Do thwarted terror attacks within the USA go widely unreported?

Question

And if so, how come? Is it to prevent hysteria (an understandable situation if so) but what I, we don't understand is why an unsuccessful attempt wouldn't be front page news if not only to promote the "good" and success behind the FBI, CIA, NSA, the Patriot Act and such. I am not one to believe in conspiracies but I find it hard to believe that there has not been another attempt on US soil after September 11. I am thankful for no such attacks and love my country but are we being kept in the dark? This was actually dinner conversation initiated by my 16 year old daughter after what she called a "heated debate" in her modern history class.

Answer 1

Great discussion topic!

On the one hand, you would think that the government would want to say "hey - look what we prevented!" But on the other hand, like so many times when they're asked for information, I think we probably don't know of some potential terrorist actions that were prevented. The reason we don't know is because they don't want to expose the methods of intelligence gathering that they used to prevent the attack. That's not to say it's an illegal method, though it wouldn't surprise me if it were, but once the terrorists know how they were "found out" then it's only a matter of time before they can circumvent those methods.

And some have made the press - the guy in IL who was going to bomb a mall was stopped.

Answer 2

Or on the last page in a tiny column of your newspaper ..unless you listen to an Independent or Conservative radio program .
As for preventing hysteria..the mainstream liberal drive-by media has no qualms about hysteria when it comes to "blaming America first" ..so that's not real likely .

Answer 3

I think there are. you made some really good points. It would be make the government look good. But also like you said, the country wants to keep its people calm. 9/11 was so much for everyone to handle. But still, i dont want to be left in the dark.

Answer 4

For the most part they are not reported. When they are reported most people think that it is only to make the presidnt look good and that is something many do not want to happen.
Most people no a days just want everything to be simple and not get out of their comfort zone by being told that there are still many people trying to kill us here in the U.S.A.

Answer 5

i suspect that is the case.the authorities would want to keep it secret so as to not let the enemies know how we did it.
if it was publicized some ACLU lawyer would file suit to determine if some criminal's rights had been violated.

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

possibly!