LA Times: Al Qaeda To Attack Major Cities and Remote Areas (excerpted)

LA Times via azcentral.com ^ | 12-23-03

[My Favorite Headache]

WASHINGTON -- Al-Qaida operatives may be plotting several unrelated attacks in the United States, targeting not only major cities but also remote bulwarks of the

[Indie]

I think we should use them...but you're right..we won't. So we agree on half your point ;)

[skyhntr]

I was thinking that a choice target would be the L.A. Basin area. for few reasons:

1. It would all but decimate the movie industry in terms of financially, and of course possible celebrity casualties. would effect both the heart and this country's wallet.
2. It would also take a huge bite out of the recording industry, with the same effects as #1.
3. Of course the population would be another concern.
4. It would demonstrate to the country and the west coast that they are not immune to the terrorists.
5. I think it would Lower the illegal alien count and possibly make them think twice about running across the border.
6. Easily accessible.
I also feel striking during the holiday season would be another severe blow to U.S. morale.
Financially and mentally I think this scenario would be a huge blow to the American people.and their morale.
Now, although with this theory, comes thoughts that a strike on these industries would possibly reach the peace-niks and cause them to run out of cheeks to turn. Giving them something to think about other than what new film such as "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd" or the latest in Gangsta Rap genre are going to come out.
As far as IF WHEN they strike next I feel a small retaliatory strike would be appropriate. Played out with chasing BL back into the mountains, Load up every Aircraft with as many bunker busters they can carry, and make the highest point in the Afghanistan mountain range 3'.. then a second strike follows immediately after the dust settles (for full effects ;) ) once again load up all aircraft capable of carrying MOAB's lowering the highest peak in the range to 1/2" There is always need for additional parking around the holiday season!!

IMO for what it's worth.

[Indie]

exploding several of them at the same time would overwhelm the planet with radiation- even if no one strikes back at us. What utter nonsense.

Correct. Look how many whoppers we set off in the testing years. We're all still here.

[mhking]

If NYC vaporizes at the stroke of midnight on Christmas, and it turns out to be an AQ cell made up of Saudis, Yemenis, and Indonesians, based out of Rome, using a bomb bought from the Russian black market with money raised among Arab-Americans in Detroit, who would we bomb?

Detroit.

[larlaw]

This is the horrific scenario I've been contemplating for quite some time. What if, God forbid, Al Queda were to explode a suitcase nuke in New York and/or D.C. How will President Bush respond? Do we nuke countries that continue to sponsor terrorism like Yemen, the Sudan, plus the axis of evil, killing millions of civilians? What if most of the terrorists originated from our "ally" Saudi Arabia? And do we nuke Mecca and bring about a final clash of civilizations? Or do we massively conventionally bomb targets across the Middle East?

I don't have the answers, but although the idea of a nuke exploding in a U.S. city is something I pray doesn't happen, it is NOT impossible, and something the administration has to be at least drawing up plans for...

[leadpencil1]

No, they would likely kill a few dozen, the rest would be running out the exits, or hiding under furniture. A few might even return fire.

That'd be me.

[Elliott Jackalope]

"...do we just nuke every country with 51% mooslimbs?"

Well, if so, then there goes France...

[metesky]

As PJ O'Rourke put it, "We tried it twice on the Japanese and there's more of them now than there ever was."

[EUPHORIC]

What are the odds of the milita movement going into full action if we get attacked?

If the government responds appropriately to any new attack I doubt any large scale private response would take place.

However if we get nothing more then an earful of this "tolerance" and "religion of peace" crap and see Bush having tea with more muslims to show us all how wonderful they are I suspect we'd see quite a few beturbanned heads rolling through the gutters of America in short order.

[Poohbah]

What are the odds of the milita movement going into full action if we get attacked? I was very surprised they held back the way they did after 9-11.

Some of the "militia" folks were cheering for the Muslims.

[Indie]

Your statement is disgusting

No it's not disgusting; it's war.

[diamondjoe]

"I'd say that you look for an attack on a personal target, for example an assassination..."

Did you notice that Musharraf was very nearly killed just last week?

[My Favorite Headache]

You are right. It is a 2 way street with militas. They want to defend usually their land and go against "the man", but you gotta wonder about the one's who have been predicting race wars for decades however dumb and ignorant they are...this go around I dont see them being patient and law biding.

[relee]

Then again, there's the USNS Rappahannock, T-AO 204, which is currently at sea.

[fourhorsemen]

IF a WMD attack were to ever happen here (God forbid), the American response would be MASSIVE & COMPLETE

Suppose Al Qaeda nukes NY tomorrow - who do we strike back against? Do we nuke the mountains of Afghanistan & Pakistan in response?

[fourhorsemen]

However if we get nothing more then an earful of this "tolerance" and "religion of peace" crap and see Bush having tea with more muslims to show us all how wonderful they are I suspect we'd see quite a few beturbanned heads rolling through the gutters of America in short order.

You mean like after 9/11 when a couple of Sikhs got murdered in retaliation by idiots who think that everyone who wears a turban is a Muslim?

[singsong]

It would look "reactionary" to the "important" people of the US. Again, I wish you were right on this, but I doubt it.

He IS right. The "important" people have already lost some of their power. I can asure you, that all of the important" people will be "removed" in case of another attack. This will cost us the democracy for several years but it will be done. Did you listen to Tommy Franks?
Gen. Franks Doubts Constitution Will Survive WMD Attack
The "important" people have been warned. There is nothing PC about it.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hope yer Christmas and New Year is kind to you Gramma........Stay safe !

I ALMOST didn't answer you on the thread...but changed my mind. A VERY Merry Christmas to you, your family, and to everyone reading this thread.

I even pray that the stooooooooopid terrorists are so confounded during this Christmas/Hanukkah season by our NOT cowering in fear to them...that they become, well....discumbumerated. Ha!

[singsong]

Suppose Al Qaeda nukes NY tomorrow - who do we strike back against?

Pakistan - yes. Also Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea... enough for the first round. We can then stop to think who'd be next.

[Selene]

Suppose Al Qaeda nukes NY tomorrow - who do we strike back against?

Damascus