FBI stings against Muslim groups

[Jeffersons Ghost]

Attorney General Eric Holder defends legality of FBI stings against Muslim groups
By Jerry Markon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 11, 2010; 12:32 AM

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. struck back against criticism that the FBI has targeted Muslims in a series of undercover stings, telling a Muslim group Friday night that those who allege government entrapment "simply do not have their facts straight."

In one of his most pointed and personal responses to allegations that government anti-terrorism tactics are overly aggressive, Holder strongly defended the FBI agents he said are fighting a wave of terrorist plots. Without their efforts, he said in a speech in San Francisco, "government simply could not meet its most critical responsibility of protecting American lives."

Wading into the most controversial recent case, Holder backed the FBI's investigation of an Oregon man charged with trying to detonate a bomb at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. FBI technicians had supplied the device, leading some Muslims and civil libertarians to question whether agents went too far by training the man for terrorism.

"I make no apologies for how the FBI agents handled their work," Holder said. He spoke in a hotel ballroom before an estimated 300 people invited by Muslim Advocates, a group that itself is suing the Justice Department to learn more about investigative guidelines for FBI agents.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/10/AR2010121007733.html?hpid=topnews