Freeh's Statement on Who the Threat was in 1999

The Federalist ^ | 10/11/02 | Louis Freeh

[Maigret]

Posted in Friday's Federalist Digest -

"Speaking of "bureaucratic failures" prior to 9-11, FBI Director Louis Freeh attempted to explain in a congressional hearing why the FBI failed to detect the 9-11 attack. One need look no further than the Congressional Record. On 4 February1999, 31 months prior to 9-11, when al-Qa'ida operatives were settling into American suburbs, Clinton appointee Freeh testified that domestic "right-wing groups" posed "a very real threat" to national security. "While the United States holds little credible intelligence at this time indicating that international or domestic terrorists are planning to attack United States interests domestically through the use of weapons of mass destruction, a growing number (while still small) of 'lone offender' and extremist splinter elements of right-wing groups have been identified as possessing or attempting to develop/use chemical, biological or radiological materials."

[lelio]

PBS's The Man That Knew was pretty informative on Freeh's (and in particular Pickering's) not wanting to deal with terrorism. John O'Neill tried to repeatly bring up the middle eastern threat but was shot down.
Course hindsight is 20/20 but Freeh is trying to color his legacy. Your post about him blaming domestic terrorists hits it right on the head.

[bmwcyle]

The vest left wing has lied again.

[Maigret]

Yes that Frontline should be required viewing, I couldnt' help while watching it wondering just what went through O'Neill's mind that morning. As we've heard about the latest Yemeni bombing of the French tanker I've hoped some of those he trained are part of this team of investigators.

[lelio]

The vest left wing has lied again.
As much as I would like to blame it on the left wing, its more that the blame lies at the feet of "career" FBI/other LEO that didn't want to rock the boat (see, again, the Frontline episode). Those that did try an investigate were pushed out. Oh and diplomats that didn't want to feel uncomfortable at dinner parties.

[The Great Satan]

Great catch! That quote explains a lot, doesn't it?

[Maigret]

It surely does, must be why one has to dig to find it.