VOICE ONE:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the main investigatingagency of the United States Department of Justice. The JusticeDepartment recently announced new measures to help the F-B-I fightterrorism. I’m Sarah Long.
VOICE TWO:
And I’m Steve Ember. The F-B-I is our report today on the VOASpecial English program, THIS IS AMERICA.
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VOICE ONE:
For many years, F-B-I agents investigated threats to nationalsecurity. Now, however, F-B-I Director Robert S. Mueller (MUHL- er)has told Congress that the Bureau’s main responsibility must be toprotect the United States from terrorist attacks.
The Justice Department recentlyannounced a major reorganization of the F-B-I. The size of theagency will be increased. F-B-I agents also will have new powers toinvestigate inside the United States. Most of the reforms are toimprove the F-B-I’s ability to gather and study intelligenceinformation about terrorists planning attacks on the United States.
The changes are in reaction to recent criticism of the F-B-I.Many people have questioned its actions in relation to the terroristattacks on the United States last September eleventh.
VOICE TWO:
President Bush says the F-B-I and the Central Intelligence Agencydid not share reports of suspicious activities before the terroristattacks. Mister Bush says the F-B-I and C-I-A failed to cooperate.However, the president also says he does not believe the terroristsattacks could have been prevented.
On September eleventh, Islamic extremists in hijacked Americanplanes struck and destroyed the World Trade Center in New York City.They also damaged the Defense Department headquarters nearWashington, D.C. Another hijacked plane crashed in Pennsylvania. Theattacks killed more than three-thousand people.
VOICE ONE:
This summer, the intelligence committees of the House ofRepresentatives and the Senate are studying anti-terrorismactivities. The thirty-seven members of this joint group arestudying American intelligence since the nineteen-eighties. However,the investigation will deal mostly with events linked to theSeptember attacks.
President Bush supports this investigation. However, Mister Bushhas expressed concern that the F-B-I and the C-I-A may waste timeblaming each other for intelligence failings. Instead, he says theyshould work to prevent future attacks. A plan is being developed forincreasing co-operation between the two agencies.
VOICE TWO:
F-B-I Director Mueller says his agency is spending a great dealof time and effort working to prevent future attacks. For example,he says the F-B-I has identified a number of suspected terrorists.These people have possible links to the al-Qaida terrorist group. Hesays agents are spending many hours watching them.
The F-B-I plans to hire nine-hundred more agents. They includepeople skilled in computer technology, science and languages. Theywill join about eleven-thousand-five-hundred other F-B-I agents. Acentral Office of Intelligence will be established in the F-B-IWashington headquarters. The F-B-I already has appointed a number ofofficials to intelligence positions.
VOICE ONE:
Mister Mueller and Justice Department officials say the new ruleswill greatly improve F-B-I performance. For example, commanders atagency offices will now be able to order investigations that arelimited in time. In the past, they needed permission from F-B-Iheadquarters to do this. The commanders also can start limitedinvestigations when no crime has taken place. Evidence gatheredduring this time could help launch extended investigations.
In addition, agents will be able to gather information from theInternet computer system and from libraries. They will be able tocollect information about religious and political organizations. Andagents will be able to observe activities in public places,including religious centers.
VOICE TWO:
Some civil rights groups, however, say the new rules interferewith traditional American rights. They say privacy and free speechmight be threatened. They note that a Senate committee said theBureau acted wrongly or illegally a number of times innineteen-seventy-five. Those cases were connected to civil rightsand the Vietnam War.
Critics of the new rules say the F-B-I might investigatepolitical dissenters without any evidence of wrongdoing. ManyAmerican Muslims say they fear the possibility of F-B-I agentstargeting them unfairly.
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VOICE ONE:
Robert Mueller became F-B-I director shortly before the terroristattacks last September. He has said he agrees with some recentcriticisms of agency actions. For example, he says he welcomes thecomments of F-B-I agent and lawyer Coleen Rowley. Mizz Rowley worksin the F-B-I office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She wrote to MisterMueller to criticize the investigation of the only person charged inthe September eleventh attacks.
Zacarias Moussaoui (zah-cah-RYE-usmoo-SOW-ee) has been in jail since August. A Minnesota flight schoolhad become suspicious of him and called the F-B-I. Officialsarrested him on immigration charges. But Mizz Rowley says bureauofficials blocked efforts to further investigate Mister Moussaoui.Officials now believe he was training to join the attackers.
VOICE TWO:
Mizz Rowley also answered questions about the case before theSenate Judiciary Committee. She said some F-B-I supervisors do notwant to make any unusual or special efforts. Mizz Rowley said suchofficials may punish agents for trying to do their jobs well. Shesaid this creates fear at the F-B-I.
Mizz Rowley also said the Bureau suffers from lack ofcommunication and has too many levels of supervisors. And, she saidthe F-B-I computer system is old and ineffective.
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VOICE ONE:
The F-B-I investigates more than two-hundred-fifty kinds offederal crimes in addition to terrorism. These include kidnapping,hijacking and organized crime. It provides evidence in legal actionsinvolving the federal government. The agency searches for fleeingcriminals when asked by state and local officials.
About twenty-seven-thousand menand women serve in the F-B-I. They work in more than fifty officesin the United States and in several offices in other countries.F-B-I agents investigate many kinds of crimes including bankrobberies, spying and crimes involving computers.
Over the years, the F-B-I has been praised for a number of majorinvestigations. For example, agents helped catch the men who firstattacked the World Trade Center in nineteen-ninety-three. The F-B-Ialso found the bomber of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building inOklahoma City, Oklahoma, in nineteen-ninety-five.
VOICE TWO:
The present F-B-I developed from an agency called the Bureau ofInvestigation. It started in nineteen-oh-eight with fewer thanthirty-five employees.
A Justice Department lawyer, J. Edgar Hoover, was named directorof the Bureau of Investigation in nineteen-twenty-four. He served asdirector for almost forty-eight years, until his death innineteen-seventy-two. At the time Mister Hoover became its leader,the agency was said to be disorganized and dishonest. He reformedthe Bureau.
The agency was named the Federal Bureau of Investigation innineteen-thirty-five.
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People can learn about themodern F-B-I by visiting its headquarters in Washington, D.C. Butfirst, they must call the agency to make an appointment. The hugeF-B-I building is on Pennsylvania Avenue, not far from the WhiteHouse.
Visitors can see equipment used to examine many substances,including blood, hair and clothing. They can see where scientistsexamine genetic material from crime victims and suspects. They canlearn about the famous F-B-I fingerprint and gun collections.
Visitors can see stolen goods taken from criminals. They can seepictures of people on the F-B-I list of the Ten Most WantedFugitives. Many criminals have been caught because of the MostWanted list. Visitors also can learn how the agency helps foreignlaw-enforcement agencies throughout the world.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been severely criticizedin recent months. Still, it remains one of America’s main defensesagainst crime and terrorism.
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VOICE TWO:
This program was written by Jerilyn Watson. It was produced byCaty Weaver. I’m Steve Ember.
VOICE ONE:
And I’m Sarah Long. Join us again next week for another reportabout life in the United States on the VOA Special English program,THIS IS AMERICA.