Imagine your self as a news reporter on television. You have to keep talking while waiting for details to come in. Your main job in this situation is to maintain the public's interest. HYPE! MYSTERY! FEAR! - 24/7.
This is terrorism and it is working quite well. The are acomplishing their goals and the media is aiding and abetting them - not purposely - they have done their home work and done it well.
Boy do you have them pegged. I'd like to hear a little "here are the facts, and this is all we know" without the giant leaps to a conclusion.