This story does not indicate that the information assembled to arrest this terrorist was only gathered because of the expanded powers of the Patriot Act.
I believe we traded a substantial portion of our Constitutional rights for whatever safety is provided by the Patriot Act. As Benjamin Franklin said, "Those who would trade liberty for safety will find themselves with neither."
I wish I could find the links, but many security experts were doubtful the additional powers provided under the Patriot Act would indeed help fight terrorism.
I did not mean the appointment of Ashcroft was a victory for terrorists, but his disregard for people's Constitutional rights is. The only way we'll really beat terrorism is to fight it, but also to not allow it to change the very foundation our country was created on.
