October 09, 2005

Louis Freeh: The 60 Minutes Interview

I just finished watching Mike Wallace interview former FBI director Louis Freeh regarding his new book entitled "My FBI," which rakes Bill Clinton over the coals regarding his record on fighting terrorism while in he was in the White House.

The interview was embarrassingly short, considering how much time 60 Minutes has taken in the past with authors such as Richard Clark (who did his best to make George W. Bush look bad), but I suppose the fact that he was actually allowed within the sacred 60 Minutes studio is something.

Much of the interview has already been featured on the Drudge Report, but there were some nuggets worth hearing. I managed to take a few notes during the broadcast:

• Regarding Clinton's reluctance to press then-Crown Prince Abdullah in the Khobar Towers investigation, Freeh said that it was the first President Bush, with his connections in Saudi Arabia, who helped him gain access to suspects for questioning. In fact, Freeh's final act as FBI director was to indict several people in connection to the bombing--but they are still overseas, out of reach.
• Freeh mentioned that Congress appropriates FBI manpower in key areas...something I didn't know. He said in the fiscal year 2000, has asked for 894 counterterrorism agents and received 5. He also didn't get nearly as much money he asked for (I failed to jot down the numbers).
• Interesting quote: "Collecting intelligence is like drinking water out of a fire hydrant."
• He asks if, before 9/11, would we have really stopped flying planes had we heard that al Quaeda was planning on hijacking planes to fly into buildings? If we did, how long would it be for? My guess is, probably not...not only would the airlines been in an uproar, but so would the general public.
• Mike Wallace: "This is your record." Freeh: "It's not just my record, it's the Congressional record..."

The interview was only about 20 minutes long and, like I said, it's surprising he was given any time at all. Wallace was condescending, but Freeh held his ground and made a good showing for himself.

I, for one, look forward to reading the book.

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