Daniel, my main thought on the fact that we haven't had any attacks since 9/11 is that OBL and his bunch are probably going through the same confusion I am as to what effect a new attack would have on our political process. I dare anyone to accurately predict which party would benefit most from an attack in the year preceding a national election. The Bush team could use the attack to put more fear and hesitancy for governmental change in the population but the Democrats could use it as a tool to show that the administration was failing to protect us. It seems to me to be a wash. We also have no clue which candidate terrorists would more likely want to win. There are valid arguments on both sides.

OBL and his buddies may actually want Bush as president because his Rambo style makes it easier for them to recruit new terrorists. Then again they may see Kerry as more likely to cut short the involvement in Iraq before the country is prepared to take over and they see it as a potential new base. His recent public statements seem to counter that but at the very least they're going to see him as facing huge political battles with a Republican Congress.

My fear is that as soon as the election's over is when we'll see the next major attack to discredit whoever the winner is. I, like you, hope dearly our intelligence forces have been staying ahead of the terrorists but it's a daunting battle with no sure scenarios.