(a) There just aren't enough good interviewers to go around. The cooperation of the American-Arab community is not something the FBI wants to place at risk. (b) As the interviewee was a frequent writer on Arab-American issues, the story could have been predicted (with great accuracy) following an interrogation-style interview. Maybe the FBI is beating the grass to see what moves, or runs. If you can get the cells and their associates to focus on freedom and security, rather than an attack -- you've gained time, if nothing else. Most of you would probably pick (a). It is discouraging to see the disdain in which many of you hold the FBI during a time when we need cooperation and insight from nontraditional sources. In some cases, maybe FBI agents are an inappropriate vehicle for elicitation. An NGO might be able to garner trust and serve as a trusted liaison with dissident groups, and even more so if it used "snitch-crypto." *she says, just wondering....as she covers herself with flame-retardant materials* ~Aimee