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"Still doesn't explain how the assassination of Massood fits in. "

They were more worried about Massoud using the American attack on the Taliban to mount an offensive against the T, than they were of the few missiles they thought the Americans will launch. After all, that's all Clinton did.

I think the T were more afraid of Massoud, than they were of the US.

I read in a number of places that what emboldened the terrorists was that they saw that the US was not responding forcefully to attacks under Clinton, Bin Laden and Saddam studies Somalia and came to the conclutions that all it takes to intimidate Americans is to kill a few of them dramatically and the Americans turn tail and run. Bin Laden talked about the strong horse and a weak horse.

They didn't figure out that Bush is NOT the same as Clinton.

They are learning the hard way.