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Witwer has already assumed authority. Obviously, he’s going to create quite an affair out of this.
Kaplan makes this comment to Anderton during their first meeting, just before Witwer’s radio announcement declaring Anderton a fugitive. At this point in the story, we may well believe that Witwer is conspiring against Anderton. From this perspective, we can read this moment as Witwer rushing to use the Precrime system to control public perception of Anderton and oust him for good. Once we learn Kaplan’s plan, this moment takes on new meaning. Kaplan’s preface to Witwer’s announcement distorts how Anderton understands it, helping solidify Kaplan’s control of the narrative Anderton believes. In both cases, the person with the most power is whoever controls the narrative.
The exposure will have considerable repercussions. It may cause the Senate to reconsider the basic validity of the Precrime system.
Kaplan says these words to Anderton just before inviting him to go on stage at the military rally. Although not admitting to his scheme, Kaplan here expresses the basic mechanism he uses to shift the balance of power. By publicly exposing the complexities of the Precrime system, Kaplan could completely strip it of its power. People, including those in the Senate, will begin to doubt the precogs’ predictions. Furthermore, as the one to announce these shortcomings, Kaplan makes himself look heroic, on the side of justice. This tactic would endear him to the people, making it easier for him to seize power.
