Thomas the Wraith on August 6, 2007 at 1:53 PM

About a month or so ago, I was at the store. I was wearing a t-shirt my cousin who’d been stationed in Balad had sent me, Hard Rock Balad. So I see this guy, about my age mid 40’s maybe older. He’s wearing a shirt January 20, 2009, the countdown is on. Some such nonsense. I don’t remember the exact wording. I just remember the date, gigantic print. But he had a face like mad at the world.
This is in Mass. now, so this is not unusual. So first thing out of his mouth “that shirt is hateful” to me. So I said what about you? You’re wearing a shirt about something that’s not happening for 18 months. And you look like you’re ready to kill me for supporting people that give you the right to do that. Well that got him nuts. This is going on in the middle of a store. I just started looking at him. Didn’t say another word, while he screamed like a 3 year old.
So yeah, I think tensions are pretty high.

What we need (not really, but you will get the point) is a good congressional reality check, so the Dems will get off of the “there is no threat” mantra. A good solid bomb scare at the DNC (I am not promoting this) from AQ, and we would have unlimited funds to fight terror.

I’m not sure that the Deniers and Displacers will ever be quieted by catastrophe. After a truck bomb levels a hotel in, say, Dallas and kills 500 people a bet a hardcore 5-10% of Deniers will flat out believe that BushMcHitlerburton did it. Even after he leaves office I bet the Deniers will concoct an elaborate fantasy involving the Carlyle Group and evangelicals to blame the attack on the autonomous Bush Machine. Another 15-30% will agree that jihadists did it but that we deserve it for Iraq, the War on Terror, etc. Even more if the bombers turn out to be Iraqi nationals. Then we’ll see a festival of national self-flagellation in the media, on campuses, Hollywood, etc. (In fact if AQ in Iraq really wanted to pressure us to withdraw they would send a few Iraqi nationals with sob stories of the Occupation to suicide-bomb the American Hearland out of ‘despair’.)

In any case I imagine a significant and over-represented minority would think that either Americans were behind the attack or we had it coming and would NOT want to retaliate. Of course a lot of very angry and emotional people would want to strike back. It’s sad to say but I can foresee physical fights between Americans in the wake of the next attack. People were united and calm after 9/11 because it was such a shock. Now we’re more prepared, at least psychologically. When some punks march around with signs (a la Ward Churchill) saying that the victims deserved it, I fully expect other folk to wail on them with fists and bats.

I see the local nuts out on the plaza with “9/11 was an Inside Job” signs once in a while. People just ignore them. It’s been 6 years. In the immediate aftermath, people won’t be so calm. An overheard conversation in line at the deli could spark a fistfight. A bumper sticker could provoke a response. Some twit wearing the Intifada NYC t-shirt is likely to be beaten unconscious.

This kind of division and deep social split is the true harvest for the terrorists. I dread it far more than the actual attack.

In the meantime,prepare for the worst as best as u can. If we are ultimately proved wrong, and this threat dissipates gradually, good. It means we survive and win. If we’re right, the fight will begin eventually, the domestic opposition will be gone, and we will win, although at greater cost. Again, the way of the world. I’m sure that even people you know and love refuse to accept what is facing them.

If they can’t even get guys who know how to make a car bomb anymore they’re in worse shape than anyone thought.

I think you’re being too dismissive of these doctors AP. They aren’t stupid or inept per se. It’s my understanding that it’s a little harder to build large bombs in the UK because of the tight controls over the inputs (like fertilizer). So, they had to build a more complex bomb and as we all know, the more complex something is the more likely it is it will fail. Wasn’t it you who posted the video of the US University Profs who couldn’t even manage to make that type of bomb work very well?

I think we’ll see a substantial increase in the quality of our terrorists -Doctor Zero

Sooner than you think. From Gates of Vienna

It’s not enough that our southern border is a sieve. It’s not enough that any attempt to identify potential terrorists is decried as “racial profiling”. It’s not enough that the Democrats in Congress are falling all over themselves to declare defeat in Iraq.

Now we’re about to alter our immigration laws to make it easier for Al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq to make their home in the United States. We have decided to invite them in.

And the term “refugees” is defined so broadly as to include almost anyone who wants to escape from Iraq. As Christine from CVF says:

As you’ll see, this bill gives refugee status to broad sections of the Iraqi population, with additional exemptions to all other aliens, and with special favorable treatment for anyone with a terrorist background. It’s as if the Bill assumes only two policy options:1 Surrender Iraq to Al Qaeda and Iranian forces and blame the ensuing genocide on Bush OR…2 Surrender Iraq to al Qaeda and Iranian forces, blame the ensuing genocide on Bush, and create a program (designed to be confusing, poorly managed and dangerous) to get out as many Iraqis as possible, with a proactive effort to include Iraqis with terrorist and anti-American histories of violence.

I’m a little surprised that the bumbling B-team of terrorists bothers with complicated attacks, like car bombs aimed at airports. I hope they never get around to reading “The Teeth of the Tiger” by Tom Clancy.

Luckily for al-Qaeda, Hollywood’s got their backs. I went to the movies this weekend, and saw at least half a dozen trailers for films that look like Zawahiri served as a script consultant. One of them is even called “Rendition,” seeming to use the word as a scary term of terror, which the audience will learn to fear. Maybe the actual content will surprise me with its even-handedness and recognition of where the true threat lies… and maybe I’ll be able to buy a ticket for less than the cost of a prime rib dinner, and get through an R-rated movie without a screaming baby in the audience. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking!

Neither one of them is a citizen, according to CNN.

Well, well, well . . .lookie who the knight in shining armour is that shows up to set things straight in SC (guessing they didn’t have a chance to arrange the sensitivity training session for these local law enforcement folks yet) . ..
According to this article online . . .

Ahmed Bedier, executive director of the Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights organization for Muslims, said the men arrested are Youseff Megahed, 21, and Ahmed Mohamed, 24 – two University of South Florida students.

Family members told Bedier they think the materials were leftover fireworks Megahed kept in his trunk since July 4.

“Both of them are really naïve kids,” Bedier said.He said Megahed is a permanent legal resident of the United States and Mohamed was the passenger. Mohamed’s legal status was not known. Bedier said police will not tell them why they’re being held without charges.

Prepare yourself.

“Neither one of them is a citizen, according to CNN.”

They probably were very, very disappointed that the McCain-Graham-Amnesty,Mel Martinez, John Kyl, Hagel, Democrat Party Shamnesty bill did not become law.

Presidential Daily Briefing: bin Ladin Determined to Strike in US August 6, 2001

It’s not so much the physical destruction and death that frighten me – it’s our reactions, the deep splits among us, the cowardice and the deep desire of some to deny and displace. I can already see the signs in my mind.

Whatever it is that they have planned for us, on the Left at least, we will deserve it.