[Sunnyvale CA Eng.]

Perhaps. It seems to me it would be much easier to take a plane down with a shoulder launched missile or even a lucky RPG shot from the airport perimeter. Less complex, fewer people involved, no airport screening. There would be no problem getting the hardware into the country and the user could possibly get away without being caught. It would have the same effect and it would be impossible to patrol all of the industrial parks and public roads around the nation's airports. The feds posted a warning about the possibility of this last year.

[swheats]

The practice runs could be the red herring. To have our focus there and is planning a more vicious attempt with RPG's or something more treacherous.

[GVnana]

It seems to me it would be much easier to take a plane down with a shoulder launched missile or even a lucky RPG shot from the airport perimeter

True. If that's all they wanted. And if they do it from the ground, they leave behind a live perp. Hard to get into the heads of these guys. I'm not a suicidal Islamic fascist. But just shooting down the plane doesn't have enough drama.

I wonder if they could transmit video of the passengers pleading for their lives? That would rile everybody.