Patriot Act - part deux The US government obviously hasn't learned the lessons of history. Back in the heyday of the cold war, 'commies' were prosecuted in secret. Now, the US government is giving more and more power to the FBI -- and trying to give more to the CIA and military -- to subpoena information from private companies and individuals, who would be under gag order, in the form of 'national security letters.' Request via these letters don't require judicial oversight, don't have to be made public, but evidence derived from them could be used to persecute and harass individuals. Nothing like protecting freedom. Makes you wonder who the terrorists are down south.