We're talking about the tenth anniversary of 9/11 all this week. And while we’re remembering those we’ve lost, we’re also analyzing the tragedy's aftermath. A new Frontline documentary and investigative book chronicle the proliferation of covert operations and government organizations that began cropping up in the wake of 9/11. Funding for counter-terrorism programs grew exponentially after 9/11. In the documentary, then-White House counter terrorism czar Richard Clarke remembers: "President Bush said to us, in the basement of the White House on the night of 9/11, you have everything you need. And that was true, because as soon as we went to the Congress, they said 'just tell us what you need.' Blank check."

A new story in The Washington Post details a vast expansion of the United States' monitoring of its citizens for the purpose of fighting domestic terrorism threats. Reportedly the largest and most technologically sophisticated system of data-gathering in U.S. History, the new apparatus uses techniques developed in wars overseas to scrutinize the activities of Americans. Dana Priest, who helped report the story, which covered several months and used over 1000 documents, joins us now to talk about the new apparatus, which is part of an exploding national security market around the country. 

This morning, Washington Post reporter Dana Priest broke an exclusive story about the increased use of intelligence contractors. After years of research and information gathering, Priest found that billions of dollars are being wasted because of redundancies between the intelligence community and its contractors. And even though many top government officials know this is going on, little is being done to make operations more efficient or rein in spending.