Here is an important news report: A series of explosions ripped through one of Iraq's main oil facilities yesterday in one of the most daring attacks by local insurgents or Islamic militants to date. Two coalition sailors were killed. The two sailors were killed when they tried to intercept a small boat sighted near the al-Baqra oil terminal, seven miles off the southern coast of Iraq. As their patrol vessel approached, the boat exploded, throwing the crew into the water. A second vessel was said to have exploded 'at a facility' almost immediately afterwards. There were also reports of a third blast. UPDATE: The terminal was shut for a day at a cost of 1 m barrels of production ~ $28 m at today's prices.
It is my strong belief that terrorism is in the process of evolution from body-count intensive attacks to attacks on systems. A move to a systems focus would turn terrorist groups into true global guerrillas that could fight sustained (and potentially successful) wars against nation-states. This sophisticated attack may demonstrate that this thinking is evident to our enemies too.