Need to know

Current Events » in reply to I wonder how many attacks have been stopped.

Need to know

Larry J — 9/1/2004 4:08:57 PM (archived)

And do we need to know such things?

Right now, I'd argue that we don't need to know any more than people needed to know in advance the invasion plans for D-Day.

Revealing successes against terrorists would also mean revealing sources. Once revealed, sources quickly go away.* This is a war being fought in the shadows, on computer networks, and in a host of ways that we don't need to know about, at least not right now. Once a source has been burnt and is no longer useful, it can be released to the public, but never before.

*This has already happened. Reports indicate that our ability to track cell phone conversations was revealed in a trial or a leak. That caused al Queda to switch communications techniques, making the job of tracking them much more difficult.

The whole thread (22 posts)

Terrorism in Russian school - Tom Brosz - 9/1/2004 3:03:40 PM
- Could happen here - FrankC - 9/1/2004 3:46:21 PM
  - FIrst of all, it HAS happened here. - David F Mayer - 9/1/2004 6:42:31 PM
  - Could it be because we are fighting a pretty good fight? - ebnelson - 9/1/2004 6:31:28 PM
    - It could be... - FrankC - 9/1/2004 7:18:07 PM
  - Could it be that they are afraid they will unleash hell on themselves? - LJ - 9/1/2004 5:08:00 PM
    - Have you seen what they have done in Russia... - REB - 9/1/2004 6:24:56 PM
  - Reaction right now is too unpredictable - Art Martin - 9/1/2004 4:02:56 PM
  - re: I agree. I'm suprised it hasn't happened here. - Scott Evil - 9/1/2004 3:51:58 PM
    - "Surprised" is a major understatement as far as my point of view goes. - Tom Brosz - 9/1/2004 5:36:52 PM
      - re: I assume your theory is something close to water takes the easiest route. - Scott Evil - 9/1/2004 7:26:36 PM
    - I wonder how many attacks have been stopped. - REB - 9/1/2004 3:56:32 PM
      - Need to know - Larry J - 9/1/2004 4:08:57 PM
- re: Bush's war on terror caused this horror (n/t) - Kari Supporter - 9/1/2004 3:08:52 PM
  - "Kari Supporter" is a relative of "Anne Leftleaner." In this case a Scott Evil alter ego. (n/t) - Tom Brosz - 9/1/2004 5:39:19 PM
    - PLEEAAASE... - Scott Evil - 9/1/2004 7:23:24 PM
      - Those who mock 'the weak' will be subdued by my neuronic whip - R. Daneel Olivaw - 9/2/2004 5:26:51 AM
        
        Also, Mr Evil: - Daniel - 9/2/2004 6:36:27 AM
      - re: Doppelgangers - Tom Brosz - 9/1/2004 10:49:45 PM
    - ah .. - Daniel - 9/1/2004 5:48:28 PM
  - BUSH caused terrorism in RUSSIA? - Daniel L - 9/1/2004 4:10:00 PM
  - I won't even buy that one - Art Martin - 9/1/2004 3:53:24 PM

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The whole thread (22 posts)