Absoluely, there are credible threats, LE & intelligence are tasked with mitigation & prevention for just causes. However, checks & balances of power are supposed to curtail gross violations of citizens' inalienable rights and policy makers' self-interest. Those C&Bs have been underminded and eroded by legal bribery, aka lobbying, and revolving doors between industry/guv. Profit motive seems to be more of a driving force than fear when you look into policy makers' financial statements.

At first glance, Chertoff seems to be the poster child of "confict of interest", but he is the new norm, just one of the many who abuse their stations.