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Let’s Help al Qaeda to Kill Americans
contentions ^ | 8.10.2007 | Gabriel Schoenfeld

Posted on 08/10/2007 9:08:08 AM PDT by Contentions

What is the best way for terrorists to wreak havoc in the United States? That was the question posed, and answered, yesterday on the New York Times website by Steven D. Levitt, the University of Chicago professor of economics and author of the best-selling book, Freakonomics.

Levitt’s advice to al Qaeda, based upon the economic principle of generating the greatest quantity of harm with the least possible input of resources, would be to learn from the Washington D.C snipers of 2002. He suggests arming

"20 terrorists with rifles and cars, and arrang[ing] to have them begin shooting randomly at pre-set times all across the country. Big cities, little cities, suburbs, etc. Have them move around a lot. No one will know when and where the next attack will be. The chaos would be unbelievable, especially considering how few resources it would require of the terrorists. It would also be extremely hard to catch these guys. The damage wouldn’t be as extreme as detonating a nuclear bomb in New York City, of course; but it sure would be a lot easier to obtain a handful of guns than a nuclear weapon."

This does indeed sound like a terrifying scenario and perhaps there is a terrorist cell hidden here that will carry it out.

Levitt believes that putting such suggestions in print for terrorists to read is “a form of public service.” By thinking of plausible ways of causing violent destruction, he writes, “it gives terror fighters a chance to consider and plan for these scenarios before they occur.”

(Excerpt) Read more at commentarymagazine.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: blog; commentary; contentions; gabrielschoenfeld; pimpmyblog; wot
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1 posted on 08/10/2007 9:08:09 AM PDT by Contentions
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To: Contentions

Perhaps someone should post plans/scenarios for taking out the NYT.... you know, to help the NYT defend itself.


2 posted on 08/10/2007 9:12:34 AM PDT by Lexington Green (There ain't no news in the news no more.)
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To: Contentions

Welcome to Free Republic.


3 posted on 08/10/2007 9:13:48 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Contentions
"It would also be extremely hard to catch these guys." No need to even bother calling law enforcement. The common man will take care of this one in a hurry. Might want to call the fire dept to come hose things down and clean up a bit.

regards - red

4 posted on 08/10/2007 9:17:18 AM PDT by rednek (if it isn't large caliber, it isn't worth carrying)
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To: Contentions

Are you selling magazine subscriptions too?


5 posted on 08/10/2007 9:17:37 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: Contentions

You don’t talk much, do ya?


6 posted on 08/10/2007 9:18:22 AM PDT by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: Contentions

This man should be arrested. There is no First Amendment issue here. It is the proverbial shouting “fire” in a crowded movie theater. It would be a strict scrutiny case.


7 posted on 08/10/2007 9:20:43 AM PDT by CaptRon (Pedicaris alive or Raisuli dead)
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To: Contentions
It would also be extremely hard to catch these guys.

I don't think so. Citizens wouldn't be waiting for the Chief Moose's of LE to get these guys. You'd see people firing back.

8 posted on 08/10/2007 9:21:05 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: Contentions

How come you never comment on your articles?


9 posted on 08/10/2007 9:23:51 AM PDT by mysterio
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To: Contentions
We have a section called "Bloggers" just for you.

Pimping your own work under 'News' is all you seem to do.

10 posted on 08/10/2007 9:27:28 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Contentions

The New Hampshire response to the author:

http://www.ericmannadistributing.com/index.asp


11 posted on 08/10/2007 9:30:21 AM PDT by dashing doofus (Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber)
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To: Contentions

This appears to be the quickest way to get all muslims deported too.


12 posted on 08/10/2007 9:32:06 AM PDT by statered ("And you know what I mean.")
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To: dashing doofus

A gun ad?


13 posted on 08/10/2007 9:33:37 AM PDT by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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To: theDentist

;-). Not the ad, Doc....


14 posted on 08/10/2007 9:34:58 AM PDT by dashing doofus (Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber)
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To: Contentions

This is sick. NYT, perferred reading by terrorists everywhere. I’m sure they appreciate the help.


15 posted on 08/10/2007 9:35:46 AM PDT by submarinerswife ("If I win I can't be stopped! If I lose I shall be dead." - George S. Patton)
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To: Lexington Green

Didn’t the NYT get bent out of shape when Ann Coulter made a comment about taking them (the NYT) out?


16 posted on 08/10/2007 9:41:26 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: Contentions

I have an easy solution. Shoot back. Problem solved.


17 posted on 08/10/2007 9:44:36 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Billthedrill

“I have an easy solution. Shoot back. Problem solved.”

That sounds good, but why weren’t people shooting back at the DC sniper...?

It’s not easy to tell where the bullet came from if the sniper’s more than a couple hundred yards away.

Regardless, giving Al Qaida ‘good ideas’ isn’t a good idea.


18 posted on 08/10/2007 9:51:21 AM PDT by PreciousLiberty
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To: Contentions

A devestating blow against America could be struck by terrorists who plant IED’s within the parking lots of the New York Times printing plants. The devices could be timed to go off at shift change to develop maximum effect.

Another tactic though more difficult would be to place explosives within the printing pressses.

These actions would no doubt bring America to he knees.

Just a couple of thoughts off the top of my head.


19 posted on 08/10/2007 9:52:50 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Happiness is a down sleeping bag)
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To: Contentions
I cannot say what I would like to say.....
but I will offer this opinion.....
Therefore if this article is a suggestion,
to those here to kill Americans, I hope a visit
and prison time comes to the one who wrote this.
Loose Lips and All!
20 posted on 08/10/2007 9:54:50 AM PDT by From One - Many (Trust the Old Media At Your Own Risk)
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