Statistics of Terrorist Attack

Factual Questions
1

The wife is freaked out that there is talk of a possible 9/22 terrorist attack attempt. The problem is we have tickets to an event in Los Angeles for that evening and she is pondering canceling.

I think it is very unlikely that we will suffer any harm from a terrorist attack. My W.A.Statisical analysis goes like this:

[ul]I figure there are a great number of potential targets in the U.S.

I figure the terrorists will likely choose a political icon or a monetary/trade icon not an entertainment venue.

I also figure that the chances of a successful attack are pretty slim.[/ul]With all this (and other factors that I can’t think of) I figure the likelihood a bus will hit us is a greater worry.

[sub]I suppose there is a slight chance a terrorist could commandeer a bus (please no references to Speed)[/sub]

For the record I’m not all that interested in the event, but I don’t want to fold to needless worry.

2

Where is there talk?

3

I believe the talk of possible terrorist activity stems from the arrest of a man on a train in Texas who was carrying a lot of box cutters and held a ticket for a flight on 9/22. That particular flight was cancelled as a precaution. The man was being held as a material witness.

As for living in L.A., keep in mind that a major earthquake could hit you anytime and there isn’t anything you can do about that either.

4

Here’s a thread talking about the possible danger on 9/22

I know there’s little to worry about regarding a terrorist attack killing or maiming me personally, but I was hoping for more ammunition to help combat the wife’s fear (and ignorance).

I know that the fear is emotion based, and logic doesn’t always have a strong effect on those fears, but my wife is rational and I hope to ease those fears.