For some, the very act of intelligence gathering seems illegitimate when applied to the crime of terrorism.

It fits all the elements of a hate crime,

It appears to be a crime of passion,

You have multiple intelligence agencies. They all ultimately report to the director of national intelligence but, you know, it never comes in neat packages. So you have to make judgments on what you have, and it's not easy to do.

They definitely don't have to carry out a specific act of terrorism to be found guilty; otherwise, the whole material support statute wouldn't fly. The government has a strong case against Mr. Padilla. I think he's in a heap of trouble.

senseless act of terrorism.