FBI Director James Comey on 9/11 Report, ISIS Propaganda

FBI(WASHINGTON) — FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday spoke with a trio of 9/11 Commissioners on the release of a report that looked at potential new evidence on the 2001 attacks, offering some insight into ISIS propaganda and the American effort to counter it as well.

The report, released on Wednesday, says that the FBI needs to improve its analysis and intelligence collecting, as well as do a better job of integrating information from local law enforcement agencies, in an effort to fight homegrown terrorism. Comey said Wednesday that the FBI had declassified as much of the report as possible. The message, Comey said, is that the agency has “done great…it’s not good enough.”

9/11 Commissioner Tim Roemer said at the release of the report that Middle Eastern countries need to aid in fighting ISIS propaganda online.

Comey was asked about ISIS propaganda, including a list of names and addresses of military-tied targets posted online over the weekend. “[ISIS]’s M.O. is simply to ask those who aspire to be part of their sick world, to act,” the FBI director said. “So there isn’t a clear line between aspiration and operation.” He added that the FBI takes the “so-called ‘target lists'” seriously, “because there could be a sick person out there who wants to [secure] their bona fides by acting.”

Still, when asked who in the U.S. government should be tasked with countering ISIS’ propaganda messages online, Comey said definitively that the responsibility should not fall to his bureau. “The FBI should not, does not and will not engage in counter-narrative. We don’t communicate the messages about what people should believe, think, act, especially with respect to a faith.”

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