FBI lawyer who rejected Moussaoui search is given award

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | December 18, 2002 | Greg Gordon

[sarcasm]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A senior FBI lawyer who refused to seek a special warrant for a search of Zacarias Moussaoui's belongings before the Sept. 11 attacks is among nine recipients of bureau awards for "exceptional performance."

The award to Marion (Spike) Bowman, head of the FBI's National Security Law Unit, is sure to be controversial among Minneapolis agents who sought authorization for a search, former bureau officials said. A search after the suicide hijackings, which killed more than 3,000 people, produced clues that might have helped uncover the plot.

[spodefly]

"Screw up to move up" is alive and well in DC.

[coloradan]

"Knowing [FBI Director] Bob Mueller and how the system works, I can't imagine that there isn't full and total justification for the award" to Bowman, said Jim Kallstrom, who retired in 1997 as head of the FBI's New York office.

Jim Kallstrom should certainly know "how the system works" as he was lead FBI agent-in-charge of the TWA 800 coverup.

[JoeMomma]

"Screw up to move up" is alive and well in DC.

Meanwhile, whistleblower Colleen Rowley continues to get shunned by her government, while the screw-ups get awards from President Bush for "great service".

Feel safer?