<This theory goes against the official government line (so many of my theories do!). Assuming I've interpreted the message correctly (and it's a simple message), the government's spin of random terror directed at innocent civilians could be designed to avoid division, to deter the majority not targeted from tossing the targets to the wolves. Saying that all Americans are targets also diffuses responsibility and defocuses the message--it's no longer about opposition to specific behaviors on the part of US businesses overseas, US military actions, and a 900 pound political gorilla--actions and policies that could theoretically be changed. Now it's about a formless, senseless hatred of an entire people, and there's nothing anybody can do about that. We don't have to change.

There's another reason why your theory breaches government orthodoxy: it allows for the terrorists, whoever they are, to be capable of rational strategic assessment. The standard characterization has them all but foaming at the mouth.

But of course, anyone who's willing (even eager!) to sacrifice their life for a cause other than Truth, Justice and The American Way can't be rational, can they...