From the White House, a nightmare scenario (Election related terrorism)

U.S. News and World Report ^ | 5/24/04 issue

[Badray]

Maybe, I just don't see algore as the voice of calm and reason.

[jdege]

Gore may not be calm or reasoned, but he hasn't much determination, either.

He's a politician only because he's not qualified to do anything else.

He'd rather be writing books on Global Warming.

[Badray]

I guess that causes less damage than his speechifying and legislating. Of course, the also cause global warming.

[Indie]

READY IN TEXAS.

[Indie]

They are gonna try and kill Bush. I'm convinced of that.

And if they do, it will be KEA and let God sort 'em out.
Some of us just won't stand for that after all of the ranting and raving the media and the left have done trying to purposefully inflame the nutcases.
They will be directly responsible if any evil were to take place IMO.

[Nexus]

I'd like to toss out this scenerio (belatedly):

The terrorists seem to have a yearning for finishing the job if a previous mission fails, like the WTC. If Flight 93 was really headed for the Capital Bldg, it must have left a sour taste in the mouths of the planners.

Hijacking a large plane may be out of the question, but what about a ground assault, like the terrorist siege of the theatre in Moscow a while back? A few dozen nutcases with heavy weapons can do a lot of damage and take out most of Congress, all while making crazy demands and showboating for the world.

This kind of terrorism is not unlike the kind they trained for in Afghanistan.

I hope there is a strong rapid reaction force in place in Washington, and not just the local SWAT team.

[Lockbar]

Also, don't discount that some extreme domestic leftys have sent out "feelers" to Muslim extremists volunteering to help with terrorist attacks here. Since most US leftys are pansies, they probably don't directly want to get in the line of fire, but will be willing to supply $$ and shelter.

[j_tull]

There's an ugliness on the Left of late, with calls for physical violence becoming so common as to pass unnoticed.

Unless, of course, that violence is to be directed at our enemy.

[ExSoldier]

"I hope there is a strong rapid reaction force in place in Washington, and not just the local SWAT team."

I'm guessing that not only Delta, but probably SEAL Tm 6 is on tap for a mission like this. Then of course there's the FBI HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) that would join the lineup. I'd think the FBI would be first to go, but I'll bet terrorism and the Patriot Act put the military into the mix first. Such an obvious target is going to be well covered. We know that several attacks have been forestalled already because the security climate was "too hot."

I'd bet that any additional attacks (this summer?) will be directed against softer targets which are not as well protected like shopping malls. At least for the kind of attack stipulated. For another airborne attack, yeah, I'd guess Congress or another skyscraper.

For WMD, all bets are off. Summertime is going to provide a prime chemical attack window of opportunity. Summer climates will raise the potential level of "persistency." Especially in the south.