The line between sting and entrapment has always troubled me, too. And from what I know of this case, these clowns were just a bunch of blowhards who were not a serious threat to national security. Having said that, the fact that these people felt this way and did not refuse the assistance offered by government informants suggests that they were a potential threat and deserve to be prosecuted. I say lock 'em up for conspiracy.

What really bothers me about this case is that if the authorities spend their time chasing and provoking these idiots, they have little incentive or time to go after real terrorists with real resources who pose a real threat. It is very reminiscent of the 60s when cops made their reputations and careers by busting pot-smoking kids while the underworld gangs which actually trafficked in dangerous drugs pretty much operated with impunity. The gangs, were, after all, very skilled and very vicious in their jobs. Busting hippies was easier and safer, and it looked good in the papers.

Law enforcement is just as vulnerable to conflict-of-interest issues as any other profession, and it doesn't really take malicious intent for a police organization to convince itself it is doing its job because it's getting a lot of arrests and convictions.