Why I am not and have not been afraid of terrorist attacks on American soil

[chequita guevara]

I have no doubt we'll be hit again. That's just something with which we're going to have to live.

[Dr Strangelove]

What on earth could be more spectacular than the destruction of the twin towers? Unless al-Qaeda can manage to obtain a nuclear weapon, which I don't think that they can, I don't think they can top 9/11. Maybe the problem is that they "shot their wad" too soon and now they have nothing bigger planned.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
Maybe the problem is that they "shot their wad" too soon and now they have nothing bigger planned.

Projectile dysfunction?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
So no I am not afraid on a daily basis that I'm going to be blown up. But I do think about it when I go downtown. DC is of course near the top of their list for targets, so absolutely I think about it. Nothing I can do about it really, and I don't change my life around it, but I am aware that the threat is always there.

Your risk of dying in a car crash is much higher.
Heck, your risk of dying in a plane crash is higher.

[Japher]

I'm not afraid of terrorists because of this guy:

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Your risk of dying in a car crash is much higher.
Heck, your risk of dying in a plane crash is higher.

Hmm, I maybe call BS. More people have died from terrorism than from regular plane crashes recently.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Jaguar
Hmm, I maybe call BS. More people have died from terrorism than from regular plane crashes recently.

If you count Iraq, yes.

But in places other than Iraq, how many kills? something like 200 a year?

[Jaguar]

200 yesterday alone. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11_July...train_bombings

[Vesayen]

Originally posted by Berzerker
AQ wants a bigger hit than 9/11, takes much more planning and time... Some guy shooting up a mall would appear pathetic to the fanatics and fund raisers...

What reason do you have to believe that Al Queda still exists in any functional capacity?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Jaguar
200 yesterday alone. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11_July...train_bombings

Yup, and how long had it been since the last major terrorist attack out of Iraq?

I can only think of 7/7, which is one year and 4 days prior.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
A small squad of terrorists could walk into a mall with AK-47s. Al-Qaeda, however, likes to pull off spectacular attacks. Their attacks are more about making a big splash than terrorizing Americans. They want to get the attention of Muslims and have them join their cult, not generate sympathy for the devil.

QFT.

That's true of a lot of the big anti-American groups/leaders/parties in other countries.

Ahmadinejad, for example, would rather blame Iran's problems on us than on decades of poor leadership. It's a more popular thing to say. Finding a threat to yammer about makes people less likely to question you.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Yup, and how long had it been since the last major terrorist attack out of Iraq?

I can only think of 7/7, which is one year and 4 days prior.

There are piles of minor ones. Don't underestimate the number in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and the like.

Also, of course, the big western ones like the Madrid ones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorist_attacks#2001

[Arrian]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Yup, and how long had it been since the last major terrorist attack out of Iraq?

I can only think of 7/7, which is one year and 4 days prior.

I actually agree with your general logic (driving around every day is more dangerous, statistically speaking), however...

7/11/06 ring any bells? Bunch of dead Indians?

-Arrian

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Jaguar

There are piles of minor ones. Don't underestimate the number in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and the like.

Also, of course, the big western ones like the Madrid ones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorist_attacks#2001

OK, 200 was a bit of a law estimate. "less than 1000" is more accurate (discounting Iraq. All the rest of the world is included):

2002: 818 (discounting the Sept. 10 train derailment in India)
2003: 657
2004: 939
2005: 509 (discounting the attack on Russia on Oct 13, which looks like regular rebel warfare)
2006: 369

You may be right that the chances of dying in a plane accident aren't as high. They aren't much lower though.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Arrian


I actually agree with your general logic (driving around every day is more dangerous, statistically speaking), however...

7/11/06 ring any bells? Bunch of dead Indians?

Well, that quote was in response to Jag's pointing out the Indian ones