FBI: No Falafel Probe
Remember the mini-flap over the CQ Homeland Security report that FBI agents in San Francisco were tracking sales of falafel and other Middle Eastern foods at local markets in the hopes that the data might lead them to Iranian secret agents? Well, FBI higher-ups have looked into the whole situation and their official response is that the story is "too ridiculous to be true."
"I spoke to the counterterrorism managers, who in the story were identified as having hatched the plan, as well as everyone else who would have had any knowledge of it," says John Miller, head of the FBI's Office of Public Affairs. "Nobody did."
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Government Executive Staff Correspondent Alyssa Rosenberg takes a look at news affecting the management and operations of the massive federal bureaucracy.
Notice Miller did not categorically deny that such an idea was pursued, or considered. He just said nobody owned up to it. Big difference.
'Too ridiculous to be true' doesn't necessarily mean it didn't happen. Given the Bureau's track record of missteps in recent years, is it conceivable? You don't have to be an intelligence analyst to answer that one.
Skepticus Falafelus Posted Wednesday, November 28, 2007 12:05 PMeveryone has to eat even religous extremists. if you cant track the black market track what you can.
anonamous Posted Sunday, February 17, 2008 8:42 AM