FBI agent warns bureau is unprepared for
terrorist attacks: Coleen Rowley, the agent who cited the FBI’s
inadequacy before the Sept. 11 attacks, is now publicly warning that the FBI is
not prepared to deal with retaliatory terrorist attacks that might result from
invading Iraq. According to a New York Times article, Rowley is an agent in the
Minneapolis field office, but she “is not a counterterrorism specialist and
does not have access to detailed intelligence about Al Qaeda and its
planning.” Still, Rowley claims that she and her colleagues have this concern
and last week she sent a letter to FBI director Robert S. Mueller to advise him
that he should warn the White House that the bureau is unprepared to deal with
retaliatory terrorism attacks at this time. Rowley sent a copy of this letter to
the New York Times, because she said she thought it would be best to publicize
her views now as an attack on Iraq may be coming soon. Rowley also wanted to
make sure that the White House would hear her message.
Mueller testified in Congress this week about the changes the FBI has made in
its structure and approach to fight terrorism at home. “…the bureau has no
greater priority than preventing terrorist attacks against the United States —
and since the attacks of Sept. 11, the FBI has embraced this challenge and
transformed itself,” Mueller said. FBI officials have also pointed out that
Mueller has publicly addressed the fact that the United States may face
terrorist threats as a response to war with Iraq.
Supreme Court upholds California law:
Yesterday, in a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld California’s
“three-strikes” law that would sentence two men to significant prison terms
even though those men’s third strike was a crime of petty theft. According to
a New York Times article, the men were bringing constitutional challenges to
their “sentences of 25 years without parole for a man who stole three golf
clubs from a pro shop and 50 years without parole for another for stealing
children’s videotapes from a Kmart store.” The individuals had prior strikes
for mainly “minor property offenses.” Supreme Court justices criticizing the
majority opinion pointed out the “grossly disproportionate” sentence in
relation to the crime. These justices also recognized the already crowded prison
system in California, where approximately 7,000 individuals are now serving
sentences of 25 years or more, and around 300 of those individuals are serving
for a third strike that was a petty theft. Other states have version of the
“three-strikes” law but most require that he third crime be either a felony
or have a violent nature.
Allies divide over using force against Iraq: On
Wednesday, foreign ministers from France, Russia and Germany presented a
statement which said that they would not “‘let a proposed resolution pass
that would authorize the use of force’” against Iraq. Their announcement
came two days before a U.N. Security Council meeting where the main topic of
discussion will be Iraq’s response to weapons disarmament. These ministers are
permanent members on the council, which means they have veto rights to use
against proposed measures. Their statement is seen as a response to a draft of a
resolution drawn up by the United States, Britain and Spain last month that said
Iraq had “lost its last chance to disarm.” Karsten D. Voigt, the German
diplomat who coordinates policy toward America, said he did not see the
statement as a cause for a “permanent rift” between the two countries, and
German and French diplomats claim they are “simply declaring their
independence.”
Data compiled by Paige Wassel with information from the New York Times.