That partial quote is part of the conjecture offered immediately after - it has not happened to date in the US - but if and when an attack occurs in spite of the Patriot Act, and all the other measures implemented, a vast number of people will join the already large number of malcontents in calling for an end (Give the Terrorist what they want and they will leave us alone).
I get it. But are you trying to say that we would be beteer off without the PA? What's the alternative? That was an immediate response to a dire situation. Maybe it has outlived it's usefulness. I don't know. What would you suggest? It seems like the Brits are implementing similar measures.