[Arthalion]

I doubt they were targeting small town America. I have family in Lodi and only live about 30 minutes down the highway from it myself, and I can't think of a single target in the town that would be worth their effort.

On the other hand, Sacramento is a short 30 minutes north of there, and San Francisco can be reached in two short hours. The town also gives them ready access to a huge food producing region and lies less than 45 minutes from the California Aqueduct intakes that provide water to much of the LA basin.

They probably weren't targeting Lodi, but they undoubtably saw it as a good place to launch attacks from.

[Doofer]

Is it my imagination or do these guys all have Arab sounding names [sarcasm]?

[Thommas]

On the other hand, Sacramento is a short 30 minutes north of there, and San Francisco can be reached in two short hours.

I think that this is an important point. A place like Lodi gives easy access to all of Northern California. Throughout the U.S., small towns and their "minor" Muslim populations centered about a modest Mosque, are usually beneath the radar of Federal agencies centered in large metropolitan regions. However, with our tremendous transportation system, access to "anywhere U.S.A." is no more than a few hours away.

[Betis70]

>>They probably weren't targeting Lodi, but they undoubtably saw it as a good place to launch attacks from.

Could be. I was listening to my AM radio show and a guy who claimed to know one of the suspects (not the two arrested, one of the others who is being detained for immigration reasons), said he noticed them staring at the aqueducts outside of town. According to this guy, the only reason people would be out there is to go fishing. And they didn't have any fishing poles.

[GOP_1900AD]

Yep. Plus, Modesto and Fresno not too, too far either. Targets of Opportunity were all around them. Are there others not aprehended yet?

[MagnoliaB]

I disagree. What better way to terrorize America than to attack 'small town America'. I don't think the next attack on the US will be totally coordinated but simply a specified date for terrorists to launch as much havoc as possible across this country as soon as they feel they have enough terrorists among us. All it would take would be suicide bombers in malls, hospitals, and school situations like the one in Russia.
I know in my town every independent hotel and gas station is now owned by middle eastern types (who are not very friendly and look at you like they hate you) but you never see any middle eastern women or children around town. I would think a hotel with people coming and going would be a great terrorist hideout.
If they blew up all the gas stations and sent people out with hand grenades, automatic weapons etc. to cause as much havoc as possible at one time local law enforcement would be overwhelmed.
Then during all the chaos they could use larger bombs to do more serious damage.