An Accountable FBI: Robert Mueller should resign.

Opinion Journal ^ | 05/31/2002 | editorial board

[Pokey78]

In the wake of September 11, the public can be forgiven for thinking that America's intelligence agencies are more Maxwell Smart than James Bond. The issue now is whether, and how, the CIA and FBI can regain public confidence and deter future attacks.

[Fred Mertz]

If Mr. Mueller had wanted to send a message to change the FBI mindset, he would have fired the supervisory special agent who ignored the Minneapolis warnings on Moussaoui. Instead, Ms. Rowley says, that agent was promoted. All of this suggests that Mr. Mueller isn't willing or able to change the FBI culture.

Mueller needs to go.

[ladyinred]

Mueller was FBI director about 2 or 3 weeks when this happened. I cannot understand why people are calling for his firing and/or resignation.
If someone needs to have a scapegoat, let's look at the dear man who dismantled the FBI, Louie Freesh, or however his name is spelled!
The Clinton administration wasted no time when they took over making sure that our law enforcement agencies would be rendered useless.

[SlickWillard]

If Mr. Mueller had wanted to send a message to change the FBI mindset, he would have fired the supervisory special agent who ignored the Minneapolis warnings on Moussaoui.

I don't know why these people aren't on trial for some kind of felony negligence, if not outright manslaughter. The muckety-mucks at Justice who refused to pursue the subpoena to search Moussaoui's computer should be shot.

[Texasforever]

Mueller needs to go.

Yeah that's the ticket. Who is his replacement?

[Fred Mertz]

Fred25 should be his replacement. Isn't that you?

[Brandon]

Mueller was FBI director about 2 or 3 weeks when this happened. I cannot understand why people are calling for his firing and/or resignation.

It's because some people need a scapegoat. Fortunately, President Bush doesn't seem to be among them. Mueller needs to be given a chance to show what he can do. He's put his proposal on the table; let's see what happens.

[Texasforever]

Damn there is a blast from the past. Did he just leave or what?

[mass55th]

"Mueller was FBI director about 2 or 3 weeks when this happened."

It was more like 3-4 days before 9/11. Even more of a reason to give the guy a break.

[sailor4321]

After Waco, Ruby Ridge, the Hanssen spy case, and now September 11, the lesson is that mistakes will go unpunished or be covered up, especially if they're committed close to the top. Specifically, this goes to the heart of the credibility of Mr. Mueller.

At last! A serious proposal to make the FBI accountable. It is clear that while this guy wasn't responsible for the 9/11 screw-up, he has shown by his unwillingness to take effective "kick-butt" action that he is NOT the man who should be left in charge of this agency.

[cva66snipe]

It's because some people need a scapegoat. Fortunately, President Bush doesn't seem to be among them. Mueller needs to be given a chance to show what he can do.

The man did the harm to himself it appears. Tis better to say we are in the process of investigating our records, files, & procedures, to see if we overlooked anything, than to continue peddling a backwards bicycle and retracting your words which bring the integrity of your office and the FBI into question. Mueller knew better than this he was career FBI. Even the word "No Comment" would not have been as damaging.

For the record Freeh was more at fault along with several other directors past in the FBI's gross mismanagement. The Bush SR / Reno FBI needs a big shake up and some lessons on just what their job actually is. It's not to go and arrest a two bit cult leader with a full scale tactical invasion when a county deputy could have done it safely likely without inicident at another location and saved innocent lives. I want to see change in the FBI and this is not a good start.

[DuncanWaring]

...arrest a two bit cult leader with a full scale tactical invasion...

As I recall, that was actually ATF.

[DuncanWaring]

Who is his replacement?

Donald Rumsfeld?

[Texasforever]

Donald Rumsfeld?

Yeah, we don't need Rumsfeld in that worthless position he is occupying. Look, what in the heck has Mueller done to deserve this derision?

[Texasforever]

For the record Freeh was more at fault along with several other directors past in the FBI's gross mismanagement

Just a bit of history. The "scapegoat" is the Church Commission of the 70's. That is when the FBI and the CIA were relegated to little more than beat cops. What Mueller has done is put the prime mission of Hoover’s FBI back into play. He has shifted the focus from investigating crimes after they have been committed back to preventing crimes in the planning stages.

[Illbay]

In the era B.C. (Before Clinton), this would have happened.

Now, however, you can be guilty of being totally asleep at the switch, just as long as you cry on camera and say you're sorry. Preferably do an "Oprah" interview (beginning and ending by kissing her), and all is forgiven.

You may continue your not-fit-for-anything-else-but-public "service" without further ado.

Oh, and anyone who brings it up again afterward is "insensitive" and needs to be hounded into an early grave.

[beckett]

Total crock. Mueller should, an no doubt will, ignore it.

[america-rules]

"Yeah that's the ticket. Who is his replacement? "

RUDY, RUDY, RUDY !

If not for skills then for the morale of the country !

[brat]

"Mueller was FBI director about 2 or 3 weeks when this happened. I cannot understand why people are calling for his firing and/or resignation."

I agree. Why should he be made a scapegoat? Seems to me he's been working overtime to get a handle on what has gone wrong. He should be given a chance.