thing is though, it's such a thin line to tread. let me speculate like a rank amateur here for a sec.
this information, while frighteningly specific, one might assume is not immediately actionable intelligence for the enemy. it's more like detailed surveillance that one would see toward the beginning of an operation. so, wihtout knowing how the government obtained this information, one could assume that if they caught it in transit, that such an operation is in the early stages. on the other hand, if they got it as a result of a kicking a door down in yemen or somewhere (it's interesting to note that chuck schumer carefully noted that this intelligence is international in nature), one could reasonably assume that without a time table that the operation could be in flux even as we speak.
so, to announce or not to annouce?
some would argue that the best thing to do would be to say nothing and try to catch the bombers or culprits in the act like one might do with a robbery or domestic crime. however, the nature of the threat, a bomb, mitigates against that. by making the threat public, you do several things, you let them know that you anticipate their plans, which might throw them off. some will say, oh they might just look elsewhere and that's possible, but the level of specificity in their research makes it clear that these sites have been cultivated. maybe it puts off the inevitable, but it still puts it off and gives us more time to prepare and to try to penetrate their organizations (not that i'm holding my breath). you also make ordinary people think twice about something that might have seemed a little odd, but wasn't really something they thought about (of course, it's a double edged sword, but if it helps spare even one life, it's worth it). with the warning in their minds, they might report something that may lead to a break.
i think that if the government has information as specific as this and does not warn the public that they are negligent in their duty and should be held accountable as such.
r.i.p. marco, my guardian angel.
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
