If it is the case that incidents such as this, Flight 800, and a number of other bizarrely justified events are being concealed by authorities, they need to be aware that such alibis actually fuel the tactic of terror.
Terror is used by revolutionary activists to destroy public confidence in legitimate authority and their ability to control the government. If brazen criminal activity is covered up, the people will begin to doubt any and all statements issued by higher levels of government. At first it will begin with a silent acceptance, with a degree of unspoken doubt. When the trend advances over time, those espousing the scripted versions of events will delude themselves into believing they are benefitting the masses by controlling mass political trends. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the public will tend to either lose confidence in the veracity of government, the reporting mechanisms, or both.
Such an environment will create an opportunity for political unrest and dynamic upheaval. This is exactly the endstate desired by terrorists initially, even if they havn't planned for such dynamics to evolve. Sortof like how the N Vietmanese blundered into a victory in Vietnam, the dynamics may become unstable enough for opponents to decide adversarily against US interests.
IMHO, the primary line of defense against terrorism is with the common man. If he isn't at liberty to defend himself, is local business and community, family and local government, he will simply become preoccupied with how to gain that freedom. Meanwhile, higher level government will tend to exasperate the problem by artificially constraining the local freedom of the innocent even further.
Well said! (The whole thing, not just the part above). That is the danger. We are strong and powerful because we are free. When the government starts lying to protect itself, or individuals within it do so, we are less free, and thus less powerful and less able to defend ourselves.
Tactically, the terrorists work through the cracks. You can't have police and military everywhere, but the people *are* everywhere. They must be their own defense, starting with being the eyes and ears for the professional security types, but not ending there by any means.
Well said! (The whole thing, not just the part above). That is the danger. We are strong and powerful because we are free. When the government starts lying to protect itself, or individuals within it do so, we are less free, and thus less powerful and less able to defend ourselves.
Tactically, the terrorists work through the cracks. You can't have police and military everywhere, but the people *are* everywhere. They must be their own defense, starting with being the eyes and ears for the professional security types, but not ending there by any means.