The Man From Interpol

Ron Noble Tells Steve Kroft Agency Is Under-Funded

(CBS)  The Department of Homeland Security has 250,000 employees, yet Noble says none of them are based at Interpol. "We don't have any Department of Homeland Security employees here at Interpol. Except for a secret service agent. But none working on border protection," he says.

Asked why he thinks that is, Noble tells Kroft, "You know, I ask myself that question. I just feel like they don't get it. They don't get it."

Reporting or providing data to Interpol is voluntary, and many nations don't want to share sensitive information with the agency because they believe it could end up in the hands of other member countries, like Iran, Libya and Cuba.

"There is a perception out there among police organizations, they don't want to provide sensitive information to Interpol. Because they're afraid of who might end up having access to it," Kroft remarks.

"I agree. I'm not disputing that there's a perception out there," Noble says. "There are ways to share information without undermining the security of the information."

Security isn't the only reason that countries don't cooperate with Interpol. Sometimes they're just embarrassed. Last year, when 23 people escaped from a prison in Yemen, including the mastermind of the al Qaeda attack on the U.S.S. Cole, Interpol found out about it by monitoring Arab television.

"Worldwide in the last two years, we've had 43 countries where escapes have occurred. And zero of those countries -- zero of those countries notified Interpol. That can't happen. That shouldn't happen. People wouldn't believe it's happening, but it's happening," Noble says.

Not only is Interpol underutilized, Noble says it is also hopelessly under-funded. The U.S. contributes $5.5 million to the organization's $50 million budget, a pittance compared to big city police departments.

"NYPD, $3 billion a year. FBI, $6 billion a year. DHS, $42 billion a year. Interpol is about $50 million," Noble points out. "About the same amount that the Los Angeles Galaxy is paying for David Beckham to play football. That's what the world is contributing to Interpol to keep the citizens of the world safer that they otherwise would be."

Noble is not looking for a few million dollars, he's looking for a different mindset. "I've been doing this now for six and a half years. You know, I get up every day, you know? And I think about 'How can I make the U.S. understand this?' And I just can't. I can't. I can't," he says.

"And we know that terrorist activities are being planned," Noble says, wiping a tear. "And we know that if we don't respond, people will die. And I know I'm a smart guy. I know I work hard and I know I can persuade people to do things. I know. But I can't get the U.S. and other governments to understand that the problem's a billion-dollar-a-year problem. You know, not a million-dollar-a-year problem. But I know that it's gonna change. It's gonna happen one day."

"This concerns you," Kroft says.

"We, yeah, we could we stop," Noble says,

We gave him a few moments to compose himself.

"What was it that triggered that?" Kroft asks about Noble getting emotional.

"I keep thinking about September 11th and all the other terrorist attacks. And I’m saying I’m seeing the mistakes that are being made every day. And I think about one of these days its going to happen again," he says. "And I've gotta be able to persuade people before it happens."

"You're obviously very wrapped up in this," Kroft remarks.

"Yeah," Noble agrees.

Noble acknowledged that he may be working too hard and traveling too much. He also has some health issues that have added to the stress. Last year in a confidential letter to member nations, Noble informed them that he had developed "a benign tumor" near his brain, which has caused some hearing problems.

"I realize I'm mortal and I'm not invincible. And I feel an urgency to communicate what I wanna communicate," Noble says. "My neck is out there with this interview. And after this interview I'll go back to working like I do every other day. But I'll know that there's nothing that I held back."

---

Because of his frustration, Noble wants to raise $100 million by asking billionaires and drug and automobile companies for financial support.

The Department of Homeland Security wrote Interpol this week and said that they're looking into sending an officer to Lyon by the end of the year.

[generalmary]

Try not to be too offended. I am sure I and many of your other country men appreciate your service. Many times news shows are edited so the complete story is not told. When viewing this news program I took it to mean there was no one from DHS is France. There is an Interpol office in NYC also. I do security contact work from time to time. It is somewhat unforgiveable but actual budget amounts are also classified information. Maybe with the domestic spending on Interpol the amount is more than mentioned. Politics.

[dianaihill]

I''m offended that Mr. Knoble would make a careless and untrue statement regarding DHS. I guess the year I spent at USNCB Interpol Washington as a Department of Homeland Security employee (detailed at no expense to Interpol) didn''t count. There were at least 5-6 DHS employees detailed at all times from CBP, Secret Service, TSA, CIS and ICE.
Mr. Knoble obviously wasn''t aware of the more than 2600 cases I was working (my colleagues had just as many), the liaison work coordinating with local, state, federal and international agencies to arrest, deport and extradite the countless criminals here and abroad. A good friend and also a CBP employee was instrumental in coordinating fraudulent passport identification. The support of State, Local and Federal agency employees and the cooperation of the member countries is the only way Interpol can remain effective. Not sure what Interpol would do if all those agencies that donate their resources pulled their agents back.
I''ve always been proud of the work I did while detailed as a DHS employee to Interpol. Now I''m just disgusted that apparently I was never there!

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.

[kgb6789]

I was horrified to see photos of children and infants being sexually abused used in the Interpol segment. The internet allows these children to be abused over and over again as these photos are shared and copied and shared again. Photos that show partial faces and blurred body parts are not giving impact to a story, they are contributing to the continued victimization of the children in the photos and others like them. The importance of heroes like Mick Moran could have been conveyed without tactics more likely to shock than educate. I''m disappointed and saddened by 60 Minutes'' choice.