November 9, 2010

The 'Wall' Continues to Hamstring Anti-Terror Activities

By Elise Cooper
The 9/11 attacks occurred in part because the intelligence on terrorist dangers was suppressed as a result of a policy known as "the wall." This policy prevented the intelligence and prosecution sides from sharing information. On April 13, 2004, Attorney General Ashcroft told the 9/11 Commission that the "wall" between law enforcement and intelligence was responsible for many of the failures. FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) was brought into existence during the Carter administration in response to the intelligence scandals of the mid-1970s because of the assumption that the intelligence agencies acted improperly. A set of rules was written for intelligence-gathering in the states to make sure wiretaps and surveillance were carried out in accordance with the law. The rules that apply to law enforcement wiretaps were not appropriate for intelligence wiretaps, which require more flexibility. The idea behind FISA was that the contact between prosecutors...(Read Full Article)