DON'T COUNT ON FBI

Editor -- Al Qaeda has the upper hand in the war against terror because the
security agencies responsible for protecting us act like a bunch of sissies.

Case in point: I was recently hired for an FBI counter-terrorism position
based on my ability to speak several foreign languages, my thorough
knowledge of Middle Eastern culture and my extensive travel abroad. Each
FBI employee who interviewed me told me, "We're desperately in need of
language skills."

I'm a blue-blooded American, 44 years old, who has taught college several
years for the Department of Defense, and I was excited my skills would be
helpful in the war against terror. Then came the FBI's lie detector test.

I admitted I'd smoked marijuana about 20 times when I was 18. I've never
used drugs since. But within five minutes I was put out on the street.

I told the FBI agent who kicked me out that "I doubt very seriously that
Bin Laden screened any of the hijackers for drug experimentation when they
were kids." The FBI agent confided, "You wouldn't believe the number of
super-qualified individuals we've turned away. Just last week we let go a
highly qualified psychologist for the same reason. It's very frustrating."

Moral of the story: Don't hold your breath for the FBI to save you.

JOSEPH ROSS, Sonoma