The problem I see is, all this are asked to be kept secret. How much money the Government gives the Telcos, ISPs and websites like Google, Facebook etc. for monitoring people and how much these people charge etc. are being kept secret.

You create a ghost. Create fear of the ghost. Tell people that only you can protect them from the ghost. But you don't tell them how they plan to protect them from the ghost, nor are you willing to disclose how much you spend to protect people from this ghost.

Don't forget - when the ghost doesn't attack you claim credit for stopping the ghost.

Yes. I think, the whole dialogue on terrorism should move away from the abstract concept called 'terrorism'. Any disgruntled group which sees itself as the underdog against a very powerful entity will resort to terrorism. You cannot wipe out terrorism from the face of the earth, like you cannot wipe out car accidents. The governments the world over are asking for enormous powers, selling us the dream that there will not be one innocent life lost because of another terrorist attack. They are dumbing down the actual issues behind these problems.

People should realize that only bringing focus to the real issues and not blanket regulations and restrictions on freedom is going to have some real effect.

Why don't governments create the new laws or policies time bound and specific to particular issues. If they see Al Queda activity in US, make it public. Release information on the organizations. People behind these organizations, the people helping to fund these organizations. Create embargoes on countries and organizations funding these organizations. And do them more effective and open manner than how it is done now.

Fill the media with real issues and educate people who sympathize with terrorist organizations. Give a platform for these people to redress their grievances. Create more opportunities for leaders of supposedly 'terrorist' organizations and to have more debate and dialogue with others.