Preemptive ;-) Sources within the US government and military counterterrorism offices have confirmed that the timing of "Desert Fox" was carefully planned and coordinated. Counterterrorism planners are anticipating terrorists will be incited into action as a result of US military action so close to the Muslim holy period of Ramadan. Terrorists with middle eastern ties may decide that the religious holiday observance of Christmas would be a good time to retaliate against western targets. "There's a proactive element involved in conducting military operations near Ramadan", one source said, "We won't be opening presents this Christmas, we'll be on our posts alert and watching." Another source said that the House impeachment vote was a serendipitous occurrence. "It actually helps with our activities. The bad guys think we're distracted, that there's no leadership. Actually, we've never been more focused, we're hyped. Our operations have been in high gear since the Africa (embassy) bombings, Desert Fox is an outgrowth of that. We know what these guys are going to do before they do." The recent cacophony of events in Washington D.C. may soon take on an aura of japanese surrealism. The secret service is weighing the necessity of having White House visitors and press conference attendees remove their shoes. The ability to disperse anthrax toxin from the hollowed-out heels of shoes is something that cannot be ignored. Sources said that such an incident, occurring in areas of pedestrian traffic, would disperse a toxin with tragic effectiveness. "It doesn't take much imagination to see the consequences of spilling a powder on the rug in a White House press briefing, lots of shuffling around in a closed environment, lots of inhaled toxin." What's scary is that someone could disperse a toxin unwittingly. "Do you know where your shoes are 24 hours a day?" an agent said. "This is something we have to think about, but short of an actual scare, I don't think we'll be asking you to take off your shoes. Not just yet."