires that protect its so called isolated little evil doers will continue to become infected unless little David-type heroes come along and treat the infestation with a divine driven antibiotic cure such as whistleblowing.

I believe the true nature of whistleblowing falls somewhere under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which, basically outlines the right for all humans to exist without the threat of terror from those who would be kings and dictators of mankind.

Thanks National Security Whistle-blowers Coalition, Deep Throat, and Amnesty International for really blowing the whistle and making a difference by letting others know we ALL can be hero's among heroes to save history from repeating its sordid past.

Matthew Fogg

• Member - National Security Whistle-blowers Coalition
• Member - Amnesty International USA Board of Directors
  Executive Director - CARCLE

The mirror test

Russ Tice, a whistleblower at the National Security Agency, knows well the perils of truthtelling faced by government officials like Mark Felt, the FBI official identified as Deep Throat. Responding to Lynne Larkin's comments, first published in the previous edition of Deep Harm, Tice writes:

Last night I heard the White House tapes where President Nixon discussed how they would destroy Mark Felt if he were the leak. With the new FBI director passing everything on the investigation to the White House, the Intelligence Community involved up to their noses, and many in congress willing to run interference if Mr. Felt chose the Hill as a route, there were not a lot of options left. Without a doubt, Mr. Felt knew this. In addition, as Lynne mentions, the potentiality of a physical threat was not an unreasonable belief. Clearly, the chain of command would have been wrapped around his neck and used to hang him.

I suppose the high moral road would have been for him to resign in protest and then hold a press conference. But we all know the price to be paid as whistleblowers. Is it so easy for us to condemn those that hesitate donning the gladiator's helm and entering the coliseum knowing that the likely result will be being put to the sword or dismembered by the beast? I have talked to many at NSA that would like to speak up but knowit will cost their daughter's college education, their home, their friends, their marriage, etc.

Mr. Felt weighed the options and decided not to be a martyr. No, this was not the most honorable action to take. But at least he took some kind of action. With the toothless and non-existing protections forwhistleblowing that exist today and my own experience, I would counsel anyone contemplating it to do so anonymously within their own organization first. And move up the chain anonymously from there. Then I would suggest go anonymously to the oversight committees of congress.

On the decision of going to the press, I would ask the person to answer one question of themselves. Can you live with the person in the mirror if you decide that you have done enough? If their decision were to go to the press, I would stress not saying anything that is classified that would be detrimental to the country's national security if made public.

At this point, I know I would respect that person no matter what his or her decision was.