The Justice, State and Homeland Security Departments have all made it clear they want to help other countries prevent terrorism. They're not nearly as clear about how they plan to do that.
Such lack of clarity leaves U.S. agencies unsure about their international responsibilities and may have compromised several counter-terrorism operations overseas, a new government report says.
The Government Accountability Office cited in its report several examples of U.S. agencies not cooperating, or even communicating, during overseas missions.
For example:
-When the State Department launched a program in 2002 to help monitor migration across a terrorist-rich border, planners never consulted U.S. border patrol or immigration officials who have expertise in the field. No terrorists have been prosecuted as part of the program.
-In another unidentified country, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials were assigned to track special-interest aliens while the FBI was in charge of identifying terrorists trying to enter the United States. Because of poor coordination and communication, both agencies moved in on the same person, possibly jeopardizing several investigations.
-Approval of three full-time U.S. border agents in a terrorist-rich country has been delayed. The ambassador there believes the agents should work alongside locals at airports and immigration offices, rather than at the embassy.
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