The anonymous Amazon insider certainly does add some weight to the idea of an actual internal glitch. My question, though, is if the explanation is so simple, why do Amazon's spokespeople seem so hesitant to directly discuss it? Why haven't they said that, or even directly answered questions as to whether a hacker had anything to do with the "error"?

Regardless of what actually happened in Amazon's databases this weekend, the lack of transparency may be what leaves the longest-lasting impression. It's an unfortunate approach to a story garnering global attention, and -- I think it's safe to say -- it's what comes across as being most "ham-fisted" of all.

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