Good afternoon.
Over the last
24 hours, I've had the opportunity to meet with the key state and
local leaders involved in planning the 2002 Winter Olympics here
in Salt Lake City. I received security briefings from local FBI
officials, the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command, and other government
representatives and spoke with U.S. Attorneys from Utah, Montana,
and Idaho.
I appreciate
these leaders and professionals taking the time to talk with me,
and I have been extremely impressed with their dedication and resolve.
It's clear to me that a tremendous amount of hard work, coordination,
and forethought have gone into ensuring a safe, secure, and successful
Winter Olympics. Security preparations have been underway for more
than six years, and I am confident that these plans are sound, comprehensive,
and effectively adjusted for the realities of September 11th. The
full resources of the state, local, and federal governments are
being deployed, with more than 7,000 security and public safety
and health professionals from 80 different agencies standing ready,
and I believe this team is as well prepared and well trained as
the athletes themselves.
I am especially
pleased to see the high level of teamwork and cooperation among
the various security and law enforcement professionals here. The
Utah Olympic Public Safety Command is, in my mind, a model of cooperation,
and I thank them for their efforts. During our meeting this morning,
I assured them that the FBI is absolutely committed to providing
the right level of support and information to our federal, state,
and local partners. I also shared with them the steps the Bureau
is taking to respond to their needs and concerns, including the
appointment of high level executives in the FBI who will be focused
on strengthening our relationships.
Finally, I
want to thank the men and women of the FBI's Salt Lake City field
office, which covers the states of Utah, Idaho, and Montana. They
have had a full plate these past several months. They have not only
handled their traditional responsibilities and helped prepare for
the Olympics, they have also covered 940 leads in our investigation
of the September 11th attacks and responded to more than 150 anthrax
threats or hoaxes. Through it all, they have done a tremendous job.
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