WASHINGTON — “EVERYBODY WOULD be winging it.” That is how one law enforcement official described the likely Justice Department response to an attack involving weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

The remark was included in a critical report by the department’s inspector general, which concluded that the department “is not prepared to fulfill its role . . . to ensure public safety and security in the event of a WMD incident,” including those involving biological, chemical or nuclear weapons.

The only Justice component to receive high marks was the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which the report noted had specific policies in place to deal with a WMD attack and routinely carried out WMD-specific training for agents and other personnel.

Not so the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Agency or the U.S. Marshals Service.

The ATF, for example, had been tapped to coordinate federal law enforcement’s response and its efforts to dovetail with local and state efforts in such matters as sealing off buildings and areas subject to WMD exposure. But the agency has no policies or training focused specifically on reacting to a WMD attack, and many officials within the Justice Department were not aware of the agency’s critical role nor had they worked with any other component, including the FBI, to coordinate efforts in the event of an attack.

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By Allan Lengel

WASHINGTON – The good news is that the FBI “has taken appropriate steps to prepare to respond to a potential” weapons of mass destruction (WMD) attack, according to a just released Justice Department’s Inspector General report.

Now the bad news: “We concluded that the Department of Justice as a whole and components within the Department have not implemented adequate WMD response plans,” the report  says. “As a result, the Department is not fully prepared to provide a coordinated response to a WMD incident.”

In other words, the American people are still more vulnerable than they should  be.

The report was particularly critical of ATF, which it says has been designated with coordinating the federal law enforcement response.

“We found that the Department and ATF have not fulfilled the Department’s role for coordinating the federal law enforcement response activities…For example, the Department and ATF have not made personnel assignments to manage these activities, and ATF has not developed a catalog of law enforcement resources – people and equipment – available to be deployed in the event of a WMD incident.”

ATF did not immediately respond for comment Tuesday.

The FBI, which has often taken a hit in previous Inspector General reports, comes out on top in this one.

“The FBI has developed various plans, handbooks, and other resources to guide its staff in responding to a WMD incident. Further, the FBI regularly provides its staff with training specific to WMD incidents,” the report said.

“The FBI provides WMD training for all new Special Agents during their initial FBI Academy training, and FBI WMD Coordinators and Intelligence Analysts are trained in specific WMD areas of emphasis. The FBI also provides training to a designated cadre of its Special Agents in Charge to serve as Senior Federal Law Enforcement Officials.”

“We found that no Department law enforcement component, other than the FBI, has specific WMD operational response plans, the report said. “ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS) each have groups that manage all-hazards responses, but these groups do not include specific preparations for WMD incidents.”

To read full report click here.

photo-stanford.edu

Saddam Hussein was the master of illusion. With all the intelligence the world had, he still was able to give everyone, including the U.S., the impression he had weapons of mass destruction.  While captive, he let down his guard while talking to FBI agent George Pero, who even gave Hussein some of his mother’s baked goods. I heard Pero speak one day and he said his mother wasn’t so happy when she heard Hussein was the recipient of those goodies.

By James Gordon Meek
New York Daily News
WASHINGTON - Saddam Hussein feared Iran’s arsenal more than a U.S. attack, and even considered asking ex-President George W. Bush “to protect” Iraq from its neighbor, once secret FBI files show.

The FBI interrogations of the toppled tyrant – codename “Desert Spider” – were declassified after a Freedom of Information Act request.

The records show Saddam happily boasted of duping the world about stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. And he consistently denied cooperating with Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda.

Of all his enemies, Iraq’s ex-president – who insisted he still held office during captivity – hated Iran most.

For Full Story

Read 2004 FBI File