no need to apologize at all.
look, I am no "open borders" guy. yes, it can be a line of defense. but with a "small team" approach, I just don't see that AQ has a shortage of people. its the other logisitcal structure that they need to pull it off. I just don't see that they are so de-centralized, and their recruits are so strong, that they can just pat Mohammed on the back in Syria and say "go my brother, sneak in through Texas and conduct a terrorist operation", and off he goes to pull it off. there were some FR threads a while back with articles describing the logisitcal infrastructure needed to send one Palestinian suicide bomber to attack a target in Israel - it's significant. I really think that piece of the puzzle is the big picture.
You're right...follow the money.
We have had explosives, firearms, cyanide, propane trucks, and all sorts of other things stolen in the last two years. I believe the materiel necessary to conduct operations is already in place.
And that's my scary thought for tonight.
Actually, they can come through Canada easier due to NAFTA. They can also get Canadian papers easier.