I thought that it was the newer engine (800 some odd hours) that experienced the failure? I also thought that the engines were overhauled, not replaced, at 10,000 hours? In any case, I think it's way too soon to rule anything in or out since even a mechanical problem could have a criminal component.
The only thing that the govt can do not to compund this awful event it to be completely truthful about it at all times. If they lie, even once, even about something niggling, Heaven help them.
There definitely could be criminal mischief mechanically. In fact thats the only theory that would argue that it was a terrorist since the destination of the flight would not necessarily be known when the failure occurred. I'm arguing that there has been no evidence of a bomb from what I have heard today and I listened very closely to the contemporaneous accounts this morning on WABC the local NY radio station. They did a good job finding and talking to witnesses on air. No mention of SAM's and several insisted there was no explosion from their vantage point.