New Al Qaeda Web Ad Threatens 'Big Surprise'

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: Rainbow You can not exclude a possible option expressed within rmnunez's post. Look at the events that are unfolding in Pakistan, right now, as an example.

Yeah, sure. Extremist Islamics are going to give up on the high publicity, mass casualty attacks on high value targets in America. I'll bet that right now, al qaeda is concentrating all their available forces on the original McDonald's restaurant. The "visuals" would be SO much better.

[ruksak]

Quote by: rmnunez I wonder whether a terrorist attack with biological or chemical weapons in a densely populated area would be discarded because, despite high casualties and widespread harm, the visuals aren't so good, there's no point of impact, little visible destruction. An explosive detonation would seem essential and I'd expect landmarks would make the best targets.

While Islamic terrorist have displayed a knack for symbolism in choosing their targets and method of operation, I would think "drama" isn't their genre. Nominal results in a terrorist attack are the highest death toll they can achieve.
Take the recent blunders in Europe as an example. That was quite dramatic hearing reports of the 'Keystone Cops' of the terrorist world crashing a car into the side of a building, then running around on fire like Foghorn Leghorn. Lots of drama indeed, zero target casualties.


Sure it affects the American psyche watching images of billowing smoke clouds, raging fire, and unrelenting destruction. In the end its the death that was garnered from the event that really stings. On top of all that, I would be far more terrified of an invisible death cloud than a bomb.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Zeebadee Yeah, sure. Extremist Islamics are going to give up on the high publicity, mass casualty attacks on high value targets in America. I'll bet that right now, al qaeda is concentrating all their available forces on the original McDonald's restaurant. The "visuals" would be SO much better.

It seems you take under no consideration an option al-Qaeda may acquire other-than conventional weapon(s) and use it against U.S. - at least - sources around the globe, while upcoming political transformations in Pakistan seem to indicate that issue.

What about newely developed political changes in Russia. Do you think Kremlin controls all the events around and/or within Russia's republics ?
What about Russian "black market", which remains beyond Kremilin's control, and becoming a unmonitored depot for variety of weapons ?

Guys would start blaming U.S. governing body for lack of everything.
Is that correct ?

[Autolykos]

Quote by: ruksak Jesus Christ. You did it again! Why do you keep quoting me than applying the exact opposite of what I was obviously saying? [Etc., etc.]

As we discussed in PM, the problem appears to be with your use of "nominal". While it is synonymous with "minimal", "insignificant", and "negligible" in this context, you were trying to use it as if it meant "ideal". Now that this semantic issue has been resolved, we can return to the matter at hand.

First off, I consider it inaccurate to simply say "We are seen as infidels for liberating [sic] Kuwait". I would argue that most people in the Middle East do not hold that against "us" per se. Rather, what they may resent is the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia, the land containing the holy Muslim cities of Mecca and Medina. It could certainly be argued that this military presence was not absolutely necessary for expelling the Iraqi occupation forces from Kuwait. Therefore, I would consider it much more accurate to say "We are seen as infidels for sending troops to Saudi Arabia, allegedly pursuant to liberating [sic] Kuwait".

Second, you still have not provided any support, either logical or empirical, for your claims of why Americans are seen as infidels. Can you expand upon those, please?

Third and finally, you still have not provided any support, either logical or empirical, for your claim that "Islam will always find some infraction on our part upon the Muslim world". My point earlier is that such a claim is effectively meaningless, as the future cannot be known.

- Rob