I think John Ashcroft got the news over Moscow, was it? I think he wanted to let America know the F.B.I. was still playing with a full deck (which local agents are, I might add). I have no problem with when it was released for public consumption. I don't think John was over there for vacation. He was working -- not trying to spin, but he was doing something else, I presume. He relies on the information he receives. If John tends toward the dramatic, then Dubya and G.H.W. are there to kick him in the pants. The only thing that I was upset about was Mueller's remark. I was satisfied with Ari Fleisher's explanation yesterday. Read the whole statement (although I must admit John's demeanor when he made the statements may have lended more weight to the words than was necessary).
Do I think they have a dirty bomb? I hope not. Do I want authorities to wait to apprehend them until they do? No. I'd rather err on the side of the sky is falling than digging out from under it after it has. If, and I say IF, John was fed misinformation, he is going to be really, really angry. I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of the guy who oversold the danger.