The Feds are trying to keep a lid on it for fear of tipping off the New York Times...
Two things I am wondering (hopefully have not already been brought up):
1) Would it be too wild to think that this was a test run, i.e. a way of testing how long it would take the Feds to find these guys? Thus, using this to gauge a "real" run by another group of students in the near future. I don't see this as very likely.
2) Could it also be possible that these clowns are merely decoys, an attempt to send the Feds on a wild-goose chase while a real group of terrorists are carrying out an act of terrorism? It has been noted that the disappearance occurred two days before the UK bust. Perhaps this was meant as distraction.
Mustn't "offend" any muslims in America by hinting that some of them have desires of killing some of us.