Scribd
Upload
261 views

Federal Bureau of Investigation 2001 (Abridged) Case Analysis

The document summarizes key issues with the FBI's operations prior to 9/11 and provides recommendations. The issues included: [1] Inefficient outdated IT systems hampered information sharing; [2] Lack of information sharing between agencies and within the FBI; [3] Turf battles between different FBI departments reduced cooperation. Recommendations focused on: [1] Upgrading IT systems to facilitate data entry and analysis; [2] Creating joint threat units and improving internal/external communication; [3] Fostering collaboration between departments through training and respecting all roles.

Uploaded by

Anjali Dahiya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
261 views

Federal Bureau of Investigation 2001 (Abridged) Case Analysis

The document summarizes key issues with the FBI's operations prior to 9/11 and provides recommendations. The issues included: [1] Inefficient outdated IT systems hampered information sharing; [2] Lack of information sharing between agencies and within the FBI; [3] Turf battles between different FBI departments reduced cooperation. Recommendations focused on: [1] Upgrading IT systems to facilitate data entry and analysis; [2] Creating joint threat units and improving internal/external communication; [3] Fostering collaboration between departments through training and respecting all roles.

Uploaded by

Anjali Dahiya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Federal Bureau of Investigation

2001 (Abridged)

Case Analysis

Section C Group 6

Anjali Dahiya BJ20128


Poornesh Hathwar BJ20155
Pushkar Khatod BJ20159
Saloni Malhotra BJ20166
Swapnil Prakash BJ20175
Core Issues & Analysis

 Inefficient IT systems

Information Technology services were heavily criticized. As of September 2000, an


inspector from the U.S. Department of Justice reported: "More than 13,000 desktop
computers have been used for 4 to 8 years which were unable to run basic software,
besides the outdated communication network. They believed that a real agent only
requires a notebook, a pen, and a gun to conquer the world. Software packages, and some
communication networks that have been used for 12 years and are outdated.

The automatic case system of software applications designed to share information among
bureau personnel did not meet people's needs. It was not preferred by personnel as they
faced difficulty in entering data into the system. As a result of this, the bureau was unable
to make deductions from the knowledge possessed. It was because of this very reason
that the memo shared by Special Agent Kenneth Williams entered the system after a
delay of 17 days.

 Lack of synergy

The flow of information within the FBI bureau was not smooth, rather the information
flow was described as ‘withhold, and share by exception’. One possible reason for this
was the sensitivity of information being shared or a lack of motivation among junior level
personnel (possibly due to the unattractive compensation package). Because of this
reason, the Williams memo was not shared with senior FBI personnel and other federal
agents.

There were also communication lapses between the FBI & CIA, the fact that FBI had
known about Mihdhar and Hazmi and that CIA officials had known that Hazmi had
flown to Los Angeles in March 2000. The failure on both their parts to share this
intelligence resulted in the entire plot going undetected. This could have been due to a
behind the scenes battle between the
CIA and the Bush Administration over classified information of feeling a sense of power
by having information that the other agency does not possess.

 Tussle between Services within the bureau (Agents, IOS, IRSs, HR) &
Counterintelligence/Criminal divisions

The Counterterrorism Agents’ job was considered to be full of paperwork and


acquiescence to the headquarters. Their effectiveness was questioned as they did not
make arrests unlike the agents working on Criminal cases. The IOSs, who were long term
non-agents, often with advanced degrees had lower status than special agents. Field
offices were often at loggerheads with the Human Resource services, who themselves
worked under difficult constraints. IRSs cadre consisting of non-agent intelligence
research specialists often faced resistance from senior managers and were made to do
works other than strategic analysis. Even in case of 9/11, intelligence requiring strategic
analysis was not shared to IRSs because of their apparent status as a dying cadre.

 Bureaucracy and Information flow related issues

 Criminal wing was more attractive to the officers since it involved relatively lesser
bureaucracy than the counterterrorism wing.
 The policy of, “withhold information, share only by exception” added to this aspect
by choking the free flow of information and thus the transparency which was
necessary for smooth operations of the bureau.
 The FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) created an information barrier
blocking the flow of information between the counterterrorism and the criminal
divisions.

Recommendations

For inefficient IT systems


 End to end solution can be provided by standardizing the collection of data and
transferring information from the intelligence wing to the law enforcement wing. The
three main pillars of FBI are the Counter-terrorism wing, Counter-intelligence wing, and
the Intelligence services make available the resources and capability in term of skill and
specialists to solve critical crimes. By using technology and Domestic intelligence, FBI
has been able to decode crimes in the past and this graph can go uphill with the following
recommendations:

 Intelligence reports should be layered based on their confidence level and maturity.
 Higher importance should be laid on Information analysis using analytical tools.
 Data communication IT infrastructure should be upgraded.
 High speed data communication network line should be put in place to support the
investigation team.
 Single data portal should be used, and limited number of FBI analysts should analyze the
threat environment.
 Adopting the Virtual Case File software that would make it easier for personnel to enter
information into the system thereby enhancing information sharing within the bureau.

To improve Synergies
 Creating joint threat assessment units that would work together to piece bits of important
information to get a full understanding of the plot.
 Make the FBI organization structure cross functional rather than silo type structure.
 Ensure effective internal as well as external communication about information collected
among intelligence agencies.
 Communicating critical information to the field agents at the earliest as they are the ones
dealing with the ground-level happenings.

To improve inter-services cooperation


 Making the agents understand the importance of counterterrorism in national security via
trainings and seminars.
 Transferring agents from criminal to counterterrorism cases and vice versa to clear the
misconceptions.
 The treatment of IRSs, HR and IOS at par with special agents, fostering a culture of
collaboration among the cadres.
 The IRSs should be made to undertake strategic analysis rather than side work. The
importance of strategic analysis in the fast-changing world of crime and terrorism should
be advertised across the bureau to build respect and importance for the work done by the
critical service.

To reduce Bureaucracy
 By minimizing paperwork and replacing it with a more efficient IT system will ensure
accelerated execution of tasks.
 By decentralizing the less critical functions and making them independent, the available
resources can be focused on more important tasks thus avoiding the bureaucratic hurdles.
 By drawing clear lines about what information can and cannot be shared between the two
divisions, the ambiguity and the associated barrier to the information flow can be
minimized.

You might also like