Let them eat the radiation =)

The destruction of Saudi Arabia as a source of funds for Sunni supremacism would be the biggest game changer. It’s the only real source of power they have.

It would just be rationalized away. Like all Middle Eastern religions, Islam is morally nimble enough to pull off all kinds of magic in this regard.

Relatively low-efficiency slaughter is the modern Islamic norm.

They may actually be very efficient from a ROI (return on investment) perspective.

http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2010/11/note-on-innovation-in-warfare.html

Al Qaeda’s choice of a demonstration was to use parcel bombs (called Operation Hemorrhage — a classic name for a systems disruption attack). These low cost parcel bombs, were inserted into the international air mail system to generate a security response by western governments. It worked. The global security response to this new threat was massive.

Returns on Investment (ROIs)

Part of effective systems disruption is a focus on ROI (return on investment) calculations. As paraphrased in Inspire: it is such a good bargain for us to spread fear amongst the enemy and keep him on his toes in exchange of a few months of work and a few thousand bucks. We knew that cargo planes are staffed by only a pilot and a co-pilot, so our objective was not to cause maximum casualties but to cause maximum losses to the American economy. (this shift is a clear attempt to avoid limitations of blood and guts terrorism by adopting systems disruption as outlined in this article)

To demonstrate this ROI, Inspire listed the costs of the investment in the operation:

Printers: $300 each
Nokia mobile phones: $150 each
Shipping and transportation: short $$
TOTAL COST: $4,200

It’s pretty clear that the security costs inflicted as a result of this operation are counted in the millions of dollars, making for an impressive return on investment for the operation. ROIs from systems disruption can reach one million to one.

http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2004/07/gg_target_iraqi.html

This data demonstrates that the most effective start-ups in Iraq’s bazaar of violence are global guerrilla networks. They have shown an ability to attract (either through ideology or money) the oil industry personnel with the vital data needed to make these attacks effective. Global guerrillas have stayed small to keep OPSEC (operational security) extraordinarily high — coalition and government agents haven’t been able to penetrate their networks. They have made attacks that have had incredible ROI (rates of return on investment) and have suffered few casualties. They are able, despite their small numbers, to keep a nation-state in failure.

http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2007/09/mexico-roi-retu.html

New ROI estimates for the September attacks on Mexican natural gas pipelines:

Over 2,500 business will suffer severe harm in 11 of Mexico’s 32 states. 1,100 companies have shut down production. Key industries impacted: Auto, glass, food, and cement. For example: Volkswagen (1,780 cars a day, 81% of which is for export).
Revised estimate of $200 million a day in costs.
Impact expected to last for a week.

ROI for an attack that cost less than estimated $10,000 to accomplish? Rough estimate: 1.4 million percent. Welcome to modern war.