FBI director warns against global threats to U.S. economy
MIKE RAMSEY
Associated Press

DETROIT - FBI Director Robert Mueller on Thursday said the U.S. economy is threatened by terrorism, corporate crime, Internet attacks and organized crime.

It is no longer possible to separate our country's economic well-being from national security, Mueller told a luncheon crowd at the Detroit Economic Club.

Mueller, who was appointed a week before the Sept. 11 attacks, said terrorists want to destroy the United States by disrupting its economy. He said the FBI's mission has expanded from domestic crime fighting to more global crimes.

Our global presence has created a world of targets, he said.

He said the FBI requires more cooperation now with not only the CIA, but with foreign intelligence agencies.

In addition to terrorism, Mueller pointed out that organized crime conducted by U.S. and foreign criminals.

Organized crime has diversified into telecommunications fraud, stock manipulation and cyber crimes, Mueller said. Criminal enterprises from countries like China, Japan, Hungary and Russia are in the United States siphoning billions of dollars from companies.

And Mueller mentioned how Internet attacks, such as last year's Love Bug virus, had caused between $8 billion and $10 billion in damages worldwide.

Mueller also referenced corporate crimes, including the World Com collapse, as the most insidious threat to the economy.

To address these threats, Mueller the FBI is improving its technology, recruiting more computer wizards and adding former intelligence agents to its staff.

Following his speech, Mueller fielded written questions, including one about his decision to back out of awarding Imad Hamad with the FBI's leadership award. Hamad heads the Michigan branch of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

The FBI had told Hamad last month he was to be honored in Washington along with Madeline Sweeney, a flight attendant who told authorities by phone details of her plane's hijacking before it crashed into the World Trade Center.

Mueller said Hamad had been a great help to the FBI and that he hoped to continue to have a good relationship with him and the Arab community. He did not address his decision announced last week to rescind the award from Hamad.

Mr. Hamad has done a terrific job in this community. He has helped bridge the gap between the Muslim-American and Arab-American communities, and for that we commend him, Mueller said.

Hamad, who was attempting to arrange a meeting with Mueller, said he was happy with Mueller's comments.

That's very gratifying to hear Mr. Mueller state such praise and positive comments, and I hope that will end any further speculation, Hamad said.

Later, local Arab-American leaders announced three of them met for 45 minutes with Mueller to discuss Hamad's award and the controversy. Special Agent Dawn Clenney, an FBI spokeswoman in Detroit, said she could not confirm any aspect of Mueller's schedule Thursday, including any meeting with local leaders.

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