For Immediate Release
June 8, 2005
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Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691
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FBI RESPONDS
TO INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT
Washington, D.C. - The
FBI responded today to the release of the Inspector General's Report entitled "A
Review of the FBI's Handling of Intelligence Information Related to the September
11 Attacks."
Since 9/11, the FBI has
undergone a transformation aimed at strengthening our ability to predict
and prevent acts of terrorism. Throughout this process, we have incorporated
feedback and recommendations from outside experts into our reform plans,
and this has contributed a great deal to our success. That is why we asked
the Inspector General to conduct this review shortly after the 9/11 tragedy.
As noted in our response
to the Inspector General, appended to his report, the FBI has taken substantial
steps to address the issues presented in the report. The Inspector General's
recommendations are well reasoned and consistent with similar recommendations
made by others. Most have been incorporated into our reform plans in some
form and have either been completed or are well underway. In the months since
the report was completed, we have continued to make substantial improvements.
Today, preventing terrorist
attacks is the top priority in every FBI office and division, and no terrorism
lead goes unaddressed. Stronger centralized management has strengthened accountability,
improved information sharing, facilitated coordination with outside partners,
and guided a national counterterrorism strategy.
The FBI has built a national
intelligence program that leverages the organization=s investigative capabilities
to identify and resolve intelligence needs, to analyze intelligence, and
to share it as widely as possible. We established a Directorate of Intelligence
to coordinate and manage intelligence functions throughout the Bureau and
stood up dedicated intelligence groups in every field office. We enhanced
our cadre of intelligence analysts with hundreds of new hires, new training,
and a clear career path. We changed the criteria by which Special Agents,
field offices, and investigative programs are evaluated to emphasize intelligence-related
functions, such as the production and dissemination of intelligence reports.
With enhanced connectivity
and new policies to facilitate information sharing, we are working more closely
with our partners than ever before. FBI agents and analysts now work side-by-side
with CIA, Department of Defense, and Homeland Security personnel at the new
National Counterterrorism Center, with state, local, and tribal law enforcement
on task forces around the country, and in joint operations overseas. We are
doing more than just sharing information; we are integrating intelligence
gathered at home and overseas to provide a coordinated strategic and tactical
response to threats. We look forward to working with the new Director of
National Intelligence to further integrate the FBI into the Intelligence
Community.
More remains to be done,
and further improvements are underway. We are grateful to the Office of the
Inspector General for their many contributions to our reform efforts.
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