I said:"but it's more concerned increasing the body count and generally destroying a society- the talking isn't going anywhere, so let just murder and destroy as much as possible. "

"So the question remains."

Hmm, actually this is a good question.
If we assume that OBL was interested in obtaining WMD- and there was some evidence of this. One must ask, why there was there this interest.
Was it merely because it was a "black market" item and they were involved in selling drugs and other illegal substances?
Or was it because they intended to use these weapons, as is commonly assumed.
If it was merely an item to sell- then that would explain why they needed to be knowledgable about their "products". And if they were intending to use, why haven't they used at least some form of chemical or biological weapon in any terror attacks. If OBL was *mostly* about selling black market items, he still poised a threat. Especially, in regards to the previous Saddam's regime. Saddam had the motive, and the money.

I guess the main reason is I'm taking what OBL says, as his real intention. My understanding is he thinks he was responsible for ending the Soviet Union and he thinks he can do the same with the US.

Now, let's imagine he thought he would do this by drawing in the US into Afghanistan. In Afghanistan he could get the US into in a quagmire, and draw in Muslims for all over world to fight against the US. And this could evenually lead to destablizing the middle east and South east Asia. If he fought the war in Afghanistan, he would be fighting on his turf, and in a region that has historically been a killing field of great empires- and OBL seems to be interested in history. If that was his plan, then it has already failed.

The other aspect is what has gone on in Israel, bali, and currently in Iraq- the suicide bomber seem intent on blowing up as much people as they can. Though I guess, there could better ways of killing lots of people.

I guess I had assumed he would want to bring the war to us, but if his plan was as I stated above & the purpose of 911 was simply to wave a red flag in order to get us to charge in Afghanistan. Then that would appear to be the simplier answer. After Pearl Harbor people on the West feared the Japanese were going to attack them- so maybe, it's just that- a irrational fear:)