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For Immediate Release
April 12, 2007
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Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691
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In Defense of the FBI
Re "Break up the FBI," Opinion,
March 21
It is difficult to determine how effective and efficient
U.S. counter-terrorism efforts are from the distant vantage
point of several years. That there have been no further
attacks on U.S. soil, and indeed that several potential
attacks have been prevented, remains noteworthy. However,
that fact alone does not lessen the FBI's determination
to continue to fine-tune and improve itself as an effective
intelligence agency that also functions as a premier law
enforcement agency.
The Justice Department inspector general's report rightly
points out the need for continued vigilance to ensure that
proper administrative steps regarding national security
letters are followed and addressed and that the process
is improved where appropriate. But the report also highlighted
the breakneck, intense environment the FBI has operated
in since 9/11 to ensure that no terrorism lead goes uncovered.
The report emphasizes that there was no malicious intent
or wrongdoing on the part of the FBI with regard to these
letters.
To assume the FBI was merely waiting on any commission's
report and not actively and intensely retooling and re-engineering
itself is a tremendous insult. As head of the Los Angeles
FBI field office, I receive detailed briefings and threat
assessments from a host of sources. The law enforcement
and public safety community in our territory receives the
same briefs. From them, decisions are made for the purpose
of keeping the seven counties that make up the Central
District of California—the Los Angeles FBI's territory—as
safe as humanly possible.
Steve
Tidwell, Assistant Director in Charge
of the L.A. Field Office, FBI
(As printed in the Los Angeles Times on
March 28, 2007)
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