Al Qaeda and the USSR

Here are two cautionary letters regarding the questionable analogy (of containment by mutually assured destruction) of Al Qaeda to the USSR, that appeared in today's The New York Times Magazine:

"Al Qaeda, while smaller in number and resources, poses an entirely different kind of threat in that its activity is not predominately localized to one country, and unlike what was generally true of the Soviets, members of Al Qaeda will readily give their lives to take American lives."

"It is not the number of people or weapons that counts; it is the willingness to use them."