When my spouse suggested a similar theory over breakfast the other day — noting the odd coincidence between the Lamont victory and the news that Terrorism Is Back — I was skeptical, noting that the investigation had, after all, been going on for a year.
I have got to get more cynical in time for the next election.
Source: U.S., U.K. at odds over timing of arrests. NBC News has learned that U.S. and British authorities had a significant disagreement over when to move in on the suspects in the alleged plot to bring down trans-Atlantic airliners bound for the United States.
A senior British official knowledgeable about the case said British police were planning to continue to run surveillance for at least another week to try to obtain more evidence, while American officials pressured them to arrest the suspects sooner. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.
In contrast to previous reports, the official suggested an attack was not imminent, saying the suspects had not yet purchased any airline tickets. In fact, some did not even have passports.
… At the White House, a top aide to President Bush denied the account. … Another U.S. official, however, acknowledges there was disagreement over timing.
I’m with C. – as soon as I heard news of the arrests, I thought: “Right on schedule.”
See also!
Yep. I just posted this coment at Hullabaloo:
“When to move on an incipient criminal enterprise is legitimately a judgement call. If too soon, you may end up with insufficient evidence and fail to identify significant players. If too late, you may fail to prevent the criminal act.
“It’s hard to say whether electoral politics was a consideration but based on past experience you can’t rule it out. Our paranoia is rational.”
If they did not have any passports why did the authorities make a fuss about it? Now I will follow your advice and I will be even more cynical for the next elections.