Schumer: Ashcroft & FBI Falling Way Short in War on Terrorism

SCHUMER: ASHCROFT & FBI FALLING WAY SHORT IN WAR ON TERRORISM; FAILED TO TAKE ADEQUATE CORRECTIVE ACTION EVEN AFTER 9/11

Schumer Says Major FBI Overhaul is Needed, Only Question is Whether New Agency Should Be Inside or Outside FBI

FBI Progress Much Too Slow; Problems That Plagued Department of Justice Before 9/11 Still Not Fixed Today

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today blasted Attorney General John Ashcroft and the FBI for failing to fix flaws in our national security network exposed by the attacks of 9/11

"In the war on terrorism, John Ashcroft has frequently gone overboard when dealing with liberties, but hasn't even gotten the ship out of port when it comes to administration, coordination, technology, and funding," Schumer said. "Thirty-one months after 9/11, the FBI's computer system is still an unmitigated disaster, we're woefully short on appropriately trained analysts and translators, and the Administration steadfastly refuses to adequately fund the war on terror."

"It's simply indefensible that the FBI's computer system still won't be up and running by the third anniversary of 9/11. And amazingly, 'lone wolf terrorist' legislation that Attorney General Ashcroft claims to support, is still languishing in the House nearly a year after it overwhelmingly passed the Senate," Schumer added. "Attorney General Ashcroft is quick to criticize others for handcuffing intelligence gathering, but he hasn't lifted a finger to help pass a law that, if it had been in place before 9/11, might have helped unravel the terrorists' plot."

"The only way we get to real security is by drastically overhauling the FBI. The only question is whether we create a new organization within the FBI or outside of it," Schumer said.