[sweneop]

the 14 guys thing seems obviously to be nothing. i cant imagine the enemy wasting 14 terrorists (their identities are now blown) on such an obvious and clumsy operation. i think people are underestimating them if they think these crazy stories are the 'dry runs'.

my main issue is not that we be PC about this, its that we need to ensure we arent so blinded by these stories that we miss all the real ones. i think the real terrorists are going to be very good at what they do.

[FairOpinion]

Richard Reid's shoebomb attempt was also considered "clumsy", but it could have blown up the plane, if the flight attendant and the passengers hadn't subdued him.

Do you think they should have just ignored his suspicious behavior?

[jaykay]

At the very least, those 14 filthy greaseballs were playing a very cruel hoax on the passengers of an airplane in flight. If that isn't a violation of a law, it should be - that's worse than shouting fire in a crowded theater. They were terrorizing the passengers one way or another.

[jimtorr]

the 14 guys thing seems obviously to be nothing. i cant imagine the enemy wasting 14 terrorists (their identities are now blown) on such an obvious and clumsy operation.

You are mistaken. This IS how Al Queda operates. They rehearse in public and rely on the anonymity of the masses of the traveling public.

Security is so poor everywhere outside of Israel that it doesn't matter that these 14 may now be on a watch-list. The watch-lists mean very little, it doesn't stop them from doing whatever they want.

[DonnerT]

the 14 guys thing seems obviously to be nothing.

I can't believe that you and those who agree with you are so naievely stupid!

They were all Syrians and probably Muslims, therefore members of the same team. It doesn't matter that they now are known. The information they gathered will be added to their operations data bank and will be used to plan future attacks. If you don't believe it just hide and watch.