Seems like everyone's scratching their heads and throwing stuff out there. Birds, reverse thrusters, etc.
The one thing that can safely be said at this point, is that this is either a totally new kind of accident, or a totally new kind of terrorism. Doesn't fit any models.
I don't see how anyone can be anywhere but right on the fence.
That's where I am. On the fence. We still don't have all of the facts. I think the gov. is terrified that this is an act of sabotage. I would feel better if they would actually say that. Instead of it is everything but sabotage.
I know what you mean. The CVR gives a pretty good indication that it was not a bomb, missile, or terrorist in the cockpit. No "boom". (Unless the NTSB has information and is deliberately concealing it -- Something I don't want to give credence to with this new administration but which I would believe Clinton would do in a heart beat.) I still remember GWB telling his staff after firing L. Chavez that he would never tolerate anyone lying to him. I do not think he would do that to us either.
That said, it looks like a losened vertical stablizer could have been broken by wake turbulence. Rattled first before finally breaking clean (what do the attaching surfaces of the stablizer look like under a microscope?) Who had the last chance to loosen the stablizer, (is it held with screws?) I have heard speculation that without a stablizer, and who knows what other controls were also lost, the crew might have been trying to control yaw with engine thrust. Maybe the plane could not take that loading and the engines were weakened?
Then it's "tear along the dotted line" as the bolts go.