Maybe it's not quite that sinister, Publius. These are suspicious times, the cops like everyone to think they're alert, and arrests always look good on your resume, especially when the real bad guys are trained to elude us and scarcer than hen's teeth. The media are attuned to this sort of thing and it makes good copy. It sells papers. And if they were considering these crimes, even if they were not capable of pulling them off, jail is still the best place for them.

I don't think the government is making this up just to justify their policies; although they will certainly take advantage of it for that very reason. Let us keep our wits about us and not succumb to the paranoia of the other side. Remember, it is moderation and reason and understanding that makes us what we are.