Two sections of the Patriot Act the "lone wolf" provision and "roving wiretaps" (both requiring authorization by a special court) were created precisely to identify and monitor an individual like Tamerlan Tsarnaev before he detonates a bomb in a crowded public place.

WSJ: Henninger: Boston and the Un-Bush

United States Special Operations Forces have been conducting cross-border operations from southern Iraq, with Presidential authorization, since last year.

NEWYORKER: Preparing the Battlefield

Adams reconnected with his daughter last week, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations, Michael Sheehan, went before a congressional hearing on the topic of that 2001 war authorization.

CNN: Will my grandkids be fighting our 'forever war'?