I'd be willing to bet that every major Western intelligence service has more data on top global terrorists than what they make public. But if I knew that for a fact, I wouldn't be posting here. Even local police departments usually have more information on potential suspects or specific details of a crime than what they release to the press.
That article Ian posted today with Hamid Mir predicting Ramadan attacks has an after-the-fact claim that UBL and Mullah Omar met a few weeks ago. So you are correct in saying that most of the time these stories (true or not) dribble out after the fact. It doesn't matter at that point. The Taliban leaders were probably not invited to be part of UBL's private meetings with Mullah Omar (if this happened)nor would they have details of planned operations, and weeks later they are both long gone so who cares if one of the Taliban runs their mouth after-the-fact? Same goes for the Damascus "terror summit".
They probably gave him permission to talk to Mir so they could brag about their secret meeting and planned upcoming attacks. They are very media savvy. "All the world's a stage."
Unlike Washington DC, al Qaeda and the Taliban do not seem to have a big problem with leakers. Probably because the kids out back will be playing soccer with the leaker's head the next day if one of them were to talk to a newsie without permission.
I understand. Makes sense.
Laughing at your last comment. I sure would like to play some soccer or basketball with their heads myself!
On the other hand, Washington should learn from their tactics and employ them on nyslimes reporters and the inside-the-beltway type leakers, don't you think?
"I'd be willing to bet that every major Western intelligence service has more data on top global terrorists than what they make public. But if I knew that for a fact, I wouldn't be posting here. Even local police departments usually have more information on potential suspects or specific details of a crime than what they release to the press. "
OPINION: I agree with all of that CallMeJoe except for this sentence:
"But if I knew that for a fact, I wouldn't be posting here."
OPINION: I'm really glad you are posting here CallMeJoe and that you ping me.
You think out of the box and that's a good thing for all of us. We can ponder your thoughts and accept or reject them, but at least those thoughts are on the cyber table for all of us to ponder.