Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-34633327-20171002160810/@comment-32.209.76.10-20171029231313

There's a lot of good discussion in this thread that I would like to return to read completely. Until then, I just would like to point out one flaw.

Ozpin wanted to maintain the facade of peace for one reason only:  Grimm.

Negative emotions attract Grimm. Transparency and disclosure only would have increased popular anxiety, creating worry, fear, paranoia, and distrust. Being honest with the populace would only increase Salem's forces prior to the attack -- one that she had purposely planned to invoke negative emotions so she could increase the size of her Grimm horde for said attack. Given the group's suspicions, Ozpin simply wanted to minimize Salem's invasion force. The better he did, the more time it could buy for preparation. It was obvious that Salem did not want to launch the attack until the seeds of fear and distrust had been adequately dispersed. Therefore, Ozpin was making the tactically correct move -- thwart Salem's emotional manipulation, and she will need to postpone the attack. Instead, Ironwood fell prey to her machinations, blundering in a huge way.