Audit shows a number of watch list woes

An audit of the terrorist

watch list found:

In 15 percent of a sample of 216 investigations, the FBI failed to "nominate" subjects of terror investigations to the list in a "timely fashion."

In 8 percent of closed cases, the FBI failed to remove subjects from the list as required.

Some 35 percent of entries in a list of 68,669 suspected terrorist identities involved cases that weren't classified as related to terrorism.

About the watch list:

Established: 2003

Managed by: FBI

Names: Approximately 400,000, including an estimated 4,000 on the "no-fly" list and several thousand others designated for special screening.

Criteria for inclusion: Nominations by various law enforcement agencies.

Use: Screening of people at entry points into United States.

SOURCE: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT; OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, AUDIT DIVISION