Washington, D.C.It has been a difficult week for one of America's most revered crime-fighting institutions, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Even as FBI Director Robert Mueller announced a massive reorganization plan to focus on counter-terrorism, he acknowledged that the FBI failed to follow up on warning
signs of an attack prior to September 11.
In the 1950s and 1960s, television and movies depicted FBI agents as clean-cut crusaders for law and order, tracking down gangsters and communist spies with equal fervor.
But the FBI had a dark side as well. Under the leadership of the legendary J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI launched a covert campaign of spying on American dissidents.
Commentator Joseph From recalled the FBI's excesses on VOA's Issues in the News program. (Voice of America)
In the 1950s and 1960s, television and movies depicted FBI agents as clean-cut crusaders for law and order, tracking down gangsters and communist spies with equal fervor.
But the FBI had a dark side as well. Under the leadership of the legendary J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI launched a covert campaign of spying on American dissidents.
Commentator Joseph From recalled the FBI's excesses on VOA's Issues in the News program. (Voice of America)
"After all, in 1972, they had to impose all kinds of restraints on it because it was engaged in domestic espionage against Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement," he said.
"And it got to be an organization that worried people, particularly under [former Director] J. Edgar Hoover. Then it just got to be more and more incompetent."
Fair enough says former FBI counter terrorism chief Buck Revell. But he also says the bureau does not get enough credit for foiling about 40 terrorist attacks over the past several years.
"And it got to be an organization that worried people, particularly under [former Director] J. Edgar Hoover. Then it just got to be more and more incompetent."
Fair enough says former FBI counter terrorism chief Buck Revell. But he also says the bureau does not get enough credit for foiling about 40 terrorist attacks over the past several years.