Words have much meaning, and when Bush spewed that filth forward, I cringed. Such language is directly aimed at quelling dissent, and even so much as categorizing dissenters as dangerous.
That's kinda the entire point I see in most of these new agencies and laws. Anti-terrorism is being handled the same way it always was. Domestically, the FBI handles it. Overseas, the CIA and the military. I honestly doubt a single actual terrorist was caught with the new laws when he would not have been under the old.
Dealing with terrorism is hard. It's lots of routine boring stuff, with the majority of the intel coming from folks who call us unprompted to turn in their neighbor, friend or family member. You have to chase a hundred crank calls for every one legit call. Very boring, very routine, etc etc.
Dealing with citizens is easy. They have limited resources, and significant compelling interest in knuckling under at the drop of a hat. Plus you can easily make it look like you are DOING something, even if it is of no real effectiveness. Plus, in the eyes of many in ah, internal security agencies, the citizenry is the real threat. Terrorists can't exactly cut their budgets, or reduce staffing. Citizens can.
Don't try to read something overly organized into it. It's not a conspiracy. It's thousands of petty middle management and political appointees trying to get a bigger budget, more people and more petty authority while ducking any sense of accountability or responsibility. They like the decent paycheck, lack of hard work, "respect" and the decent office with the impressive title. They are perfectly willing to destroy as much of the country as needed to protect their jobs. Especially when they can justify it to themselves as "making America safe again".
