Even my dog ...

Was suspicious of the timing. So was everybody who stopped by here. Well it seems, after all these years of being treated like mushrooms*, our bullshit detectors are tuned to maximum sensitivity**:

LONDON - NBC News has learned that U.S. and British authorities had a significant disagreement over when to move in on the suspects in the alleged plot to bring down trans-Atlantic airliners bound for the United States.

A senior British official knowledgeable about the case said British police were planning to continue to run surveillance for at least another week to try to obtain more evidence, while American officials pressured them to arrest the suspects sooner. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.

In contrast to previous reports, the official suggested an attack was not imminent, saying the suspects had not yet purchased any airline tickets. In fact, some did not even have passports. [my ems]

...

You know, one thing I hate more than anything is when people try to manipulate me, especially when it's done by people who think they're smarter than I am. AOB said in comments on another post, and I agree, they've been playing this game for so long that when the shit is really about to hit the fan, nobody will pay attention. Their Chicken Littles are coming home to roost.

*Kept in the dark and fed bullshit.
**Thanks to C&L for the link.

Update:

Glenn Greenwald. Tangential to this, but it seems the Brits can follow the law of their land and still keep their people safe.

... Being able to eavesdrop only with warrants did not prevent British law enforcement from stopping these terrorist attacks. It is baffling, to put it mildly, why defenders of Bush's illegal eavesdropping would think that any of this bolsters their defense that warrantless eavesdropping is necessary... [my em]

So Instashithead and all the other wingnut morons*** can suck my hairy white ass.

***Tip o' the Brain to Atrios.