NBC: FBI DC Field Office Flunked Assessment On Fighting Violent Extremism | Talking Points Memo

TPM Article Topics
1

The FBI’s D.C. field office received a failing grade on a 2018 internal assessment of its ability to combat domestic terrorism, NBC reports.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1354617
2 Likes
2

Agents were dismayed when they discovered the test wasn’t True/False and multiple choice, like the teacher promised. No Fair!!

6 Likes
3

Shocker. The lengths they went through to deny reality out of fear of CheetoMan is :astonished:

8 Likes
4

I hope the one result from this is that law enforcement actually takes domestic terrorism by right wing forces seriously now. They are the biggest threat, and law enforcement in general has been ignoring that. The Biden administration really needs to make it a priority, and make sure they are actually doing something about it like they would about non-white terrorists.

16 Likes
5

Yeah, but “Defund the Police” is just a catchy phrase. You should be happy to pay more for a failing law enforcement system. Has anyone ever showed you how to put a good spit-shine on a pair of LEO boots, America?

7 Likes
6

We read of Trump advisors nearly collapsing in a panicked heap upon the floor when facing the prospect of having to enter his office with bad news, or advice that will anger him. Yet many of these people are independently wealthy, with a personal portfolio and assets totaling in the tens or hundreds of millions. Why the hell they just couldn’t say “Eff you, I don’t need your silly, abusive bullshit!” is weird. As if they need the goddamned job that bad, their mortgage payment depends on it. Sheesh.

17 Likes
7

Failure comes from the top down, they knew it was risky for their jobs to actually do their jobs.

5 Likes
8

Let’s see, it’s been twenty years since the warning signs of a terrorist threat were known to be "blinking red?"

7 Likes
9

The Oklahoma City bombing was in 1995.

If you think that they’ll suddenly pay attention to the risk a mere quarter of a century later…

17 Likes
10

It’s not all due to failure. Wilful neglect is part of it as well. It seems Law Enforcement ( FBI ) can mount up a robust and vicious response to the kinds of events they don’t like. BLM for instance but take a hands off approach to the boys on the Right. Law enforcement is all about authority. Authoritarians couldn’t a better home than in law enforcement. Boog, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers are foremost authoritarian. I’m sure the FBI is infested with them.

24 Likes
11

In Nov 2016, the county flunked, too.
As did the US Senate about a year ago.

12 Likes
12

I think this is a product of having a relationship with a narcissist. They suck you in with adoration and then, over time, groom you to doubt and even loathe yourself. These folks probably got twisted into believing themselves to be failures.

2 Likes
13

It’s hard to do a good job investigating threats when you don’t think they’re threatening.

14 Likes
14

Especially when one of them is your Dad, brother, son-in-law, commanding officer, supervisor, spouse, child, doctor, investment banker, landlord, etc.

13 Likes
15

QAnon Woke Up the Real Deep State: An open letter to QAnon, “stop the steal,” and other communities involved in the Capitol attack.

You cheered on lawyers who said they’d release the Kraken. But now you’ve poked Leviathan.

@castor_troy I see your point yet suspect the national security state is viewing Qanon (which is like a magnet for all of what used to be the fringe) as more of a threat.

3 Likes
16

I bet you think universal TV remotes are actually a thing.

2 Likes
17

Especially when one of them is you.

(Not you, of course.) :slightly_smiling_face:

3 Likes
18

“Terrorism” is still a word that requires certain skin pigments in many Americans’ minds.

Even after the Murrah Federal Building bombing. Even after school shootings became a regular event. Even after many House Republicans were reported to be too terrified to vote for impeachment.

12 Likes
19

I spent a few years vexing a couple small town sheriffs.

I got better.

5 Likes
20

Have to see, actions speak louder than words. At this moment, following the massive embarrassment of last week, there’s certainly a fire lit under them.

But that seems to happen every time that there’s an actual crisis, then it fades away shortly after. Until the next event.

Maybe this will have sticking power, maybe I’m too cynical, but I expect this won’t extend much beyond the next six months as they finish rounding up the folks who actively were on the scene, and then it all goes back to business-as-usual.

9 Likes