US politicians used the attacks of September 11, 2001, as a pretext to launch their own campaign of terror, from Afghanistan to Iraq to dozens of “counterterrorism” operations in Africa. Though less visible now, the murderous “war on terror” continues.
The Patriot Act and other laws with provision for invasive surveillance didn’t come out of nowhere. There are officials and/or lobbies who have always argued for more surveillance in the name of security. They have proposals on standby, and are waiting for opportunities to turn these into laws.
When an attack do happen, these people are going to push their proposal, present them as the solution. It doesn’t mean they had anything to do with the attack. I assume people who wrote the Patrick Act are genuinely looking to avoid terrorist attacks, but their solution isn’t effective nor right.