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Good analysis. Finally there's some public notice that this isn't the standard nutcase episode, as the pundits are trying to spin it as. As Safire said the other day, if organized terrorists aren't doing this they're kicking themselves for not thinking of it - and learning lessons from it since it's a very effective economy-of-force terror campaign, whoever the perps are. But terrorism is the simplest explanation which fits the facts. Too many/much tactics, planning, skills, fire discipline, site selection, players (more than 1), etc.

Can you imagine the disruption and fear brought to our country if these evil people launched multi- city terror? There would literally be only one answer, an answer which should be strongly considered: A nationally deputized armed citizenry. Millions of capable and patriotic Americans, armed and ready to protect every intersection in and around our cities. Scary times call for basic defense.It's all about the 2nd Ammendment. Think about it.

terrorism is the simplest explanation

Agreed.

But we can take that analysis one step further. Where will they strike next?

I will go out on a limb and say "Northern New Jersey".

Why?

Large Arab population to provide safe houses near shooting areas.

Wooded areas adjacent to shopping malls, gas stations, etc. offer cover for shooter(s).

DC and NYC--9/11 terrorist targets. If they hit the burbs of one you have to figure they will go for the burbs of the other.

Lots of media coverage since some of the scared suburbanites will be media bigwigs and their famiilies.

And for an added bonus, a significant Jewish population in the area.

You heard it here first. :-)

The terrorists did not "learn" anything from the press, or radio and television. The fact is they live in a world of their own making, using Arabic or Farsi, watching video tapes, reading ethnic newspapers, going to a mosque where the sermons are given in their own language, working at small shops owned by Middle-Eastern folks. They do not listen to WTOP nor do they read the WarshingtonPost. Most likely they haven't even heard of such critters as the New York Times!

This is consistent with the life led by the 19 AlQaida attackers who crashed planes into the WTC, the Pentagon and the ground. It's also consistent with the life led by the fellows who launched the anthrax attack.

Except for a couple of folks shot because of their potential to be a witness against them, they selected well-defined locations according to a few basic and readily observed standards.

I'd like to point to the taxicab driver for a moment. He was from India. He'd lived in the DC area for 30 years, most of the time driving a cab. He worked the Silver Spring area for many, many years, and if there was another cab driver working that area, he knew him personally!

He also knew all the regular delivery guys, and without a doubt, all the fellows who delivered produce, supplies and bread to the Middle Eastern restaurants throughout Montgomery County.

The FBI anti-cyberterrorism analyst may also fall into this category.

I am absolutely amazed that the press can continue to refer to these as "random shots" when two of them are exceedingly unlikely to have been "random" and all of the others, including the one at the wine store in mid-September, can all be related with only 3 criteria.