Intelligence gathering, a crucial tool in counter-terrorism, is still patchy, because different branches are reluctant to share information with each other.

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Abdulmutallab's information about his son was forwarded to the National Counter-Terrorism Center, and Abdulmutallab was added to a general watch list, a senior administration official said.

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AbdulMutallab, a Nigerian who had a multiple-entry visa to the United States, had been added to a watch list of 550, 000 potential terrorist threats after the information provided by his father was forwarded to the National Counter-Terrorism Center, a senior administration official said.

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An ex-counter-terrorism detective has told a court it was "ludicrous" to suggest she offered information to the News of the World for money.

BBC: Detective April Casburn: NoW cash claim 'ludicrous'

Guttentag predicted the INS memo would prove "counter-productive" to the Justice Department's efforts to gather as much information as possible about terrorism.

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