He didn't mean literally. But these people are seriously nut. They want to scare people, that is all. We all know that the 9/11 terrorists where on the Saudis payroll. And Saudia Arabia is an american ally!
Oh course. Asymmetric warfare is usually successful.
We’re trying to swat flies with World War 2 armies. The US has been in a war state for so long there is no actual condition that will result in victory, and we have undermined the institutions of civil government with no tangible benefit.
Yes, they do, but not merely in the direct way.
If the government fears its civilians and becomes a police state, the terrorists succeed.