[Deathmonger]

the Taliban are up to something

I am starting to be concerned that the Taliban withdrawal from the Afghan cities and indeed from any overt presence whatsoever in the south is not merely a change to guerilla tactics but a prelude to a large-scale NBC attack in the US.

If such an attack were to occur they would reasonably expect massive retaliation by the US, and the Taliban may think that by withdrawing they will spare the Afghan civilian population from feeling this wrath. Indeed the local leaders may have insisted upon this withdrawal for the civilians' sake. By spreading out and disappearing as best they can they hope that at least some of them will be able to survive as well.

[jennyp]

I am starting to be concerned that the Taliban withdrawal from the Afghan cities and indeed from any overt presence whatsoever in the south is not merely a change to guerilla tactics but a prelude to a large-scale NBC attack in the US.

I dunno. The reports I've read that describe the withdrawls paint a picture of the Taliban dropping everything & running - personal effects, tanks, baby-faced Pakistani madrassa recruits. I think they're thinking one step ahead at best.

I do believe, however, that whatever sleeper cells still exist in the US & abroad will go ahead & give us their best shot. At least now they'll be uncoordinated with each other. Survivor's guilt should be kicking in now that Al Qaeda's top leadership is starting to get killed.

[Aria]

Interesting and plausable theory. The sleepers in this country have been busy. I saw a couple suspicious types photographing the Wells Fargo building in downtown Portland and my daughter recently saw someone videotaping Southcenter Mall in Seattle from a car. They aren't doing this for the fun of it. Something else will happen and I'm afraid its going to be worse than WTC.

[Snicker'sMom]

Taliban may think that by withdrawing they will spare the Afghan civilian population from feeling this wrath. Indeed the local leaders may have insisted upon this withdrawal for the civilians' sake.

I disagree on this point. I don't think the Taliban give a flip about the civilians in Afghanistan. If there is some sort of large attack on the US planned, the Taliban would simply slither off into the rocks to save their own skins. I don't think they'd give much thought to the civilians.