[christine]

it seems to me that we've spent about a trillion dollars over the last two decades funding our intelligence agencies and it turns out they didn't know any more about what was going on 9/11 than i did!!

seems like with a budget like that, they could have infiltrated Al Quaida(sp) -- especially since johnny walker did it with no money.

you know, deb, i don't resort to personal attacks and name calling. because we are having a debate and disagreement about how we view things is no reason to ask me if i am a freelance moron!!

[marajade]

Even intelligence agencies have to work under the restraints of law. As it turned out, before 9/11 you as a private citizen had more statutory rights to investigate crimes than they did.

The Patriot Act and the new guidelines for the FBI were to help with that...

I remember when the Patriot Act was passed... A thread just like this one against it...

[Deb]

Earth to christine...Earth to christine!!!

You obviously haven't been paying attention. The FBI had been restricted for over thirty years, to investigating crimes AFTER THEY HAPPENED!!

Got it??

Now they will be able to PREVENT them BEFORE THEY HAPPEN.

Do you understand?

Do you have a problem with that? And how do you propose they PREVENT crimes if they can't investigate them?

Your obvious expertise is most appreciated.