Diverting Resources from Counterterrorism -- to Domestic Spying

In the days after 9/11, Attorney General John Ashcroft gave the FBI loose reign to investigate likely centers of terrorist activity. But instead of going after groups most likely to have ties to terrorists -- the FBI used many of their limited resources to go after protest groups.

The New York Times -- citing FBI documents -- reports the Bureau began monitoring a "Vegan Community Project," a Catholic Workers group, and tried to track down the location of a PETA protest over llama fur.

Considering the nature of some PETA protests (left), we can see why some agents might have wanted to attend. But with the nation under attack, you'd think they'd be going after terrorists instead.

The New York Times got the documents following a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The documents show the FBI may have improperly monitored more than 150 different protest and social groups. (NYT)