"They" in this case is the chief of a metro police department, whose forensic and surveillance resources are more often spent on pedophiles and drug dealers than terrorism. What else would they say?

If the article's authors wanted a "what about the terrorists?" quote they would have gone to a counter-terrorism official, just like they rang someone at the DEA for a "but drug organizations!" quote.

You're reading a paint-by-numbers article about government impotence and corporate supremacy like it's finely crafted pro-government propaganda.

Let's hope the public will see through their manipulative talking points.

You (and most HN commenters) didn't. Why should they? e.g.:

a) "Beyond lobbying the companies, there is little law enforcement can do without congressional action."

b) "A half-dozen police and federal officials interviewed said that Apple, in particular, was taking an aggressive posture on the issue."

When you take away the outrage-kindling, the gist of the article is that the stodgy old Washington government is incompetent and hip California tech companies are glorious. Not exactly a controversial opinion among the commentariat.