The local Detroit news stations last night all highlighted the security for the Superbowl. They even highlighted preparations at area hospitals in the event of a nuclear attack. They were very careful to downplay the threat (which I think is wise) and be upbeat about the security measures.
As many have already commented on this thread, they don't have to attack the stadium itself. They could attack anywhere but do it during the Superbowl and it would get immediate coverage while so many are tuned in. I don't think this would make them look weak. Do you really?
I'm more encouraged today than a few weeks ago that they will be able to keep a dirty bomb from getting into the area. I pity any plane that accidentally strays into the protected radius. They won't have much time to warn them.
I have been thinking about this and talking with my husband about it, and this is pretty much the conclusion I have reached. They can't hit the superbowl but they will hit somewhere and do it while the country is all in front of the TV so we don't miss it. And ruin the superbowl for most of us as well.
That's if we don't foil or catch them.
They have been making threats ever since 9/11 about how they are going to attack us again. In his last message UBL said the reason they hadn't attacked wasn't because of our security measures, but because they needed time to prepare. The fact he has said it was not because of our security measures tells me it was very much because of our security measures. What made 9/11 easy for them was that we were just not paying any attention. Now we are paying a lot of attention and it is significantly harder to pull off a multi personnel, big event. If they simply send one guy in with an explosive vest and he kills 5 or 10 people I think he would look very weak. I mean "is that the best you can do?" In any case, it is not good to assume what terrorists will do and then put all your efforts against that assumption. We could all be surprised.