Al Qaeda doesn't have what it takes to hurt America

A reasoned analysis on the true threat of Muslim terrorism, and why I can't get worked up about it.

Quote :

What Islamist Terrorist Threat?

Know thy enemy is an ancient principle of warfare. And if America had heeded it, it might have refrained from a full-scale “war” on terrorism whose price tag is touching $2 trillion. That’s because the Islamist enemy it is confronting is not some hyper-power capable of inflicting existential—or even grave—harm. It is, rather, a rag-tag band of peasants whose malevolent ambitions are far beyond the capacity of their shallow talent pool to deliver.

The shock and awe of 9-11 was so great that Americans came to think of Islamist jihadists as a low-tech version of Dr. Strangelove, an evil genius constantly looking for ingenious ways of spreading death and destruction. America is so open and vulnerable and the Islamists so crafty and motivated that it was just a matter of time, everyone thought, before they got us again.

But this year marks the 10th anniversary of 9-11 and none of the horrible scenarios conjured then have materialized. Islamic terrorists have not flown more planes into buildings. They haven’t detonated “loose nukes” or dirty bombs. They haven’t released nerve gas into subway stations. They haven’t poisoned the water supply. They haven’t even strolled into one of America’s hundreds of malls or farmer’s markets and blown themselves up.

Maybe this is because enhanced post-9/11 security has made America invulnerable. Or maybe the Islamists never posed that a big threat to begin with.

I've always believed that. While 911 was stunning in what it accomplished,the reality was that it was a crude plot,although well executed and synchronized, that simply exploited a stupid loophole allowing box cutters or other sharp objects that could inflict serious harm on an aircraft.

What would that be?

Security Guru Bruce Schneier (found the article at his site) runs an Annual Movie-Plot Threat Contest. You should submit yours; it might win.

Besides, you wouldn't be giving anyone ideas; not anyone that matters anyway. They already know, remember?