Re: But they helped us catch the suspects . . .

It applies to Islamist minded terrorists, who are the most likely to attack America these days.

Eh, maybe, but I doubt it.

And Osama and other leaders didn't kill themselves because of their directive roles.

I knew you were going to say this. No, I don't buy it.

But operatives have to kill themselves. At least when they conduct an attack infiltrated on enemy soil.

Oh, they have to, do they? Is that a rule? Personally, I don't have access to terrorists and their organizations, so I wouldn't know.

On enemy soil. In theory, their operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Syria, are not enemy soil.

Again, I am not as in the know about terrorist doctrines as you appear to be. Please, do go on. I am quite curious about your insight into the hierarchies and internal dynamics of these organizations.

I am saying why we plebs are mad at surveillers. Not trying to make it a moral argument; just explaining the roots of the emotion.

Alright, but logic and emotions are not the same thing.

I wasn't assaulted by cops either the day when the camera was irrelevant, but by what you call civilians. [*] I don't love the police, but the worst they've done to me is really not so bad. And it's not anything they wouldn't do on any other Member of the Public.

So, did the camera identify the attackers? No. And it was working, and yet it's trivial to break a camera just in order to commit the act unwatched. If you're going to kill someone anyway, breaking a police camera is small beans legally.

Well, be that is it may, why should citizens be concerned about cameras in public locations if they aren't breaking the law or planning to break the law? Anyway, cameras do not have to be placed out in the open. There are ways to hide and to protect them from destruction. Ever been in a big box store that has those mirrored half globes mounted on the ceiling every few feet? Well, those are housings for surveillance cameras, and there is a security guy in his own little room in the back watching the monitors like a hawk. I have worked in enough of those stores, so I know. And those cameras are high tech. They can zoom in on a car's license plate in the parking lot, which is how store security usually catches shoplifters now. They don't tackle them any more in the parking lot; they let them go, get their license plate digits, and then alert the authorities. The shoplifters usually get caught before they even make it home with the goods.