# 2003/2004 New Years Eve Terrorist Attack Poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 31, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902 "2003-12-31T06:00:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/1 "2003-12-31T06:00:23Z")
If you have been keeping abreast of the news within the past few weeks, including pronouncements by DHS Secretary Tom Ridge, the FBI and other assorted types, the terrorism threat level is high, with a corresponding high aprehension of terrorist attack(s). So we made it through Christmas. The question is – with a simple yes or no answer – with there be a terrorist attack against the USA during the New Years holiday? The holiday is defined for this poll as beginning at 12:01 am, Wednesday New Year’s Eve EST, and ending at 11:59 pm this coming Sunday night PST. Current hot spots (Iraq, Afghanistan, the general Middle East) are not part of this poll. We are speaking of the 50 states, inconclusive. My answer to my own poll? No. ---
**Author:** ![Nvme77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Nvme77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nvme77)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/2 "2003-12-31T06:05:43Z")
Yes, because if you write 010104 backwards, it could look like 9-11 with some extra zeroes and artistic license, and terrorists are like “Yeah, 9-1-1 backwards” umm, no. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/3 "2003-12-31T06:09:49Z")
I hope this season passes in peace… We already have a few terrorists spreading fear and orange labels. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/4 "2003-12-31T07:35:52Z")
My guess is no, because we’re looking for it. It’s a holiday. Too predictable. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/5 "2003-12-31T15:51:19Z")
Nope. Just scaremongering. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/6 "2003-12-31T18:48:36Z")
OBL will arrange for Dorian Dick Gray Clark to host a spectacle of mandatory merriment, starring second-tier popstars who couldn’t get a real newyear’s gig anywhere. This will cause millions of Americans to feel that they should be feeling much more happy than they are. What?? They do the same thing every year? Oh. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Danno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Danno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Danno)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/7 "2003-12-31T19:20:06Z")
Large numbers of people concentrated into a small area being shown live on national TV is too tempting a target. My answer is yes. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/8 "2004-01-01T00:31:19Z")
No. I passed through Times Square yesterday and I don’t know how they could get through all those tough-looking guys. Of course I didn’t think people would use planes themselves as weapons once upon a time. But still…naw. Frankly, I think the ‘increased chatter’ IS the weapon now. Why actually do anything when a few ‘dropped phrases’ that go to the right ears will ramp up the fears of the world? Sydney, Paris, and London have all passed through their New Year’s safely. Woo hoo and Happy New Year to them all. ---
**Author:** ![CorBlimeyGuvnor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@CorBlimeyGuvnor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorBlimeyGuvnor)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/9 "2004-01-01T01:37:42Z")
And to You ---
**Author:** ![Kanelda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Kanelda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kanelda)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/10 "2004-01-01T02:28:45Z")
While the huge parties and people crowded together may make a wonderful target, it’s also an obvious one that would (hopefully) make our country more aware and guarded. So I’m going to say no… we may make a great target tonight (and tomorrow), but it’s less likely any sort of attack would even be successful. May as well snag us when we’re not expecting it so much. ---
**Author:** ![geewhiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@geewhiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geewhiz)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/11 "2004-01-01T02:40:06Z")
no ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/12 "2004-01-01T14:37:50Z")
Hmmm…let me check my Almanac and get back to you… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/13 "2004-01-01T17:29:26Z")
Apparently nothing happened, unless my mailbox being bashed in counts as a terrorist attack. ---
**Author:** ![bagkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bagkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagkitty)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/14 "2004-01-02T01:26:45Z")
To belabour the point… do Israeli Defence Force attacks on Palestinian civilians, American army attacks on Iraqi civilians, Chinese red army attacks on Tibetan civilians, Sudanese army attacks on Sudanese civilians (north and south) count as terrorism? If so, most definitely, at least three of the four will happen. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/15 "2004-01-02T13:42:57Z")
I heard that a car crashed into the Empire State Building scaffolding this morning. That must have stopped a few hearts. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/16 "2004-01-02T20:45:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bagkitty \* > \*\*To belabour the point… do Israeli Defence Force attacks on Palestinian civilians, American army attacks on Iraqi civilians, Chinese red army attacks on Tibetan civilians, Sudanese army attacks on Sudanese civilians (north and south) count as terrorism? If so, most definitely, at least three of the four will happen. \*\* One can always argue the specifics of “terrorism” and say yes. However, as explained in the OP, I specifically excluded anything outside of the USA proper. I guess my reasoning was not clear in that I am addressing the specifics of the High alert state within the US, directed to people within its borders. This was deliberately set up as a USA-centric poll. As of this post, no terrorist attack has occurred. Could this be due to the heightened alert status of the country, our military/intelligence/police forces thwarting terrorism (which we will never hear about), or perhaps no terrorist attack was never planned at all. Did our government err on the side of safety, based on “chatter,” or could this all be a massive crying wolf? I would hope it to be the former, but my gut reation is the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2003-2004-new-years-eve-terrorist-attack-poll/221902/17 "2004-01-02T21:14:54Z")
> [@](#): > > As of this post, no terrorist attack has occurred. Could this be due to the heightened alert status of the country, our military/intelligence/police forces thwarting terrorism (which we will never hear about), or perhaps no terrorist attack was never planned at all. Yeah, I’m gonna go with option C there. I’m not gonna believe that all this Terrorism Paranoia is doing any bit of good until I hear/read that there was a planned attack on something, but hurrah the feds got there in time to stop it! Nothing like, “I heard from this guy who’s girlfriend talked to this guy who said this guy was gonna attack us, so we arested him.” but more, “We found the blueprints and explosives.” If I heard of just one or two, I’d be glad to believe it’s doing something, instead of just assuming that plans have been thwarted, despite never hearing anything. Maybe I’d feel differently if I lived in, say, LA, New York, or Dallas, but as of right now, I’m really not concerned at all. It’s been 2.5 years already. Yeesh. BUT I am glad that no more people than usual died this year (I’m sure there were drunk driving accidents - duh. As many people die on the US highway system every month as in the 9/11 thing.). And to answer the poll: No.