"I can understand not wanting to panic the nation, but surely the public ought to be informed on a different level...and soon."
What I would do is inform the public on a one-on-one basis as calmly yet swiftly as possible. Then get the press to cooperate in making sure the nation stays calm and then make it clear that leaks of sensitive info will result in the guilty parties getting shot.
"After 9-11 there were train derailments and such. Then the blackouts worldwide. Remember how trucks and fertilizer disappeared? Cruise ships kept having problems with passengers becoming ill. Now back to airplanes?"
Funny stuff has been going on, but in my opinion they're just testing the waters, like one massive rehearsal.
In my humble opinion, we need to decentralize as many things as possible. Power, food source and supply chains, government and major economic programs and an emergency plan in case the Stock Exchange is hit. Then line the border that we share with Mexico with landmines and make sure that Canada isn't unwittingly harboring terrorists.
"...then make it clear that leaks of sensitive info will result in the guilty parties getting shot."
The media should be first. CNN began this cr@p during the Gulf War.
"...in my opinion they're just testing the waters, like one massive rehearsal."
It's as if we're watching the individual fireworks going up all the while knowing the finale will be spectacular.
I hope we're gathering decent intel from the OCD cell phone jihadists.