They Also Mentioned "Tossed Salads," but Prosecutors Now Believe that Conversation Was about Their Future Roles in Prison if Caught, not Terrorism

In the indictment's recounting of the conversations, the principals converse in what officials describe as code, referring to arms shipments and attack plans as sporting events or, on some occasions, as vegetables.

But any such efforts to conceal the nature of the subjects discussed were seemingly clumsy. In one conversation, for instance, Adham Amin Hassoun talks with another defendant, Mohamed Hesham Youssef, about soccer equipment. The indictment says that Mr. Hassoun later told investigators he had indeed been referring to sports equipment, but that he was unable to explain why he had then asked Mr. Youssef if he had enough 'soccer equipment' to 'launch an attack on the enemy.'

We needed the Patriot Act to catch those guys?! For them, we gave up our rights to live private lives in a free society?!

I can't tell you how depressed that makes me.

Oh! And happy Thanksgiving!