At 11:18 AM 6/1/03 -0400, Ian Grigg wrote:

There is a reason that the AK47 is the weapon of choice: it is an extraordinarily simple weapon. Training is probably about half the requirements of say the M16. That makes a difference, much more so than, say, the increased accuracy of the M16!

Got evidence? The benefits of the AK involve the *weapon's* robustness, not its user interface. Also, a 7.62 beats a 5+change mm any day.

Phsycologically, it makes us unhappy to realise that the 911 attackers were actually quite simple, so we don't. We build up Osama bin Laden to be a mastermind, a sort of James Bond-qualified evil guy who constructs plans of insidious cunning.

OBL is at least 2 standard deviations smarter than Bush, and probably one more than Rummy too. Thinking otherwise is buying into the "madman" propoganda.

All this is a long winded way of saying your average terrorist is much more like your grandma when it comes to tech. Highly competant in the kitchen, but can't send an email to save herself.

Except that post sat-phone, the Base has plenty of motivation to train well in opsec. Or catch a tomahawk. You working for Fox News these days? Or just wishful thinking?