Law enforcement

FBI statement on Friday:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Leaders of the American Arab, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian communities participated in a nationwide conference call today with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other government officials in which both sides pledged to work together to protect our country and safeguard the civil rights of the various ethnic and religious communities. The conference call demonstrated that the American Arab, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian communities are actively involved in helping to secure the country, and that the government is actively engaged with these communities. The DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties led the call.

FBI on Saturday:

F-B-I officials say the men were cooperative, upfront and not hiding anything.
They are being charged with collecting or providing materials for terrorist acts and surveillance of a vulnerable target for terrorist purposes.

The FBI's boss on Sunday:

WASHINGTON -- Homeland security chief Michael Chertoff called [Sunday] for a review of domestic antiterrorism laws, saying the United States might benefit from the more aggressive surveillance and arrest powers used by British authorities last week to thwart an alleged plot to bomb airliners.

Chertoff said no American links to the London plot have been uncovered, but added that the top priority for US counterterrorism officials is to identify any possible connection between the suspects in Britain and Pakistan and individuals in the United States.

FBI on Monday:

The credibility of an alleged terrorist plot targeting Michigan's landmark Mackinac Bridge was undermined today when the FBI said there is no evidence linking the arrested men with terrorism.

Were the agents from the Friday conference calls all picking up their skirts at the dry cleaners' over the weekend?