[Ratiofarmings]

Because dealing with it internally and informing the public are two entirely different things. They may well have told the families some things, but not the public. Afterall this is a privately funded venture and the rescue effort isn't going to be paid for by the public either. They owe us nothing.

[ragingrobot]

> They owe us nothing.

Agreed.

We seem, as a culture, to feel we're owed, or entitled, to everything nowaways.

By releasing this information, there would have possible been a massive outcry by the (unconcerned) public and the families involved that the parties involved weren't doing enough. Everyone would have hopped on the "you're too slow to act" bandwagon. This despite not having any knowledge or expertise in the area.

They may have created some headaches at this point, but saved themselves a lot of undeserved headaches and media criticism by not releasing info earlier.

[trogdor]

>the rescue effort isn't going to be paid for by the public either

That is not true. The federal government does not charge for search and rescue.

Why do you believe otherwise?

[redeeman]

> They owe us nothing.

Are you referring to the actual "government" ? because in that case, it definitely seems like they owe their own citizens something?

[pohl]

They do, but what they owe differs by what part of the government one is dealing with. You’ll find that, with regards to the military, one thing they do not owe to citizens is real-time, unfettered access to intelligence.