The real count of shorts is probably already available to MT based on the responses he got for broker's nobo lists. This may be what stimulated the latest announcement about the board preparing to discuss a buyout. But don't fool yourself by thinking that the shorting situation was a shock to MT and the rest of management. These guys are as sharp as they come. My guess is that they expected the current situation and are just playing out the next steps in a well thought out plan. The only ones to be surprised are us, the shareholders, and the shorts. I have a hunch there are some real surprises in store.