I would offer this defense of the NSA database of phone connections.
We have three ways of identifying Al Queda communications:
1) We can, through humint, stumble on one of their phone numbers.
2) We can set up a 1-800-BLO-MEUP hotline for terrorists to call in and volunteer their phone numbers.
3) We can monitor calling patterns between known Al-Queada areas and domestic numbers for connections that appear suspicious.
This also gives the benefit of instantly knowing the connections to a number that humint turns up from a known Al-Queda, being able to get whatever needed warrants, and move on the Al-Queda operatives here.
ROFLMAO