Wasn't sure where to post this...

A lot has been made about WMD - chemical, bio, nuclear - but the tools of terrorists need not be that grandiose.

"Weapons of mass hysteria", "weapons of minor destruction"...

A while ago, some nut in Japan dropped a can of gasoline in a crowded subway station, lit it, and killed a lot of people (more than the earlier team using sarin, if I recall). If that had been repeated a few more times, nobody would be riding the subway and the economy would suffer greatly. Even at $2 a gallon, anyone can afford some gas.

Imagine if people started blowing themselves up in suburban US malls on a regular basis. Explosives enough to cause a lot of damage are relatively cheap and easy to get.

I think there is as much or more potential danger from acts like these than there is from anthrax or VX or suitcase nukes. If they were widespread, they would truly terrorize a population that hasn't seen terror except on TV.

Perpetrators don't need huge, well-funded international organizations, they don't need sophisticated high-tech production facilities. All they need is a place to meet and plan, and a burning hate.

And that kind of action can't be countered by massive wars. It can only be countered by peace and education and understanding and acceptance.

The war in Iraq is cheap and easy by comparison.