"It was very vague, unsubstantiated, uncorroborated information," Mr. Doguim said.
"It's nonspecific, uncorroborated information, but nonetheless it is information we received," Mr. Doguim said.
It would be irresponsible to deploy substantial assets merely on the basis of unverified and uncorroborated information.
Federal authorities said last week that they had received credible but uncorroborated information about a car bomb plot in New York or Washington on the anniversary of the attacks.
A Pentagon spokesman, Col. David Lapan, declined to comment on Mr. Clarridge's network, but said the Defense Department "believes that reliance on unvetted and uncorroborated information from private sources may endanger the force and taint information collected during legitimate intelligence operations".
"But that information is uncorroborated," the official said, adding that he did not know the source of the threat.
One official said the action was taken out of an "abundance of caution," and another described the intelligence information as "nonspecific, uncorroborated and of unknown reliability".
Besides, the magazine's data are supplied by the schools and uncorroborated.But whether the rankings are fair is beside the point, because they are wildly influential.
"The university conducted a search of its records and has not found any information to support this uncorroborated allegation," Mr. Oliva added.
Hague said: These reports are uncorroborated and we are urgently seeking more information.
"These reports are uncorroborated and we are urgently seeking more information.
