Why Aren't You Spying More?

10-07-2010 • ABC News

The director of the National Counterterrorism Center expressed frustration Wednesday with critics of domestic spying, and said that after recent violent incidents questions about government intrusiveness had turned into complaints that the government wasn't doing enough spying. "In the months before Ft. Hood I was advocating for the extension of some aspects of the PATRIOT Act, and I think for very good reasons people have some concerns," said NCTC Director Michael Leiter. "I got a lot of, 'Why should we allow you to keep spying on Americans?"' Leiter was referring to the November 2009 attack at Fort Hood in Texas, which killed 13 people. "Several weeks later in the wake of Ft. Hood," said Leiter, "I was back on [Capitol] Hill. I tell you a whole lot of fewer people were complaining about me spying on Americans and a whole lot more people were complaining that I wasn't spying enough. It's a tough line to walk." Leiter also said attitudes about terror watchlists had changed afte