Why is the state so terrifyingly effective at times, and so bumblingly incompetent at others? One reason is that when you're the state -- especially when you're the feds -- you can get away with a ton of stuff an individual or a small private group would get absolutely nailed for. This is partly because you have so much influence over investigating and prosecuting everything, and partly because you have so many resources to begin with. You're on easy mode most of the time, so most of your personnel don't have to be too sharp.