|
THIS IS AMERICA
–
June 17, 2002: Reform of the FBI
By Jerilyn Watson
VOICE ONE:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the main investigating agency of the United States Department of Justice.
The Justice Department recently announced new measures to help the F-B-I fight terrorism. I’m Sarah Long.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Steve Ember. The F-B-I is our report today on the VOA Special English
program, THIS IS AMERICA.
((THEME)
)
VOICE ONE:
For many years, F-B-I agents investigated threats to national security. Now, however, F-B-I Director Robert S.
Mueller (MUHL-er) has told Congress that the Bureau’s main responsibility must be to protect the United
States from terrorist attacks.
The Justice Department recently announced a major reorganization of the F-B-I.
The size of the agency will be increased. F-B-I agents also will have new powers to
investigate inside the United States. Most of the reforms are to improve the F-B-I’
s ability to gather and study intelligence information about terrorists planning
attacks on the United States.
The changes are in reaction to recent criticism of the F-B-I. Many people have
questioned its actions in relation to the terrorist attacks on the United States last
September eleventh.
VOICE TWO:
President Bush says the F-B-I and the Central Intelligence Agency did not share reports of suspicious activities
before the terrorist attacks. Mister Bush says the F-B-I and C -I-A failed to cooperate. However, the president also
says he does not believe the terrorists attacks could have been prevented.
On September eleventh, Islamic extremists in hijacked American planes struck and destroyed the World Trade
Center in New York City. They also damaged the Defense Department headquarters near Washington, D.C.
Another hijacked plane crashed in Pennsylvania. The attacks killed more than three-thousand people.
VOICE ONE:
This summer, the intelligence committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate are studying antiterrorism
activities. The thirty-seven members of this joint group are studying American intelligence since the
nineteen-eighties. However, the investigation will deal mostly with events linked to the September attacks.
President Bush supports this investigation. However, Mister Bush has expressed concern that the F-B-I and the
C-I-A may waste time blaming each other for intelligence failings. Instead, he says they should work to prevent
future attacks. A plan is being developed for increasing co-operation between the two agencies.
VOICE TWO:
F-B-I Director Mueller says his agency is spending a great deal of time and effort working to prevent future
attacks. For example, he says the F-B-I has identified a number of suspected terrorists. These people have
possible links to the al-Qaida terrorist group. He says agents are spending many hours watching them.
The F-B-I plans to hire nine-hundred more agents. They include people skilled in computer technology, science
and languages. They will join about eleven-thousand-five -hundred other F -B-I agents. A central Office of
Intelligence will be established in the F-B-I Washington headquarters. The F-B-I already has appointed a number
of officials to intelligence positions.
VOICE ONE:
Mister Mueller and Justice Department officials say the new rules will greatly improve F-B-I performance. For
example, commanders at agency offices will now be able to order investigations that are limited in time. In the
past, they needed permission from F-B-I headquarters to do this. The commanders also can start limited
investigations when no crime has taken place. Evidence gathered during this time could help launch extended
investigations.
In addition, agents will be able to gather information from the Internet computer system and from libraries. They
will be able to collect information about religious and political organizations. And agents will be able to observe
activities in public places, including religious centers.
VOICE TWO:
Some civil rights groups, however, say the new rules interfere with traditional American rights. They say privacy
and free speech might be threatened. They note that a Senate committee said the Bureau acted wrongly or
illegally a number of times in nineteen-seventy-five. Those cases were connected to civil rights and the Vietnam
War.
Critics of the new rules say the F-B-I might investigate political dissenters without any evidence of wrongdoing.
Many American Muslims say they fear the possibility of F-B-I agents targeting them unfairly.
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
VOICE ONE:
Robert Mueller became F-B-I director shortly before the terrorist attacks last September. He has said he agrees
with some recent criticisms of agency actions. For example, he says he welcomes the comments of F-B-I agent
and lawyer Coleen Rowley. Mizz Rowley works in the F-B-I office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She wrote to
Mister Mueller to criticize the investigation of the only person charged in the September eleventh attacks.
Zacarias Moussaoui (zah-cah-RYE-us moo-SOW-ee) has been in jail since August.
A Minnesota flight school had become suspicious of him and called the F-B-I.
Officials arrested him on immigration charges. But Mizz Rowley says bureau
officials blocked efforts to further investigate Mister Moussaoui. Officials now
believe he was training to join the attackers.
VOICE TWO:
Mizz Rowley also answered questions about the case before the Senate Judiciary
Committee. She said some F-B-I supervisors do not want to make any unusual or
special efforts. Mizz Rowley said such officials may punish agents for trying to do
their jobs well. She said this creates fear at the F-B-I.
Mizz Rowley also said the Bureau suffers from lack of communication and has too many levels of supervisors.
And, she said the F-B-I computer system is old and ineffective.
((MUSIC BRIDGE)
VOICE ONE:
The F-B-I investigates more than two-hundred-fifty kinds of federal crimes in addition to terrorism. These
include kidnapping, hijacking and organized crime. It provides evidence in legal actions involving the federal
government. The agency searches for fleeing criminals when asked by state and local officials.
About twenty-seven-thousand men and women serve in the F-B-I. They work in
more than fifty offices in the United States and in several offices in other countries.
F-B-I agents investigate many kinds of crimes including bank robberies, spying and
crimes involving computers.
Over the years, the F-B-I has been praised for a number of major investigations. For
example, agents helped catch the men who first attacked the World Trade Center in
nineteen-ninety-three. The F-B-I also found the bomber of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, in nineteen-ninety-five.
VOICE TWO:
The present F-B-I developed from an agency called the Bureau of Investigation. It started in nineteen-oh -eight
with fewer than thirty-five employees.
A Justice Department lawyer, J. Edgar Hoover, was named director of the Bureau of Investigation in nineteen-
twenty-four. He served as director for almost forty-eight years, until his death in nineteen-seventy-two. At the
time Mister Hoover became its leader, the agency was said to be disorganized and dishonest. He reformed the
Bureau.
The agency was named the Federal Bureau of Investigation in nineteen-thirty-five.
VOICE ONE:
People can learn about the modern F-B-I by visiting its headquarters in Washington,
D.C. But first, they must call the agency to make an appointment. The huge F-B-I
building is on Pennsylvania Avenue, not far from the White House.
Visitors can see equipment used to examine many substances, including blood, hair
and clothing. They can see where scientists examine genetic material from crime
victims and suspects. They can learn about the famous F-B-I fingerprint and gun
collections.
Visitors can see stolen goods taken from criminals. They can see pictures of people on the F-B-I list of the Ten
Most Wanted Fugitives. Many criminals have been caught because of the Most Wanted list. Visitors also can
learn how the agency helps foreign law -enforcement agencies throughout the world.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been severely criticized in recent months. Still, it remains one of
America ’s main defenses against crime and terrorism.
((THEME))
VOICE TWO:
This program was written by Jerilyn Watson. It was produced by Caty Weaver. I’m Steve Ember.
VOICE ONE:
And I’m Sarah Long. Join us again next week for another report about life in the United States on the VOA
Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.
Email this article to a friend
Printer Friendly Version
|