CONGRESSIONAL
HEARING ON THE 9-11 COMMISSION REPORT
FBI Testifies on Bureau Policies, Steps, and Reforms
08/04/04
Yesterday John Pistole,
Executive Assistant Director of FBI Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence,
testified before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on FBI
reforms--a hearing held in response to the 9-11 Commission's publication
of its final report and recommendations on July 22.
This was the first in
a series of hearings in which the FBI will participate. And we will be
sure to post all future statements as they become available.
We strongly encourage
you to read the current
statement in full. Your understanding and support of FBI policies,
steps, and reforms designed to PREVENT TERRORIST ATTACKS are key to our
success. Here are just a very few highlights of our report to Congress:
Since 9/11/2001, we...
- Made
an 111% increase in Special Agents assigned to terrorism matters.
- Made
an 86% increase in intelligence analysts.
- Made
a 117% increase in linguists.
- Established,
staffed, and are operating: a 24/7 Counterterrorism Watch;
an interagency National Joint Terrorism Task Force that
coordinates 84 interagency Joint Terrorism Task Forces in
FBI field offices across the United States; a Terrorism Financing
Operation Section; operational "Fly Teams";
an interagency Terrorism Screening Center; a Foreign
Terrorist Tracking Task Force; a Terrorism Reports
and Requirements Section; and a Counterterrorism Analysis
Section.
- Established,
staffed, and are operating an Enterprise-wide Intelligence
Program based on Concepts of Operation in 9 core function
areas...with Field Intelligence Groups (including
other agency members) in every FBI field office.
- For
intelligence and information sharing purposes, established the FBI
Intelligence Bulletin, the FBI National Alert System,
and the interagency Alert System; joined our partners
at the Terrorist Threat Integration Center; and share
widely with the Intelligence community through Reports, Assessments,
and Bulletins.
- To
strengthen international partnerships, expanded (and are continuing
to expand) overseas Legal Attaché offices.
Links: The
War on Terrorism | Intelligence
Program