Enemy strategists must be informing their leaders that the US election is an inflection point: the US position could not possibly get any weaker than on Election Day 2016, after 8 years of BO. If they have any inclination to attack us within the next 8 years, we will be at our very lowest (militarily and strategically) on the last day of the BO administration. Attacking during the transition would be prime time. It’s only more difficult and risky after that.
Until the inflection point, we get weaker and weaker, so why rush it?
If by some horrible stroke of fate another ‘rat wins the election, they can always shelve their plans for another 4 years and reevaluate in 2020.
“Attacking during the transition would be prime time.”
I disagree. Attacking then would guarantee the next administration would be forced to pursue them relentlessly for at least the next 4, and probably the next 8 years.
Al Qaeda made the mistake of continuing to act like Clinton was around once Dubya took over, and they learned the difference the hard way. Before that, the Iranians were smart enough to know that Reagan couldn’t be treated like Carter. I guess we’ll see whether ISIS is as smart as the Iranians or as stupid as Al Qaeda.