Obama To FBI: "We Are Counting On You"
Offering a robust endorsement for the FBI and its leadership, President Barack Obama on Tuesday praised the bureau's employees for their commitment to staying "one step ahead of all who step outside of the law."
"We are counting on you," Mr. Obama said from an outdoor courtyard at FBI headquarters, where he was greeted by sustained cheers.
Thousands crammed the plaza, while many other FBI workers peered down from their windows. Mr. Obama thanked them all for embracing "a profound transformation" in their mission and their capabilities.
"With the attacks of 9/11, your mission became focused more than ever before on prevention, so that we have the capacity to uncover terrorist plots before they take hold," he said. "With the spread of new technologies you increasingly confronted adversaries in unconventional areas, from transnational networks to cybercrimes and espionage. And through it all, you must continue to stay one step ahead of all who step outside of the law."
Mr. Obama's brief stop at the FBI was part of a broader effort in support of the crime-fighting and intelligence community. He went to the CIA last week in a morale boost for employees after controversy erupted over his decision to release Bush-era memos detailing harsh interrogations methods against terror suspects.
At the start on Tuesday, Mr. Obama got a big burst of applause when he donned the FBI cap given to him by the bureau's director, Robert Mueller.
On a more sober note, the president warned of a long struggle against al Qaeda terrorists.
He repeatedly said the FBI protects both U.S. security and ideals, rejecting what he called a "false choice" between preserving one or the other.
"We know that al Qaeda is not constrained by a constitution or by allegiance to anything other than a hateful ideology and a determination to kill as many innocents as possible," Mr. Obama said. "But what makes the United States of America so special is precisely the fact that we are willing to uphold our values and our ideals, not just when it's easy but when it's hard."
The president said he knew the bureau's mission was difficult.
"Many of you made enormous sacrifices and are incredibly dedicated," Mr. Obama said. "Living our values means that we must hold ourselves to higher standard than our enemies. We face a long struggle against a determined adversary."
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "We are counting on you," Mr. Obama said from an outdoor courtyard at FBI headquarters, where he was greeted by sustained cheers.
Thousands crammed the plaza, while many other FBI workers peered down from their windows. Mr. Obama thanked them all for embracing "a profound transformation" in their mission and their capabilities.
"With the attacks of 9/11, your mission became focused more than ever before on prevention, so that we have the capacity to uncover terrorist plots before they take hold," he said. "With the spread of new technologies you increasingly confronted adversaries in unconventional areas, from transnational networks to cybercrimes and espionage. And through it all, you must continue to stay one step ahead of all who step outside of the law."
Mr. Obama's brief stop at the FBI was part of a broader effort in support of the crime-fighting and intelligence community. He went to the CIA last week in a morale boost for employees after controversy erupted over his decision to release Bush-era memos detailing harsh interrogations methods against terror suspects.
At the start on Tuesday, Mr. Obama got a big burst of applause when he donned the FBI cap given to him by the bureau's director, Robert Mueller.
On a more sober note, the president warned of a long struggle against al Qaeda terrorists.
He repeatedly said the FBI protects both U.S. security and ideals, rejecting what he called a "false choice" between preserving one or the other.
"We know that al Qaeda is not constrained by a constitution or by allegiance to anything other than a hateful ideology and a determination to kill as many innocents as possible," Mr. Obama said. "But what makes the United States of America so special is precisely the fact that we are willing to uphold our values and our ideals, not just when it's easy but when it's hard."
The president said he knew the bureau's mission was difficult.
"Many of you made enormous sacrifices and are incredibly dedicated," Mr. Obama said. "Living our values means that we must hold ourselves to higher standard than our enemies. We face a long struggle against a determined adversary."
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It's wasted millions in monies in getting a computer system implemented, its' members go to Capitol Hill and give false testimony, it doesn't seem to have well-defined mission statements, it doesn't listen to or act upon intelligence gathered by its' agents in the field when it should! It appears to "drive out" any agent who is competent which isn't too productive! And, didn't it fail to account for its' budget in the recent past?
I'm sorry---these are just the things I remember off the top of my head! I mean if a guy looked into it---I'm sure he could find a plethora of reasons to take the action that I suggest!
NO, the FBI is NOT a model of efficiency by any stretch of the imagination! I'd streamline it!