UK Based Bomber Named

[Achilles]

Originally Posted by lksteve

cells like these attacked us in '93 and on 9/11...expand on your thesis...how did you determine that foreign nationals living in 'friendly' countries present a threat as a result of us taking the war to them...?

I suppose I wasn't so clear.

Do you think that particular cell would have been attacking (or planning to attack) us on our own soil rather than Iraqi soil had OIF not been ongoing?

I wonder how many attacks (if any) have been redirected to Iraq as a direct result to the "call for jihad" there.

My logic is that a foreign national (from an allied country, like Britain for example) could more easily infiltrate into the US than someone of a more conspicuous origin (i.e. Syrian).

[lksteve]

Originally Posted by Achilles

Do you think that particular cell would have been attacking (or planning to attack) us on our own soil rather than Iraqi soil had OIF not been ongoing?

what is the advantage to attacking us in Iraq rather than the US...? are they less conspicuous? do they have a better established support network? give it some thought...perhaps it's the call for jihad...maybe it's just easier...expand on your thought train...

Originally Posted by Achilles

My logic is that a foreign national (from an allied country, like Britain for example) could more easily infiltrate into the US than someone of a more conspicuous origin (i.e. Syrian).

true...but riddle me this...why use Britain as a base to attack Americans involved with OIF...? why not use Syria, Jordan, why not use an in-theater safe zone? is the pressure we are exerting in Iraq causing mission planning to be directed outside theater? does this bode well or ill for our cause?????????????

[Achilles]

Originally Posted by lksteve

what is the advantage to attacking us in Iraq rather than the US...? are they less conspicuous? do they have a better established support network? give it some thought...perhaps it's the call for jihad...maybe it's just easier...expand on your thought train...

I think they believe overthrowing the democratic government in Iraq in favor of a militant theocracy is a more pressing issue than terrorizing the US on it's own soil, or maybe, like you said, its just easier, drawing less attention to that particular cell, than say, bombing a US civillian target.

Originally Posted by lksteve

true...but riddle me this...why use Britain as a base to attack Americans involved with OIF...? why not use Syria, Jordan, why not use an in-theater safe zone? is the pressure we are exerting in Iraq causing mission planning to be directed outside theater?

I lack information on the people involved and particulars dealing with this cell, so anything I say is pure speculation. The answer could be that the people involved had been dealing away from cells (perhaps altogether unknown to them) in countries surrounding Iraq as well as cells operating within the theatre itself. Britain could have always been the launching point for this cell's operations, and maybe they did not see value in using a safe zone in theatre enough to at least create an illusion that the party was operating indepedent of the cell in Britain, as to not implicate other members upon the member being identified by intelligence agencies. Steve, I think this is a good question and I'm glad you brought it up.

does this bode well or ill for our cause?????????????

IMO, it's better that they are consolidating their efforts in a war zone than have blood spilled by citizens of this country, especially women and children.

Just my .02$

[lksteve]

Originally Posted by Achilles

IMO, it's better that they are consolidating their efforts in a war zone than have blood spilled by citizens of this country, especially women and children.

i think you've arrived at an answer to your question...hope the arm is healing...

[Achilles]

Thanks Steve.

It's feeling a little better but I still can't do much with it.

I can do lots and lots of pushups with my left arm though. Some NCO this morning was leading our holdover PT and he laughed when I did the first set of pushups with only my left. He wasn't laughing when he was on his knees on the final sets and I was still pumping them out.



Good discussion, btw. Have a nice day.