Why is it that with all the intelligence gathering capabilities we are unable to hunt down terrorist?

Question

I stand to be corrected but was once told that we have satelite mounted cameras that can read printed media on the ground.

Answer 1

The biggest problem we have is that we don't have the human intelligence capabilities we used to have. A satellite has limitations. It can give you pictures, but can't tell you about those pictures. People can tell you where someone is. A satellite can only confirm or deny what was told.

Satellites are a lot cheaper than human resources. And the politicos in the 80's and 90's especially, fell in love with technical means, and gutted the human intelligence side. Now, we're playing catch up. We have extremely limited resources in the paces we need it most, like Iran and North Korea.

Answer 2

I ask myself the same question. If you use google earth that will definitely give you the answer to your question. I dont buy that bull that it isnt legal, because the government does a lot of illegal things already with out consent. Also I would not care how illegal it was to spy on people to catch terrorist and crooks, go for it,,,dont tell dont ask, just catch them. I really think and know that the technology is there but alot of these issues are smoke screens for some other mission. We will never really know the true answer and if really they are even after any one. You see they caught Saddam with no problem, while he was hiding under ground!

Answer 3

we could - according to another branch of govt - track anything. A simple gps ear chip means they can find an individual anywhere in the US at any time. So they get special earrings when they come in.

Or at least...that's what the gov't is saying about tracking every goat/sheep/cow/chicken/horse/rabbit etc in the US. That there will be no problem tracking the billions there. (so 11 million illegals and however many others shouldn't be a problem!!)

Answer 4

Yep we have sattillites that can do lots of things. But they can only see a portion of the earth at any one time. And there is a lot of area to be scanned. Even if you spot something it still takes time to be boots on the ground in the area. Contrary to popular belief we do not have the capability to have real time photographs of anywhere in the world any time we want them. The real world isn't like TV and movies.

Answer 5

Because we have virtually free, uncontrolled, immigration.

We also have adopted human rights laws which stop us from discriminating against suspected criminals and Muslim extremist.

You do not want us to stop setting such noble examples, and lose the admiration of the world, do you? If you do, then who is going to feed these unfortunate people, educate their children in the true religion and provide them with an old age pension?

Answer 6

That technology is good for tracking a terrorist, or spying on terrorist. The problem is, we have to track down the terrorist.
These people learn to live below the radar.

Answer 7

True but the american communist league union keeps going to court to stop the gathering of information by the different agencies.

Every time we get the information the aclu blocks the information and the courts go along with them.

Answer 8

Many times we do know where they are, but there are liberal lawyers who write the Rules of Engagement that don't let the justified elimination of these enemies of the state happen.

Answer 9

They sure can .
Trouble is , you have to know where to look .
And Yes ,we are getting them ,a few here , a few there And occasionaly in lumps .

Answer 10

This is true, but what can you do when they are underground in hidden lairs?