Ashcroft, Mueller to announce results of Iraqi interviews
Program criticized as ethnic profiling
From Terry Frieden
CNN Washington Bureau
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Ashcroft, left, and Mueller
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The nation's top law enforcement officials plan to disclose details of information that was gleaned from thousands of FBI interviews of Iraqi citizens in the United States, and that contributed to the military campaign, officials said Thursday.
Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller have scheduled an afternoon news conference to expand on the results of the approximately 10,000 voluntary interviews conducted by agents during a three-week period.
In his only public comments to date on the Iraqi Task Force interviews, Mueller told a congressional panel the interrogations had yielded useful information covering a range of issues, including bunker locations, infrastructure details, telecommunications systems and the names of people who had served in the Iraqi military.
In testimony March 27, Mueller said he was "gratified" by the cooperation FBI agents had received in the interviews.
The project to interview thousands of Iraqis prompted sharp criticism by some civil libertarians, who complained it represented ethnic profiling.
End of questioning
Justice Department officials said the news conference would make clear the questioning of Iraqis has concluded.
They expect to reveal final tallies on the number of interviews and the small number of people who were turned over to immigration authorities.
Officials said they were unaware of any terrorism-related charges filed against Iraqis in the United States during the interview process. However, sources said, a small number of Iraqis with potential terrorist ties have been placed under surveillance.
