Are We Safer? Top Secret America

FRONTLINE's new monthly magazine series launches with the latest from Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Dana Priest, who investigates the sprawling terrorism-industrial complex that has grown up in the wake of 9/11. Her report, Are We Safer? -- produced and directed by FRONTLINE veteran Michael Kirk (The Warning, Obama's Deal) -- explores the growing reach of homeland security into the lives of ordinary Americans.

Priest examines Maryland, for example. Here, Gov. Martin O'Malley tells FRONTLINE how the Department of Homeland Security backed his state's efforts to track down terrorists, funding the creation of a "fusion center" to bring together data from new high-tech devices like license plate readers and CCTV cameras on street corners, and to combine it with the databases of local police and the federal government that are filled with tips and reports of "suspicious activity."

The problem, Priest finds, is that, nine years after 9/11, Maryland, like so many states, has yet to use its vast anti-terror apparatus to capture any terrorists. Rather, it's built a massive database that collects, stores and analyzes information on thousands of U.S. citizens and residents, many of whom have not been accused of any wrongdoing.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/are-we-safer/?utm_campaign=homepage&a...
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• 911

[131kimber]

I just found this so please excuse the belated comment but I live in Maryland and this act of ignorance towards the injustices taking place is just plain unbelievable. I'm a living example of that lie.

[omnisniper]

@131kimber better late than never.... please explain." I'm a living example of that lie." thanks

[131kimber]

@131kimber What I meant is since approx. 2004 I've been living a very bizarre situation that's too extensive to get into details here. And for the situations I am and have been encountering, Maryland law enforcement and our government officials are well aware of practices that are occurring taking place outside of the law and would have been at the minimum for as long as my situation has been happening..

[omnisniper]

@131kimber i hear ya! n i dont even think bizarre comes close ...

[Mezocosm]

Yeah right "concerned citizens", what exactly do you think all those people are doing in those basement security centers...yeah I'm talking to you, free your mind friend.

[omnisniper]

@Mezocosm explain yourself in a less cryptic fashion and i will understand better what you are trying to say.... if you are referring to me, my mind is very free and not stuck in the sand or other sphincter.

[Debbie307]

9/11 was an inside job

[Mezocosm]

@omnisniper Hey omnisniper. I am certainly not referring to you. You can bet that all criticisms of this emerging neo-fascist america are being monitored. I encourage these people doing the monitoring to question the wisdom of their authorities since the world has been down this road before...and to the degree power is now increased to force the issue, the ensuing disaster will be equally regrettable. If someone doubts this please wikipedia fascism.

[tecnokid]

WHERE IS THE AMERICA THAT I LOVE?????????

[MrAnomilus]

17 of the 19 "terrorist" attempts on record since 9-11, were initiated and run by the FBI!

In all but 2 cases, the FBI "stopped" attacks that they themselves initiated and ran!

And the government wants to tell us how "successful" they have been at stopping "terrorism"?

If the U.S. goverment wasn't out there engaging in terrorism, there wouldn't be terrorism!

They are just using it to justify all the money they are stealing from us, along with stripping us our most basic rights.

[Jsledge85]

Political peace activist should be monitered, anyone remember the weathermen. That said, despite constitutional protections these people are nothing but vile political dissents and subversives that should be silenced. These people commit more harm through the spread their ideas than the harm caused by bombs and bullets. In my opinion they're virtually indistinguishable from terrorist, because they are committed to weaking this country.

[Jsledge85]

@Debbie307 What I did to your momma last night was an inside job.

[IntelligenceLaw]

I've waited for this documentary for well over a year now, and I was STUNNED by what I saw tonight when it finally aired. It was a complete SNOWJOB. Frontline spent less than 5 minutes talking about the massive domestic intelligence machine spying on Americans since 2001. They used old material from previous documentaries on Iraq and Afghanistan as filler for the other 55 minutes. If Priest, Arkin, or Kirk were threatened not to tell the full story then the DOJ should be forced to investigate.

[omnisniper]

@daboss985 i posted it in full... there are many more frontline episodes though