And if they didn't they would be charged with obstruction and that's where it would end. They would not go to Dell and force them to write software that allows a secret FBI password to get into every laptop.
The Enron case was a bad analogy because only billions of dollars were at stake: assume there were details on a Dell computer that would save a dozen or so lives. Do you think Dell wouldn't help? Do you think they shouldn't?
The case at hand is a discarded work phone -- of which call and text records are readily available to investigators. It does not represent a "clear and present danger".
Even if it did I would still fight it in the courts: Warrantless wiretapping, secret Fisa courts. Guantanamo bay prison. Lawyers and congressional leaders being electronically spied on... I do not think its safe for our democracy to continue giving the government tools to spy on citizens.
Your comment perfectly illustrates what's wrong with your side of the argument (but don't worry, you are on the side of most of HN):
Isn't the current case in fact exactly what you would hope to see from a government changing in response to gitmo and warrant less wiretapping? If not - what would you expect to see assuming the govt was changing? Honestly curious here, as you seem to want to fight the govt even in the face of "clear and present danger" and even if they had reformed.
