Latest terror threat information "MAY" have been updated

[Bluebear]

WASHINGTON - Authorities have some evidence that suspected terror surveillance information on five financial buildings was looked at again and perhaps updated in January, a top homeland security official said Friday.

James Loy, the deputy secretary of homeland security and No. 2 official at the agency, initially told The Associated Press that new surveillance photographs were taken in January of Prudential Financial Inc.'s headquarters in Newark, N.J., both interior and exterior, and were not simply old photographs that had been altered or otherwise updated.
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But later Friday, Loy said that he had not personally been "poring over" the intelligence information. He added that, while it was clear the surveillance files of the Prudential Building, held on a captured computer, were accessed and perhaps updated in January, he could not say with certainty that there were new photos taken then. He said he had been speaking hypothetically of what could constitute updating of information.

Loy said there also is some evidence of "freshening" of surveillance information from the other four buildings specifically named in the terror warnings last weekend, although he again said he could not say that "with total clarity."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040...

[sandraj]

1. When all else fails

speak in hypotheticals.

[Bluebear]

2. But it sure took Kerry off the news for a few days

Mission Accomplished, Karl!

[RoyGBiv]

3. Updated...

This is bugging the crap out of me.

The first day this "news" was released, one of the stories in one of the major papers mentioned that they had arrived at the conclusion the information "may" have been updated after examining the file system on a confiscated computer. Note well: "file system," not the "contents of the file."

Now, in my mind, that means one thing. The "last updated" date on the file was more recent, say January of this year, than other files on the same computer. In and of itself, this means absolutely nothing. Open a file, accidentally hit any key, then accept the default "save" when closing, and voila', the file has been updated.

Anyway, besides the fact no one seems to be mentioning this or at least asking why they think the file "may" have been updated (if there were information in the file that was accurate in January but not three years ago, that would be a really good clue and wouldn't compromise national security in the telling), what's bugging me is I can't find this story now.

Anyone remember reading the same thing?

[Bluebear]

4. They can use computerese at their pleasure

The average citizen out there won't make the connection. Anytime you open the file and save it will show that date as 'last modified', yes? This alert alone cost millions, let alone the stifling of post-convention news and scaring the crap out of people.

[jeff30997]

5. Perhaps that maybe there's a possibility that...

They think we're a bunch of morons!

[Bluebear]

6. Will this flip-flop get as much attention as the original "alert"?

nt