Sorry Hedgecock, normally I’d agree but this is BS.
The NSA can’t even stop terrorist from entering the US and I’m supposed to believe they “monitor” MY FReeper posts?
Come on, paranoia isn’t a way to live life.
The NSA likely had all the chatter about/coming from any 'terrorist' long before the event.
Whether or not it got passed along or not is the point.
Do a Google search of 'Echelon' for a description of a very old predecessor to what is currently being used, if you doubt the ability of a government to monitor EVERY electronic communication, yes even your FReeper posts.
Consider one more item as you read; what you perceive as 'new' technology has been thoroughly vetted in labs 10-30 years before you were allowed to experience it.
Zillions of disappeared dollars did not, in fact, go to $200 hammers or $1000 toilet seats.
That is a nice way to cover research.
Consider a simple thing like computer memory. Ten years ago the government was procuring memory chips measured in TERRABYTES. (That was when having 512 MB was considered a big deal.)
Hint: that wasn't for opening a spreadsheet.