Official silence on US plane plot helps investigation: experts

[kpete]

Source: AFP

Official silence on US plane plot helps investigation: experts

By Mira Oberman (AFP) – 14 hours ago

CHICAGO — US officials are keeping mostly mum on what they have gleaned from a Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airplane despite criticism that they are leaving a frightened public in the dark.

Experts said Tuesday that the paucity of public pronouncements will help investigators track down his associates and build a stronger criminal case.

"They don't want to reveal all that they know and they don't want Al-Qaeda to know what it is that this guy is actually saying and how much he's cooperating," said Stephen Saltzburg, a former top prosecutor who teaches law at George Washington University.

"They want Al-Qaeda to be guessing about what they don't know and they do know and -- depending on what he's saying -- there may be some retaliatory moves they might make that might not be as effective if people knew they were in the offing."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g5qahbdxrrQ1WG4-T2qJPFPc5Spg

[liberal N proud]

1. Exactly