The FBI plans to open offices in Kabul, Jakarta and eight other foreign capitals as part of a decade-long overseas expansion that officials say is crucial to meet the global threat of al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. The blueprint also calls for adding 30 new FBI personnel, including 17 agents, to the nearly 200 stationed at 46 locations around the world, according to FBI documents and interviews with The Associated Press. Their importance was demonstrated during the afternoon of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the FBI says, when agents in dozens of cities already were tracking down leads with the cooperation of local authorities in Germany, Canada, Great Britain and elsewhere. “Had we not had those relationships, it would have been a question not of days in covering leads but probably weeks and months,” said Roderick Beverly, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Office of International Operations. Since the fall of 2001, about 500 agents and 200 support people have been working overseas on the terrorism investigation, along with the FBI agents known as permanent legal attaches, or “legats,” who were already there. The agents are often directly involved with interrogation of terrorist suspects or criminals and sometimes submit questions to those doing the interviews, including CIA officers. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.