# Bin Laden is threatening us. Should I be scared? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 19, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700 "2006-01-19T19:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/1 "2006-01-19T19:42:20Z")
[Link](http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/19/binladen.tape/index.html) Mr. Rilch says no. My mom says no. “Dan” (Mr. Rilch’s business partner) says al-Q is always up to something, so who knows if there’s a direct threat right now. What say y’all? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/2 "2006-01-19T19:50:02Z")
I’d say “no”. First, he’s probably talking out of his butt. Secondly, even if he isn’t, the chances of anything succeeding are lower than pre-9/11. Thirdly, even if they manage something, they would have to be very lucky for it to be 100% successful. Fourthly, even if they plan something and it does come to total fruition, America is a big old place, with a lot of people. The chances of _you personally_ being whacked are very small. ---
**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 19, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/3 "2006-01-19T19:50:27Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > [Link](http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/19/binladen.tape/index.html) > > Mr. Rilch says no. My mom says no. “Dan” (Mr. Rilch’s business partner) says al-Q is always up to something, so who knows if there’s a direct threat right now. What say y’all? As of the time of this post CNN is reporting that the voice is authentic. What has yet to be determined is when was it recorded. Some news outlets speculate it could be an old recording. As far as the actual threat is concerned, I’m not losing any sleep over it. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t there is no way to tell if it was an empty threat, or the threat was stopped before the fact. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/4 "2006-01-19T19:54:25Z")
Tactically it would make little sense for them to send us this warning. I mean, they might be trying to scare us more but I just don’t see it. Perhaps this is a byproduct of the US over-confidence… _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/5 "2006-01-19T19:56:17Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > [Link](http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/19/binladen.tape/index.html) > > Mr. Rilch says no. My mom says no. “Dan” (Mr. Rilch’s business partner) says al-Q is always up to something, so who knows if there’s a direct threat right now. What say y’all? Causing you to live your life in fear is what terrorists want. There’s nothing you can do about any impending attack. You should go about your normal routine and try not to worry. ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/6 "2006-01-19T20:01:00Z")
Honestly, I’m beyond surprised that we haven’t suffered a major terrorist attack since 9/11/01. Kinahora. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/7 "2006-01-19T20:01:31Z")
Seems to me that he’s crying wolf again. I’m sure he’s “planning” something (what kind of a terror mastermind would he be if he wasn’t always cooking something up?), and something may happen that can be linked back to Al Q, but I don’t think it’s going to be the spectacularly devestating thing that bin Laden may have in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/8 "2006-01-19T20:02:09Z")
Thanks, all for the replies. Just one thing, though: > [@jjimm](#): > > Fourthly, even if they plan something and it does come to total fruition, America is a big old place, with a lot of people. The chances of _you personally_ being whacked are very small. Well, yeah, but :::dons 24K halo::: 9/11 didn’t affect me personally either. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t upset for people who were personally affected. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/9 "2006-01-19T20:06:19Z")
And on further reflection, I should probably take this > [@](#): > > The message said attacks against America “are in the planning stages and you will see them in the heart of your land as soon as the planning is complete.” about as seriously as Chief Wiggum took Homer when Homer said that “someday, honest citizens are gonna rise up against you crooked cops!” — “Oh no! They are? Wh- Have they set a date?” ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/10 "2006-01-19T20:15:44Z")
Jack Bauer will save us. Seriously, how is this tape any different than the purported others that have emerged from Bin Laden in the past? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/11 "2006-01-19T20:24:00Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > Seriously, how is this tape any different than the purported others that have emerged from Bin Laden in the past? Sure; it’s the first time he’s threatened us with a truce. I’m sure they’re planning things, but the odds are really against them doing anything big. And I’m not sure how involved in any of it Bin Laden is. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/12 "2006-01-19T20:28:35Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Well, yeah, but :::dons 24K halo::: 9/11 didn’t affect me personally either. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t upset for people who were personally affected. Hell, I was deeply upset by it too, and I don’t even live that side of the Atlantic. Your question “should I be scared” I thought referred directly to your personal safety. There are tragedies every day all over the world. If you lived in fear of all of them, you’d be permanently terrified. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/13 "2006-01-19T20:37:28Z")
In addition to all the good reaons already put forth, I (generallly) don’t worry about things I can’t do anything about. This is the last thing that might make me lose any sleep. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/14 "2006-01-19T21:13:44Z")
Up to now, I have been totally unable to stop my government from doing the stupid things that make the world more dangerous. I try not to dwell on things I cannot change. Should you be scared? Mr. bin Laden hopes so. That’s why they call it terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/15 "2006-01-20T01:20:16Z")
What ever happened to the ‘Threat colors’…I don’t even remember what the hell it was called. It seems to have gone the way of the duct tape and plastic for your windows. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/16 "2006-01-20T01:26:01Z")
Nope. I wasn’t afraid on 9/11 either. Strangely enough, I worry more about my car being stolen then being killed by terrorists(and I don’t live in bad neighborhood). ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/17 "2006-01-20T01:28:04Z")
> [@ltfire](#): > > What ever happened to the ‘Threat colors’…I don’t even remember what the hell it was called. It seems to have gone the way of the duct tape and plastic for your windows. :rolleyes: I always wondered…what’s the point? Particulary a 5 color scale when we will never go below yellow. Why is there a Green and Blue if it’s obvious we’re never going to be at Blue or Green Alert? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/18 "2006-01-20T01:31:04Z")
The timing of this so called announcement has my bullshit meter pinging a bit. A day without House ethics problems and other Republican woes on the news? Today’s news could have been full of Senate Dems denouncing Alito, but here someone pulls the terrorist rabbit out of their hat again? I’m more worried about the fires in Texas than I am about Osama. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/19 "2006-01-20T01:39:23Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > The timing of this so called announcement has my bullshit meter pinging a bit. A day without House ethics problems and other Republican woes on the news? Today’s news could have been full of Senate Dems denouncing Alito, but here someone pulls the terrorist rabbit out of their hat again? IIRC there was some news items a few days ago theorising that OBL is either very sick or dead. This might be just to reassure the adoring masses. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700/20 "2006-01-20T01:42:14Z")
> [@ltfire](#): > > What ever happened to the ‘Threat colors’… Here they are, right at the top right of the [Homeland Security Website](http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp). We’re at **yellow** , ‘_Significant Risk of Terrorist Attacks_’ now. We’ve been stuck there for some time and there are no plans to raise it because of Osama’s little home video. For that we’ll just have to wait till summer, when the elections are a little closer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-is-threatening-us-should-i-be-scared/340700.md?page=2)