>>>My question would be....why a ten year hiatus?<<<
A friend and I were talking about this today. My opinion is that the terrorists understand that they actually failed in their 9/11 operation. Their goal was to continue to hijack planes day after day, targeting city after city, until we surrendered. Their operation succeeded until the passengers of the fourth plane got wind of what was going on and took matters into their own hands. It was all over in less than two hours. To make matters worse, we sent the Marines to their strongholds.
Any kind of big, showy terrorist attack would rekindle that same response. We’re dealing with fanatics, but not fools. The best way to deal with a powerful giant is to slowly wear it down with subtle gestures. Water will erode granite. So they send out front groups who sound moderate. They open schools and ask for tolerance. They cry racism and hate speech when someone questions their motives or points out the obvious truth of their intent. Slowly, slowly, slowly. Islam has been fighting the West since the battle of Tours and they are patient, with a long-term view. They know that establishing populations in the midst of the infidel, seeking converts here and there, playing the weakness of the enemy against itself, is the way to go when dealing with a place like the United States. Give them 100 years. One day the Christians will be a minority, and the Islamic state is calmly voted into power, and Shari’a established, then the takeoff succeeds. No reason for war when slow death by a thousand cuts will suffice.
God help us.
And yes, Redpoll, we do need God's help.