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Emphasis at FBI shifting to terrorism
The Bush administration is discussing proposals that would lead to the most fundamental reorganization of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in its history, shifting its focus to counterterrorism and away from crime fighting, senior officials said. Under the new thinking, they said, the agency would give up responsibility for some of the duties on which it built its legendary "G-man" reputation, like bank robbery, drug trafficking and some violent crime investigations. "As counterterrorism becomes the No. 1 priority of the F.B.I., it has become obvious that other types of investigations will have to be de-emphasized at the bureau or turned over to other agencies," said a senior administration official, one of several interviewed in recent days who have been involved in the discussions. Some officials say the restructuring has already begun, even before any formal plans have been proposed, propelled by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, when thousands of bureau agents across the country were ordered to put aside other investigations to focus exclusively on counterterrorism. Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2001-10-21 |
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