In reply to mixeduptransistor ("Why would the US need to BS for a few days if they really knew where it was at? Does anyone really doubt the level of technology the US Government has available to them worldwide? Would it really be that damaging to the US intelligence community for them to say "we know where it's at, we'll tell you where, but we're not going to tell you how we know")
We didn't know instantly, obviously. Then, I'm sure, various agencies needed to both share intelligence and get a plan.
But if the Malaysians, in cooperation with neighboring countries, could find the plane, or be nudge-winked to the plane, that would yes be far preferable, for many geopolitical reasons.
And, in fact, that seems to be what's happening. In the NBC version, it is the *Malaysians* who have *asked the U.S.* to go a bit further west. And the U.S. "denies" we have specific intel. IMO exactly the reverse is true, and we are seeing a historical narrative being shaped.
U.S. Ship Moves to Strait of Malacca In Search of Missing Jet - NBC News