The FBI's two distinct responsibilities -- serving as both the country's domestic intelligence agency and its chief federal law enforcement agency -- increasingly hampered the Bureau's counterterrorism efforts. In the 1990s, the now famous "wall" between intelligence and criminal activities made information sharing increasingly difficult, even on related investigations.
The FBI has been entrusted with unparalleled authority to "chase the threat" without the constraints that governed the agency for many years. With increased authority, however, comes increased responsibility: proper training, retraining, coaching, supervising, and managing within the guidelines' framework have never been more important. Although this task will not be easy, it is not impossible. And since the FBI cannot succeed in fulfilling its mandate without the unwavering support and confidence of the American people, the FBI has to get it right.
Full text of New FBI Powers: A Necessary Step for Counterterrorism by Michael Rolince Why should we trust Rolince? He headed the FBI ITOS in the lead up to 9/11. Under his watch, the FBI ITOS obstructed the Moussaoui investigation and withheld intel from the Cole investigators. Why should the public trust the FBI when the FBI has never accounted for their conduct in the lead up to 9/11?