FINGER-POINTING

Intel Chief: X-Mas Bomber Mishandled

Specialists should have questioned suspect.

Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair slammed the procedures followed for the interrogation of suspected terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. During Senate hearings on the Christmas Day attempted attack, Blair said that the failed bomber should have been questioned by the High-Value Interrogation Group, and not treated as a normal criminal suspect. He later walked back his words, saying that the FBI “received important intelligence,” and an administration official said Blair was mistaken regarding the HIG, but the intelligence chief sure seemed confident at the time: “Duh,” he said, in response to a question about whether or not the HIG should have been used. Some officials believe the HIG was supposed to be used for detainees overseas, but Blair contended that was a mistake.