Dennis Blair criticizes decision by FBI agents for not interrogating Crotch Bomber terrorist

janet-napolitanoFeel safe yet? According to the Washington Times, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair criticized the decision by FBI agents last month to question the Christmas Day airline bombing suspect as a criminal and not interrogate him as a terrorist.

Mr. Blair, in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, revealed a previously undisclosed disagreement among the Obama administration’s top officials over the handling of the Nigerian who is accused of attempting to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253.

The intelligence chief said Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab should have been questioned by the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group, or HIG, a special panel established by President Obama.

“We did not invoke the HIG in this case. We should have. Frankly, we were thinking more of overseas people. And, you know … that’s what we will do now. And so we need to make those decisions more carefully,” Mr. Blair told Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Republican and ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee.

Mr. Blair later issued a statement saying his remarks had been misconstrued. “The FBI interrogated Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab when they took him into custody,” he said. “They received important intelligence at that time, drawing on the FBI’s expertise in interrogation that will be available in the HIG once it is fully operational.”

The HIG was mandated in August to question terrorism suspects apprehended overseas in counterterrorism operations. It was a result of an executive order Mr. Obama issued in January 2009 that compelled all interrogations to adhere to the practices enumerated in the Army Field Manual.

The practical effect of the order was to turn over interrogation responsibilities from the CIA, which used classified techniques, to the FBI, which has more experience in preparing evidence for civilian trials.

“That unit was created exactly for this purpose,” Mr. Blair added. “To make a decision on whether a certain person who’s detained should be treated as a case for federal prosecution, or for some of the other means.”

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January 20, 2010 · Filed Under Janet Napolitano


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