How can the Republicans, who need to find an agenda for next year's elections, be critical without seeming either mean-spirited or ideologically reckless or, if they blunt the attack on the tobacco companies, corrupt?
Rather than the deterrent effect expected from IW (much as the Japanese planners of the surprise attack against Pearl Harbor had hoped), a reckless application of information operations could provoke massive retaliation.
Ch Supt Clarke said the attack was "clearly an attempt to kill police" but he added that it was also "reckless as to the consequences to the safety of other people".