How many FBI agents have advanced Arabic language skills? Take a guess. According to this story, it’s six. And one of them is suing because he alleges discrimination. Five years after 9/11 and we have six FBI agents who can speak Arabic at a sophisticated level? If you’re not outraged by the incompetence of this administration, maybe this story will help anger up the blood. Money quote from some recent FBI depositions:
Dale Watson, now retired, was the FBI’s top counterterrorism official before and after 9/11. In a deposition taken on Dec. 8, 2004, Youssef‚Äôs lawyer Stephen Kohn asked Watson: ‘Do you know who Osama bin Laden’s spiritual leader was?’
Watson: Can’t recall.
Lawyer: And do you know the differences in the religion between Shiite and Sunni Muslims?
Watson: Not technically, no.
John Lewis was until recently the FBI’s deputy assistant director of counterterrorism. During his deposition on May 17, 2005, he was asked if he knew the difference between Shiites and Sunnis.
Lewis: You know, generally. Not very well.
Lawyer: Was there any relationship between the first World Trade Center bombing and the 9/11 attacks?
Lewis: I’m aware of no immediate relationship other than all emanates out of the Middle East, al-Qaida linkage, I believe. Not something I’ve studied recently that I’m conversant with.
The Dish 