[jstolzen]

I have just learned in the past 3 hours, much to my dismay, that the threat actually consists of over 30 some-odd devices. These devices are scattered across the country in major metro areas in multiples of 4 or 5 per location. They are being actively sought by US SOF with great urgency since this past holiday season..

Sean - that is frightening news indeed. HOWEVER..

IF the bad guys have pre-positioned nukes on American soil, why haven't they used them yet?

They have had ample opportunity for "spectacular" strikes:

• State of the Union (can't get better target than this!)
• Superbowl
• "Between the Eids"
• etc etc etc

Yet, nothing has "gone up in a mushroom cloud".

Not to be cynical, but I am very doubtful as to the accuracy of the info. IF AQ has nukes, they sure could have done some SERIOUS damage by now - and on a timetable that would have complied with their hyperbolic threats (remember "the countdown clock" and the "we will nuke NYC by 2/2" statement?)

The countdown clock has expired. Nothing went "boom".

I have serious doubts that AQ nukes is a "real" threat, but thank you for passing along the information. (I did believe this at one point given the huge amount of info out there on Russian suitcase nukes and the quite believable possibility that AQ had acquired at least "a handful" of them - but, the lack of vaporized cities makes me think that all of this hypothesizing and associated rumor mills is just interesting conjecture that may be frightening beyond words but not necessarily based in fact).

I guess that's what makes this thread valuable - we hear all sorts of data points, and can come to our own individual conclusions on what is real, and what is put out for whatever other political or positioning purposes.

[jerseygirl]

I was thinking about the things you listed and trying to reassure myself. Then, I semi remembered the supposed "letters" sent to GWBush, and how supposedly if we conceeded certain things (like returning all the Muslim lands, etc.)they would call off the attack. Then, that last letter where they said we had not responded so they had no choice but to go ahead.
Another part that worries me is all the AQ advance apologies.

[JustPiper]

IMO AlQ OBL are no longer the issue. To me it is more like offshoot cells and/or Hezbolah etc. The angry people who say having 1000 or so members, it is said they would not be as obvious. But make no mistake I do believe, as does my skeptic hubby, they are going to detonate something, he feels more dirty bomb vs. Suitcase Nuke, but in the metro areas where they know the wind factor is dependable.