"So far, we have 11 missing Egyptian "students," ostensibly here to study the history of Montana, Middle Eastern men caught with a hollowed-out van and large amounts of cash, and other men (Middle Eastern?) purchasing large quantities of pre-paid cell phones. Is something afoot? A large number of coordinated bombings in various cities, as opposed to one major strike somewhere? An effort to instill general panic and/or give the Dems a victory ("Bush didn't protect us" etc)?"
And how many thousand others lurking in the USA we don't know about? A attack planned to go off in every city at the same time...just like the planes crashing into buildings at the same time?
Obviously one can't investigate the things that one doesn't know about. But it's pretty lame logic to say that the FBI should therefore not investigate things that are suspicious. Not saying that's your position, but it is clearly the position of some on this thread.
Your comparison does bring one thing to mind, though.... It's likely that the 9-11 attacks would have been stopped had the FBI been allowed to coordinate its intel with other agencies. There were specific requests to do so, but I'm sure you've heard of Jamie Gorelick's famous "wall memo" that prevented this from happening.
Remember the effect the DC sniper had on the country? Everybody was looking over their shoulder. Simultaneous attacks in several cities, perhaps repeated at short intervals, would have the same effect. A Wal Mart here, a Starbucks there, an airport terminal, a crowded bus, Disneyland, a casino in Vegas . . .