[forrestroche]

Al Qaeda will be back, no doubt about it. But as you say, they like soft targets and probably would like to reserve something spectacular for the United States. Al Qaeda is not anything if not patient. And shrewd. They see the long term picture. They waited eight years to try a second attack on the Trade Center and I would expect that in 2009 we will be good and relaxed again (at least on the domestic front). A LOT of things could happen of course, but I would expect another large attack but not for a while.

The scariest scenario for me is the nuclear one. Nothing, not biological, chemcial, "dirty bomb" would have anything like the psychological impact of the sudden disappearance of a major U.S. city under a nuclear strike. And nothing would do a better job of provoking what I believe is their ultimate aim: A global conflagration of biblical proportions along religious lines.

forrest

[magnumsgirl]

Until they can find a way to strap a nuke onto the back of a 10 year old, don't be overly concerned.

[RandallFlagg]

Am I the only one thinking that if they hit Japan, they'll have really skrooed the pooch?

That culture might just re-invent the Samurai Warrior into something that the terrorist's worst nightmares couldn't come up with.

[KingofQue]

I agree. If they want it we should give it to them. Completely destroy all Islamic countries and round up Muslims here and deport them to Islamic countries right before we vaporize them.

[ought-six]

"And nothing would do a better job of provoking what I believe is their ultimate aim: A global conflagration of biblical proportions along religious lines."

By hook or by crook, they intend to Islamicize the world. And they know the surest way to do that is by armed conquest (except for Europe, which will eagerly allow itself to become Islamicized).