Thursday, January 24, 2008

FBI Counterterror Whistleblower Answers Questions (ALA)

When you think of controversy you don't normally think of the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting but apparently you would be wrong, at least this year. FBI Special Agent Bassem Youssef is described as "the Chief of the FBI Counterterrorism Division’s Communications Analysis Unit" and "the highest ranking Arab-American agent and fluent Arabic speaking agent employed by the FBI." He was scheduled to speak at the mid-winter meeting but was apparently warned that giving his speech could jeopardize his job but he was not forbidden from answering questions which is what he does for a little over an hour. You can listen here; download the podcast here, see the full video here and get some of the backstory here. Below is a short clip from the full presentation:

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