[Charlesj]

This is the scariest yet most thoughtful speculation on the terrorists I've read.

[tall_tex]

Can you tell us anything about the author and where you came about this article. Tom

[Argus]

If alQaeda had a nuclear weapon they would have used it on 9/11, when they had the maximum element of surprise. The fact that they had to employ crude methods to hijack our own airplanes instead indicates that they had nothing more effective available, and it's unlikely they've acquired a nuke since, with all the heat on them. So whatever they're planning, it most probably won't be nuclear.

[Lurker]

Just about the last thing in the world I am worried about, is Al Queda possessing a nuclear weapon, let alone being able to smuggle it into a major American city.

If they could do that, Tel Aviv wouldn't be standing today.

L

[Gritty]

Chemical and biological weapons cannot do this in the stated proportions.

Not true. The right ones with the right disperal methods can cause calamitous damage and casualties.

Visualize smallpox....

[Don Myers]

bttt

[Nouge]

A handful of small tactical nuclear devices with yields between one and 10 kilotons could not produce such a large result.

One thing he's not factoring in is thousands of people gathered together to watch fireworks...

[laconic]

I certainly hope that no nuclear attack takes place, especially with the connivance of Saudi Arabia, because if it does, public reaction may dictate there may be no further purpose for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

[Trust but Verify]

I don't believe this Hamdan guy, either. The statements he attributes to these possible terrorists sounds more like a movie script than anything a true terrorist would utter. That whole "We are here in the blah, blah, blah," just sounds like Hollywood nonsense.

[nevergore]

Bump.....

Saudi Arabia, Mecca will no longer exist...we'll leave the oil fields intact, goodbye Bagdad, Tehran, Damascus & Libya.....

NeverGore

[Alas Babylon!]

I would invite all American men who are heathly, strong, and patriotic in joining me in beating the snot out of any arabs taking video of Naval vessels (and anything else for that matter) with stop watches. It is at least our duty to question them aggressively and perhaps even invite them and their camera to take a swim.

[Poohbah]

J.R. Nyquist simply takes the terrorist's projected casualty claims at face value--he does not, for example, consider that they MIGHT be engaging in hyperbole--the sort of hyperbole that led Saddam Hussein to promise "the mother of all battles" and that the desert would turn into a sea of American blood, for example.

[nevergore]

Bump for later

[Fzob]

Honestly, I believe most of this is nothing more than propaganda generated by al Queda to keep the government running around in circles. If and when they attack it will be unexpected on a date that has at best a subtle meaning to some brain dead Muslim. Does anyone think getting hit of July fourth will cause everyone to curl up in a ball because it’s the fourth rather than 3 weeks later?

Also, if they really possess WMD why were they not used on 9/11 when America was asleep at the wheel? Now you have 100,000,000 million people that spend time looking for Middle Eastern men that are acting suspicious. Not the best strategic move if you need to operate undercover. At some level this is equivalent to a mutual masturbation exercise by whacko Muslims that get a kick out of tweaking Americans.

I think 9/11 was the big attack but it was only partially successful as the WH or the Capital was not hit. Will there be more attacks? I’m sure there will be. They will be when we don’t expect them and they will be designed to slowly weaken our resolve. I expect a strategy similar to terrorism in Israel.

[rintense]

Yep. I said a few weeks ago that if Bin Laden is planning to release a video on July 4th, it suggests that an attack would occur before that date.

[Salvation]

This column is intended to frighten Americans because Americans ought to be frightened.

[pbear8]

Husband is captain of boats in SF bay. Called home to tell this story.

Two ME women came onboard for a bay cruise, one had an expensive telephoto lensed camera but did not know how to use it. Asked how to use machine which dispenses disposable cameras. Told 'just insert your credit card', didn't want to use credit card she replied. She purchased film at the souvenir stand. Deckhand later sees one woman without the other and conversationally asked, 'where's your friend'? Reply - "I don't know".

Deckhand is now curious and looks for her. Finds her on her back (yes, you read that correctly)taking pictures inside the boat. While all other tourists were looking at the touristy things, these two were not.

This incident took place about a week ago and was reported to the FBI and the Coast Guard. I know that Coast Guard did some follow up. The souvenir pictures that are taken of the boarding passengers (in hopes that they will purchase same) were also turned over.

[aristeides]

There was a very noticeable air presence over D.C. today. But I suppose that, just because D.C. is such an obvious target, it will not be the target our enemies choose this time.

[Quix]

I wouldn't file this under the category of "reasons to sleep better."

[Pharmboy]

Now is the time for quiet diplomacy. We need to quietly tell the Saudis, the Kuwaitis, the Yemenis, the Iraqis, the Iranis, the Syrians, the Egyptians, the Qataris, etc., that if they do not help us deter terrorism aimed at us we will blow them and all their relatives to Allah: it is in their hands not ours (I think we are likely doing this already).

[Semper911]

Nyquist writes this stuff because he wants to see it turn into a 500 post thread here on FR. It was an interesting commentary, but nothing more than a letter to the editor type thing. (Although I hadn't heard about the stopwatches.)

So here's my contribution to the 500...