ISIS, Russia, and the "credible" threat.

If you've been following the news, there are a few things you've become aware of. And I'd like to get some thoughts on these trending media topics.

First, with the downing of a Russian jet by Turkey, there has been a flurry of contradictory reports coming from these two factions. With that said, I have a couple of questions regarding these reports. Russia had made several, overt claims that there were no attempts by Turkey to contact their pilot in this incident. Furthering, they have posited that it was a planned attack, and that their jet was downed over Syrian airspace. Conversely, Turkey claims to have made multiple attempts to contact this jet, and made several explicit warnings before downing it. So, what I want to know, is this: Can we trust Russia to be forthcoming, and honest regarding their downed jet? Or, should we assume that they are being dishonest in their claims? If, however, they are being honest, why, then, would Turkey make this assault? Could there be underlying ties between Turkey, and radical Islamic factions?

Second, on the home front, we've heard a lot of the same over recent days, and weeks. Despite ramping up homeland security to measures previously unseen since 9/11, we've heard the same thing being reported. "No specific, credible threats at this time." In this regard, what I am then curious about, is this: Would the United States government be forthcoming, if there was explicit knowledge of a planned attack? If so, would it be rationally strategic to do so? In an instance in which there were identified threats, would public knowledge of those threats not hinder the disruption of any of these possible attacks, if they were to be so? And if this is to be true, does it further suggest that an identifiable, and "credible" threat has already been realized?

If you've been following the news, there are a few things you've become aware of. And I'd like to get some thoughts on these trending media topics.

First, with the downing of a Russian jet by Turkey, there has been a flurry of contradictory reports coming from these two factions. With that said, I have a couple of questions regarding these reports. Russia had made several, overt claims that there were no attempts by Turkey to contact their pilot in this incident. Furthering, they have posited that it was a planned attack, and that their jet was downed over Syrian airspace. Conversely, Turkey claims to have made multiple attempts to contact this jet, and made several explicit warnings before downing it. So, what I want to know, is this: Can we trust Russia to be forthcoming, and honest regarding their downed jet? Or, should we assume that they are being dishonest in their claims? If, however, they are being honest, why, then, would Turkey make this assault? Could there be underlying ties between Turkey, and radical Islamic factions?

Second, on the home front, we've heard a lot of the same over recent days, and weeks. Despite ramping up homeland security to measures previously unseen since 9/11, we've heard the same thing being reported. "No specific, credible threats at this time." In this regard, what I am then curious about, is this: Would the United States government be forthcoming, if there was explicit knowledge of a planned attack? If so, would it be rationally strategic to do so? In an instance in which there were identified threats, would public knowledge of those threats not hinder the disruption of any of these possible attacks, if they were to be so? And if this is to be true, does it further suggest that an identifiable, and "credible" threat has already been realized?