[xnull2guest]

Given the highly sourced nature of this comment, I would expect a well reasoned argument accompanying a downvote. In case this person missed what they should be replying to:

* Programs for internet surveillance existed before 9/11

* Partnerships with other intelligence services existed before 9/11

* The programs are used for international espionage and sabotage often

* Most of the capabilities of the NSA are not counter-terrorist capabilities

* EO 12333 and the "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court" were established in the early 80s

* The inspector general's report on the Boston Bombings excluded the NSA almost wholey from its report

* The NSA's own mission statement and website content focuses almost exclusively on foreign intelligence

There is a domestic nature to NSA programs. But the 'reason for the NSA and it's programs' is not CT.