# Why have the terrorists taken a break? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 5, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-terrorists-taken-a-break/267683 "2004-10-05T17:54:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-terrorists-taken-a-break/267683/21 "2004-10-06T17:01:20Z")
itoes the government announce when it foils a terrorist plot? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-terrorists-taken-a-break/267683/22 "2004-10-06T17:47:32Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > After all, I think most of the American Public upon which Osama had much of his hopes pinned, is likely to see people getting blown up in the US as a good reason to interfer in the MidEast more, while seeing our people get blown up _in_ the MidEast is more likely to convince us to bring the boys home and wash our hands of the whole situation. This makes sense to me. In fact, it’s the first explanation that even begins to make sense to me. They bomb here, and we’re likely to say, “Bomb their countries to glass.” They bomb there, and we’re likely to say, “Hey, they can have this place. We don’t want it!” ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-terrorists-taken-a-break/267683/23 "2004-10-06T18:08:10Z")
It’s not particularly clear tha they have taken a break. Reading through the 9-11 report one can seee the numerous difficulties that were encountered by those who were trying to attack the US. From inspiration to execution took something like 5 years. There were changed plans and aborted missions. Apparently, it’s more complicated than it sounds. From what been reported by various security agencies in the US, aQ is actively engaged in plotting at this very minute. If this is true, “the terrorist” haven’t taken a break. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-terrorists-taken-a-break/267683/24 "2004-10-06T20:43:01Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > From inspiration to execution took something like 5 years. But obviously it doesn’t take 5 years to plan most terrorist strikes. After all, were they planning the bombs in Iraq 5 years ago? Is US security so good that it would take 5 years for a plan so neato to be devised and implemented? That doesn’t sound likely, to me. ---
**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-terrorists-taken-a-break/267683/25 "2004-10-06T21:32:46Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > Reading through the 9-11 report one can seee the numerous difficulties that were encountered by those who were trying to attack the US. From inspiration to execution took something like 5 years. Considering the the effectivness of terrorist strikes, the 9/11 attack breaks alll records. What I am trying to say is that the 5 years it took was because of the scale and magnitude of the attack. A normal everyday suicide bombing of the type we see happening in Israel and Iraq are not even remotely comparable. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-terrorists-taken-a-break/267683/26 "2004-10-06T21:56:56Z")
Well, the FBI and other agencies have foiled or prevented some, I think. Without Afganistan to train & plan openly a large scale attack like 9-11, they will be reduced to lesser attacks. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-terrorists-taken-a-break/267683/27 "2004-10-06T22:08:07Z")
> [@wisernow](#): > > A normal everyday suicide bombing of the type we see happening in Israel and Iraq are not even remotely comparable No doubt they could slap togeather a palestinian type bombing of a Sbarro’s or a bus stop, but the palestinian’s tactic is effective (well, debatably effective) because they can keep up a fairly constant barrage of these, thus really scaring the crap out of the Israelies, chasing away tourists, etc. If Al-Qaeda could launch one of these every few weeks for a year or two or three, then they might be able to inconvenience the US enough for us to consider trying to appease them. I don’t think they could do this, especially because after every attack they’d have to face more US security measures and more US military attacks at their home base. Palestinians just have to slip themselves and their weapons across the border. Al-Qaeda personal have to cross an ocean. Also while Al-Qaeda no doubt has a lot of support, its fighting a far off and abstract enemy, while the palestinians are attacking a very immediatly present foe. Given this, I think its a lot easier for Arafat to recruit suicide bombers then it is for Osama to do so. Thus Al-Qaeda just can’t keep the constant barrage of attacks on the US that might sway public opinion from sending more money and weapons to Mid East gov’t to washing our hands of the whole scene. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-terrorists-taken-a-break/267683/28 "2004-10-06T22:12:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, the FBI and other agencies have foiled or prevented some, I think. > > Without Afganistan to train & plan openly a large scale attack like 9-11, they will be reduced to lesser attacks. I don’t know that they’ve really directly foiled any attacks. I’ve heard of a few catches, but they sounded like guys with big plans and no real skills or support, and debatable ties to Al-Qaeda. Do you have any examples? Similarily, I don’t know to what extent the 9-11ers were trained in Afganistan. I know that most of them attended flight school in the US. Again I could be wrong, do you have examples? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-terrorists-taken-a-break/267683.md?page=1)