FBI counter-terrorism efforts and the Garland, TX attack

Great Debates
1

According to 60 Minutes, the FBI were in communication with the terrorists that attacked the “Draw Muhammed” event in Garland, TX. An FBI agent, posing as an Islamic radical, texted Elton Simpson to “Tear up Texas” less than three weeks before the attack. Even more shocking, the undercover FBI agent was in a car directly behind Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi when they started shooting! This agent didn’t try to intervene, and apparently the FBI didn’t forewarn the event security of the impending attack. Indeed, the agent “fled the scene” and was apprehended by police.

This seems to go beyond even the routinely-shady practice of federal agents pushing some of their subjects to commit crimes. At least usually they are prepared to stop the bad guys, or supply them with fake explosives / weapons. In this case, they seemed to egg on the attack, with apparently no plan to stop it, or even warn others so they could stop it.

Here’s the debate topic: Should the FBI be prohibited from encouraging / enabling crimes, or is this a valuable investigative technique that does more good than harm? While I used the Garland incident to highlight this, I’m thinking of other examples as well (Fast and Furious, FBI running a child-porn website, etc.). What sayeth the Straight Dope?

2

if you cant do your job without lying or deception; youre either no good at it, or it shouldnt be done at all.

mc

3

In other words, you are against any and all undercover work. Very principled and completely ridiculous.

I’m a little torn and it hinges on whether the undercover agent was an actual sworn FBI agent and not just on the payroll. If he was a legit agent, it’s hard to forgive standing by while a shooting rampage begins. On the other hand, he may have wanted his cover maintained for the future and if he was unarmed or a civilian that might be the most useful course of action. IIRC, that draw Mohamed contest was almost a trap with a tonne of extra security around.

4

For all that extra security, the terrorists ended up facing off with an unarmed school cop and a regular Garland PD beat cop with his sidearm, IIRC.

5

Well, yeah because they didn’t even make it to the door before they were shot.