Divining the Future by Whiffs and Denouements

If MSM refers to the mainstream media, wherein a careful reader may catch early whiffs of future events, then SSM refers to sidestream media, wherein one may first (publicly) adduce results for further discussion.

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By now readers need illustrative examples of such whiffs and results, so here goes:

Notice in AFP's timeline of major events in Egypt's recent political crisis beginning January 17th, we have introduced a marker for January 21st. The reported departure of SSN-756 evoked a whiff of mystery we certainly detected for and alerted to our loyal readers.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The USS Scranton (SSN 756) departed on a regularly scheduled six-month deployment from Naval Station Norfolk on Friday.

Now, we have from a SSM source what appears a decent answer to the question of why a submarine movement was being reported at all. Who can guess where (generalized area only) the USS Scranton has been reported operating?

DEBKAfile February 8, 2011 USS warships in Suez Canal

[M]ilitary sources report that the American force consists of the USS Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group of six warships. Helicopters on some of their decks are there to carry and drop the 2,200 marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit which has been bolstered by two special operations battalions. The flotilla has a rapid strike stealth submarine, the USS Scranton, which is designed to support special forces' operations.

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There you have examples of both a whiff and a plausible denouement (the outcome of a complex sequence of events). Moreover, Scranton 's deployment began after what had occurred? Diplomatic discussions are often secret, so we cannot be sure, but it is probably important to note this:

Nov. 29, 2010 - The Muslim Brotherhood says a rigged election has all but wiped out its presence in parliament, virtually eliminating opposition to Mubarak's ruling party before a 2011 presidential vote. The group skirts a ban on religious parties by running independents.

Was the man setting himself on fire (January 21st) inflammatory to Egyptians? No doubt. Does Washington's role look more or less planned vis-à-vis the Muslim Brotherhood's election protest last year? That is for you to decide.

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SECOND EXAMPLE of an MSM whiff (we can hardly wait for the denoument on this one):

WASHINGTON (AP) - MSNBC CIA officers make grave mistakes, get promoted

Since 9/11, many whose errors left people wrongly imprisoned or dead have received only minor admonishments or no punishment at all

A hard-charging CIA analyst had pushed the agency into one of the biggest diplomatic embarrassments of the U.S. war on terrorism. Yet despite recommendations by an internal review, the analyst was never punished. In fact, she has risen to one of the premier jobs in the CIA's Counterterrorism Center, helping lead President Barack Obama's efforts to disrupt al-Qaida.

Well, what does this portend for CAPT Holly Graf? Will SECNAV Mabus follow the board's recommendation to boot Graf, or will he follow his administration's lead with the bungling, female CIA officer?

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Submarines are always silent and strange.