Will Bin Laden strike now?

[Jokerman]

With the destruction and suffering in the gulf coast area - would Bin Laden view this as an opportune time to execute a major strike somewhere else in the country? It's apparent that govt agencies are already burdened beyond capacity, a strike from his terror group could strain resources to the breaking point.

For instance, there are 8 large oil refineries in the New Orleans area with nobody in them. They have huge storage tanks and nobody is watching the store.

However, AQ in this country has been the most happily disappointing adversary we have ever seen. Hundreds and hundreds of cost-free things that could be "terrorizing" the country, yet not one. The problem for terrorists with having a major plan waiting in the wings for just the right moment is that the chances that operational security will be compromised get greater & greater the longer that it sits there.

 

[PuffnScruff]

no, laden is a pussy, and i believe he is dead.

 

[Amara]

The shift seems to have focussed to attacks to allies conducted by al qaeda affilated groups... yet I wonder how much damage has been caused to the central network itself in the wake of the war on terror and campaigns in aghanistan and to a lesser extent, iraq... and whether their capability to launch a large scale attack is weaker, stronger or still the same? In a sense, the world is still in awe over the events of Sept 11. You would think that if there was a good time to communicate a political message, it would be now while everyone is watching, waiting and listening.

 

[Glockmatic]

the thing is that the terrorists will lay in wait until the American guard is down and attack again. Look at the attacks on the WTC, almost a decade between each other. Will we see a terrorist attack on North American soil this year or the next? Probably not, maybe in 6-7 years maybe.

 

[The.Menace]

Everyone was surprised by this disaster, so was the terrorists. I don't think they are able to organize a major strike now within days or weeks, so nope I don't think they can do it.

 

[AmerikazMost]

we probably won't see another attack on u.s. soil for a couple years... it's much easier to pick off the soldiers right now

also, don't forget it was 8 years between the last two attacks

 

[Flipmo]

Wouldn't stun me if that was the case.

The small man (Bin Laden and Terrorists) will strike the bigger man (Bush and the USA) when asleep (Focus being put on the desaster).

 

[Duke]

If Bin Laden was smart, he'd indeed strike now if he could.

I don't want to get into speculations how strong AQ is at this point, whether Bin himself is still alive or their capacity to organise a major attack. Too hard to judge, especially with the limited info the public has.

But basically, this would be the right time for uncle Bin to blow things up, yes.

 

[TecK NeeX]

Why would he strike? It seems nature has done just that for him

 

[Hankaveli]

If Bin Laden was smart, he'd indeed strike now if he could.

I don't want to get into speculations how strong AQ is at this point, whether Bin himself is still alive or their capacity to organise a major attack. Too hard to judge, especially with the limited info the public has.

But basically, this would be the right time for uncle Bin to blow things up, yes.

I agree, our economy could not take a major attack right now.

 

[critikaldesignz]

Bin Laden will strike in 2012, trust me.

 

[Jokerman]

There goes one of those oil storage facilities up in flames on the news.

 

[Hankaveli]

Bin Laden will strike in 2012, trust me.

well he better do it before Dec 23rd,

 

[MX Red]

Apart from the planning issue, I dont think Bin Ladern would look very good to his general audience if he started bombing a place after a natural dissaster.

Im sure ill get a few who start to demonise him and claim he is all evil and would love this opportunity, but you must think he needs the support of the little people, working people who have no involvment, and they would have sympathy for anyone, including americans if a natural dissaster would hit. Causing more disstress to unfortunate people will gain no government or terrorist popularity amongst its people.

-MX

 

[Duke]

^^ But the WTC attack was an attack on the "little people" as well to some extent. Bin himself of course saw the towers as the symbol of America's capitalism, but the little people were working in there.

I don't think AQ as a whole cares that much about (Western) public support. They're quite extreme, even for terrorists.

 

[MX Red]

But NYC hadnt suffered a natural dissaster at the time and only invoked the normal hatred most of the east usually feels for America, but to strike America in the mists of a natural dissaster would go against the natural sympathetic feelings of most people - whether they are enemy or not, and would do no good for Bin Ladern's propagander and futher polorize itself from the muslim community within the US itself.

-MX

 

[Illuminattile]

"It was a bit harsh to kill them right after their house got flooded, you could have at least waited until they were back on their feet."

If someone has no problem with 3,000 innocent people dying on 9/11, they probably won't have a problem with 3,000 innocent people dying today.

Personally, I don't think AQ would strike now. They'll want 100% media coverage, and right now they'd be somewhat overshadowed.

 

[MX Red]

Its got nothing to do with caring about lives...Bin ladern is prob loving this and thinks God himself made this happen to America. But that doesnt take away from the basic point that Bin Ladern needs support from the general public he plays to...Im not saying Bin Laderns position is that of a humanitaerian but rather from a politics perspective.

America wouldnt go and attack any country in the mist of a natural dissastor, no one in power would - it would be counter productive!

-MX