Two months into the job, the head of the Washington Field Office (WFO) of the FBI, is 鈥渃oncerned all the time鈥� about a diverse group of threats facing the region.
Terrorism, spies and a wide variety of crimes dominate the attention of David Sundberg, Assistant Director in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
While not pointing to any imminent threat, he said 鈥渢he District of Columbia, being the seat of the federal government, is a symbolic target for those who might attack our way of life using violence in furtherance of their beliefs.”
Speaking to a group of reporters at WFO鈥檚 headquarters, he said the unique nature of Washington requires that they focus on multiple avenues that a terror attack might emerge from.
Whether it鈥檚 a single, isolated individual inspired through ideology to commit acts of violence; or a group of individuals plotting to attack symbols of U.S. power, Sundberg said the outcome could be 鈥渄ramatically impactful.鈥�
Since 2001 hundreds of terrorists, including top leaders like Osama bin Laden, Ayman al Zawahiri and Anwar al-Awlaki from Al Qaida, and Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi of ISIS, have been killed.
But that has done little to blunt the long-term resolve of those organizations to attack the U.S.
The Taliban, during the early 2010s, often taunted the U.S. and its European allies saying, 鈥淵ou have the watches, but we have the time.鈥�
It was a threat that other terror groups adopted that chills western counterterrorism officials to the bone.
鈥淚t means we need to be perfect 100% of the time. They need to be perfect only once,鈥� said Hans-Jakob Schindler, Sr. Director of the Counter Extremism Project, in an interview.
Schindler said terror groups are essentially waiting for the right opportunity to attack western countries.
鈥淭hey recognize that we have all the technology, that we have the military might, and great intelligence agencies,” Schindler said. “They also understand that we have very evolved and complex societies and economies.鈥�
But most importantly, he said, 鈥淭hey also know we can鈥檛 predict when they will attack.鈥�
Sundberg draws praise from international counterterrorism officials for his caution and concern, because of a dangerous geyser of arrogance bubbling up in the global jihadist community.
For terrorism organizations, 鈥渢he last 24 months were glorious,鈥� said Schindler emphatically.
鈥淚n their eyes, they defeated the international community in Afghanistan,” he said. “They defeated the international community and French forces, which are withdrawing from West Africa. In the grand scheme of things, the jihadists really feel they have the upper hand right now.鈥�
Spies are an omnipresent concern
Another constant Washington battle for 鈥渢he bureau,鈥� as the FBI is known, is espionage.
Russia and China are, according to Sundberg, at the heart of 鈥渢wo of the biggest efforts we have.鈥�
He was referring to counterintelligence.
The term counterintelligence, , means 鈥渋nformation gathered and activities conducted to protect against espionage, other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassinations conducted by or on behalf of foreign governments or elements thereof, foreign organizations, or foreign persons, or international terrorist activities.”
“There are many thousands of current and former U.S. government employees, in the region, that either have or recently had access to classified U.S. government information,” he said.
Sundberg is worried they could be targeted.
An FBI official told 草莓传媒 in a 2019 interview, 鈥淭here鈥檚 a large population (of government officials) in retirement or getting close to retirement. The baby boomers are all leaving and that population is looking for post-government jobs.鈥�
The archetypal international spy in Washington for many years has been undercover diplomats and foreign intelligence agency assets.
There are more than 175 foreign embassies, residences, chanceries and diplomatic missions in D.C. Tens of thousands of international students reside in the region. And untold numbers of business people with links to foreign intelligence services flow in and out every day.
The training of highly skilled spies, especially those who work in Washington, makes them virtually invisible to ordinary, unsuspecting people 鈥� another reason why WFO鈥檚 work is so important.
Violent crime concerns
As the national capital region reels from a surge of crimes including murder, assault, carjacking, burglary and more, WFO plays a role in helping local law enforcement when their jurisdictions cross.
Sundberg, who was a supervisory special agent with the National Capital Response Squad (2013-2016) which facilitates FBI engagement in potential crisis matters within the National Capital Region, said communities play a big role in preventing crimes, as well as solving them.
鈥淭hese crimes will not be solved by any one agency, one organization, or one neighborhood group,” he said. “It鈥檚 going to take all of us across these communities to make a real impact.鈥�
There is a common thread that runs through many of the crimes being committed in Washington 鈥� guns.
鈥淲e are certainly very concerned with violent crime, especially gun-related violent crime,” Sundberg said.
And as a former police officer in New Hampshire, Sundberg said he learned the ultimate importance of communities in solving crimes.
鈥淚t is absolutely essential that members of the communities that are being victimized by these violent gun crimes are willing to come forward and discuss these matters.鈥�
Despite what appears to be a full plate, WFO has many more responsibilities including investigating white-collar crime, and criminal cyber activity, gathering intelligence; and fulfilling an international role.
It鈥檚 one of four FBI field offices that have investigative responsibilities outside of the U.S. WFO handles the Middle East and Eastern Europe regions.
