Why it’s so hard to keep up with how the U.S. gov't is spying on its own people

Re:Why it’s so hard to keep up with how the U.S. gov't is sp... by gjtorikian on Monday November 23, 2015 @11:59AM (#10615606)

I am in no way, shape, or form advocating for more surveillance. But I can recall at least one event recently where a terrorist threat was thwarted: the 2010 Portland, Oregon Christmas car bomb: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Portland_car_bomb_plot

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Re:Why it’s so hard to keep up with how the U.S. gov't is sp... by hexalicious on Monday November 23, 2015 @12:30PM (#10615801)

That plot wasn't discovered from mass surveillance. That was where the FBI makes themselves look like they're solving terror plots by finding mentally unstable socially isolated people and providing all the resources and planning for a 'terror plot' they can then bust.

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Re:Why it’s so hard to keep up with how the U.S. gov't is sp... by eric_h on Monday November 23, 2015 @12:35PM (#10615835)

That particular potential terrorist was clearly caught by using targeted surveillance.

It was also the FBI's "bomb" that he tried to detonate.

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Re:Why it’s so hard to keep up with how the U.S. gov't is sp... by appleflaxen on Monday November 23, 2015 @02:21PM (#10616611)

you can find a lot of bombs when you put them in people's hands

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