Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jul 2002
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2002 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Joseph Ross

DON'T COUNT ON FBI

Editor -- Al Qaeda has the upper hand in the war against terror because the 
security agencies responsible for protecting us act like a bunch of sissies.

Case in point: I was recently hired for an FBI counter-terrorism position 
based on my ability to speak several foreign languages, my thorough 
knowledge of Middle Eastern culture and my extensive travel abroad. Each 
FBI employee who interviewed me told me, "We're desperately in need of 
language skills."

I'm a blue-blooded American, 44 years old, who has taught college several 
years for the Department of Defense, and I was excited my skills would be 
helpful in the war against terror. Then came the FBI's lie detector test.

I admitted I'd smoked marijuana about 20 times when I was 18. I've never 
used drugs since. But within five minutes I was put out on the street.

I told the FBI agent who kicked me out that "I doubt very seriously that 
Bin Laden screened any of the hijackers for drug experimentation when they 
were kids." The FBI agent confided, "You wouldn't believe the number of 
super-qualified individuals we've turned away. Just last week we let go a 
highly qualified psychologist for the same reason. It's very frustrating."

Moral of the story: Don't hold your breath for the FBI to save you.

JOSEPH ROSS, Sonoma
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D