You know the NSA's wiretapping permission? They get to listen in on foreigners blabbing about killing Americans and plotting badness. It's how the Indian government knew about the Bombay bombing plot ahead of time but did nothing about it (small detail).
We tend to think that those who run online systems like Facebook, Twitter, Friendfeed and the grand poo-bah Google make them passive robot-like vehicles for democratic action. That's not exactly true. At the very least someone wrote the code in a certain way to achieve a certain outcome. It doesn't have to be a nefarious plot to inadvertently cause harm.
About a year ago, maybe two now, time flies, we got in a fender bender and the man who drove the tow-truck was from the Middle East somewhere. I took a leap and said to him, "Asalam Alakum" or roughly "peace be unto you" (a fairly universal greeting) in Arabic. He was delighted. Asked how much Arabic I knew and started freely talking. Within two minutes, he was decrying "the Jews" and spewing venom in casual tones. He would be considered a moderate Muslim.
Obama Exercises Greatness
The Anchoress notes the press' tongue bath. Meanwhile, I'm figuring they're covering for Obama's smoking. They excessively adore his fitness routine.