Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Court Clears Way For FBI Agent's Book, But Retired Colleague Calls It A Hollow Win

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    America
    Posts
    30,749

    Court Clears Way For FBI Agent's Book, But Retired Colleague Calls It A Hollow Win

    FBI dispute: Court clears way for FBI agent's book, but retired colleague calls it a hollow victory
    Colleague says he sees little hope for reform at FBI

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...,7456322.story

    By Todd Lighty | Tribune reporter
    May 14, 2009

    When a federal judge last week chastised the FBI for its heavy-handed efforts to silence two Chicago agents, it appeared as if the agents had won a long and hard-fought victory.

    For seven years, they battled their bosses to get out their message that the FBI bungled terrorism investigations and was ill-equipped to prevent another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

    The judge cleared the way for publication of a book by FBI agent Robert Wright Jr. and release of other information from Wright and John Vincent that could prove embarrassing to the bureau.

    But Vincent, a retired FBI terrorism agent, said Wednesday that theirs was a hollow victory because the bureau delayed the book's publication for so long.

    "Sadly, we accomplished nothing," Vincent said. "The bureau prevented the book from being published, violated our rights and now is free to do it to the next agent."

    Wright, who still works in the FBI's Chicago office, declined to comment. But Vincent said there was nothing more the bureau could do to him. He retired in 2002 after nearly 28 years as an agent.

    The bureau has not said whether it will appeal the judge's decision. An FBI spokesman declined to comment Wednesday.

    The controversy has its roots in an investigation led by Wright in the 1990s into fundraising by Hamas and other militant Islamic groups. Wright and Vincent built a criminal case, but bosses shut down the investigation -- a victim of turf warfare inside the bureau and bureaucratic missteps, according to former and current officials involved with the case. "They kicked Bob off the case and made me shut down the investigation," Vincent said.

    Almost immediately, in August 1999, Wright began writing "Fatal Betrayal," a 500-page manuscript highly critical of the FBI's ability to investigate terrorism.

    Weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Wright submitted his manuscript to the bureau for pre-publication review. The FBI requires employees submit books about their experiences for internal approval.

    Vincent believes the FBI was especially sensitive to the release of Wright's book soon after the Sept. 11 attacks because some members of Congress were questioning its ability to investigate terrorism.

    Wright sued in May 2002, claiming a violation of his 1st Amendment rights. Vincent filed a separate suit after the bureau blocked an interview with a New York Times reporter.

    Over the years, the FBI fought release of the manuscript, arguing at different points that the book revealed classified information or could interfere with ongoing investigations.

    But U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler, sitting in the District of Columbia, rejected nearly every argument the FBI made for censoring Wright and Vincent, saying "the issues of terrorism and of alleged FBI incompetence remain as timely as ever."

    Vincent said he was disappointed the court did not offer to overhaul how the FBI reviews manuscripts.

    "Nothing has changed," he said. "The FBI will continue to violate agents' rights."
    No One Knows Everything. Only Together May We Find The Truth JG


  2. #2
    simuvac Guest
    I can't imagine anything but "incompetence" stories will emerge from this book. Still, every angle on 9/11 is valuable.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    America
    Posts
    30,749
    I don't think Robert Wright thinks incompetence "thwarted" him from doing his job...
    No One Knows Everything. Only Together May We Find The Truth JG


  4. #4
    simuvac Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Gold9472
    I don't think Robert Wright thinks incompetence "thwarted" him from doing his job...
    they battled their bosses to get out their message that the FBI bungled terrorism investigations and was ill-equipped to prevent another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

    Sorry, Jon, but that really sounds like the incompetence argument to me.

  5. #5
    simuvac Guest
    Another aspect of this that makes me uneasy is this:

    Weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Wright submitted his manuscript to the bureau for pre-publication review.

    Even the most prolific writers would find it difficult to produce a 500-page manuscript just "weeks" after 9/11, especially since, I'm assuming, the guy would have much work to do in those weeks, right?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    America
    Posts
    30,749
    I'm sure he wrote it before 9/11... you DARE to question me... what you're citing is the write up in the Chicago Tribune... not the "tearful" statements he made after 9/11... which I assume would influence the book...
    No One Knows Everything. Only Together May We Find The Truth JG


Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-27-2010, 09:24 AM
  2. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-27-2006, 08:25 AM
  3. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-11-2006, 01:17 PM
  4. Ex-CIA agent sues over book detailing Tora Bora
    By beltman713 in forum The New News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 07-28-2005, 10:14 PM
  5. Court prevents release of most 911 calls made on 9/11
    By frindevil in forum The New News
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 03-24-2005, 11:25 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •