Terrorists usually avoid tourist locations since they are not DOD-related.

Terrorists often target tourist locations for several strategic reasons that go beyond just their connection to Department of Defense (DOD) entities. Tourist areas are typically crowded and high-profile settings, which allow terrorists to gain maximum visibility and media coverage for their actions. By attacking such locations, they can instill fear in the public and demonstrate their reach and capability to disrupt normal life.

Moreover, while DOD-related targets might be primary objectives for certain terrorist groups, others may aim to cause widespread fear or to make political statements against a broader audience. Tourist locations provide a mix of domestic and international victims, which can amplify the terror effect and draw attention to their cause.

Thus, the assertion that terrorists avoid tourist locations due to a lack of DOD connections does not align with the patterns observed in terrorism. Many attacks have indeed occurred in popular tourist areas, as these are often seen as soft targets with potentially high impact on public perception and morale.