At 01:25 AM 9/13/2001, you wrote:

...

The intelligence agencies in the United States are the best in the world.

Get your shit straight!

~ Clarke ~

If our 'best' had no hint that what happened yesterday was going to occur, then perhaps the statement above is wrong. (Either way(if they knew, or not) expect changes, and more money for them.)

Unfair. I've heard lots and lots of people screaming "intelligence failure" and "why didn't we know about this?". It's actually pretty damn simple - bin Laden (or whomever) wasn't talking about his plans on his cell phone. Like...duh. One cannot intercept communications that don't take place. Wanna defeat the NSA? Write your message on a piece of paper and mail it. All the gurus ascribe the attack to intelligent, capable, well-trained terrorists - why should we think they'd be stupid enough to talk in the clear about their plans? It's not like NSA's comm intercept capabilities are a dark secret. If you don't have people sitting in the inner circles (and terrorist leaders tend to be very clannish folks - if you ain't family, you ain't in) and the bad guys aren't blabbing all into their telephones - how can you learn about their plans? Dean Robb www.PC-Easy-va.com On-site computer services Member, ICANN At Large