So if person X has a known connection to Osama and has known contacts with others, you would think its not reasonable to monitor the other people person X has contact with?
Well, it depends what you mean by "contacts" and "connections". I mean, lets say Mohammed in Jersey City's number turns up in some AQ laptop. I think it's certainly reasonable to check him out. Is it reasonable to check out everyone else's number who may have any possible link to Mohammed, and do it all in secret and without review? Let's say Mohammed has some buddy he plays basketball with of whom there's zero evidence he's involved with AQ. Is it ok to tap his phone? That's a tougher question.
Again, this isn't an either or. If the WH went to FISC and presented the scenario you describe, it would no doubt be approved. It's perfectly reasonableto monitor them, why can't you follow the procedure laid out to do so? Just notify the FISC that they're being monitored. What's the hang up?
What I worry about is this unlimited power. I mean, it just came out today that the FBI has been spying on 150+ domestic groups. Where does it stop? If we just abdicate all authority to the WH for the duration of a neverending GWOT taht doesn't exactly seem like a good idea to me.
I'm fine with the program. I'd just like to have at least some minimal level of review so there's at least someone keeping an eye on things. Do we want to create a de facto Stasi and have American versions of Andropov, Dzherzinsky, Markus Wolf, and Beria running around listening to whoever is on their enemies list?