They are all very good observations and questions, oceanview. I also cannot square al qaeda having WMDs but not yet using them. But a little something in my persona somewhere is also making me ask if there might be a rationale for waiting. I mean, we know they were working on some WMDs, e.g., al qaeda killed animals using their chem or bio weapons. Perhaps the delivery method is where they lacked know-how. But prior to 911, how hard would it have been to use them on unsuspecting Americans even in a rough method to kill many of us in conjunction with the hijacked aircraft missiles? Or is that where the anthrax attacks derived? ;) Well, the Feds sure know exactly what was found in the caves of Afghanistan. They know what is possible.
Sometimes, I wonder, is it possible that there is a very simplistic answer to this? Did usama really believe that the 911 attacks would make us withdraw from the Muslim world and have us quivering inside our own borders only? It seems that he did successfully beat back Russia, and they successfully saw us withdraw from Bosnia. So I do wonder about this... Because perhaps usama thought he would not have to take his attacks to a mass destruction level... I just don't know, but I really want to find out, dammit!