[Ramius]

I don't know. It doesn't need to have been a missile. It quite believably could have been something like the shoe-bomb that Richard Reid was trying to detonate and failed.

I almost wish this were the case. If the idea was to deny Al Queda their prize by floating this story that it was something else other than a bomb... well, while I don't like it so much I can understand the rationale. The mission of the terrorist is to disrupt. If you deny them the disruption then the great part of their mission fails.

I get that. But after something like 9-11 the truth could be told about flight 800 without changing much of the policy on the ground anymore.

Dunno.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Very good point,,,whatever it was it worked like a charm.

[P-40]

well, while I don't like it so much I can understand the rationale.

I could certainly see things going down that way and while I would not like it either, I can see why it would be a wise thing to do...provided that behind the scenes it is still treated as a terrorist incident. I can see how even the OK City bombing may have been the same sort of deal.