Explosion at Boston Marathon

[thirteen]

Missed it all but like I said above. Rarely have I seen things that needed to be deleted or edited here in the Cafe. Most of the guys in here have been trading posts for sometime now.

Glenn,

i'd be really interested in your suspicions, etc., that's why i came to the thread.

i may or may not agree with you, but i am interested in all opinions (and i pretty much know now where people are coming from).

btw, were you able to locate your old training partners? was everybody okay?

 

[mewmewmew13]

hey Glenn...
I agree with thirteen. I don't agree with you sometimes but I respect where you have been in life and your opinions....on something like this.

I know you are a runner...doesn't matter but it hit me hard as well. Those poor folks..

awful stuff

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Glenn,

i'd be really interested in your suspicions, etc., that's why i came to the thread.

i may or may not agree with you, but i am interested in all opinions (and i pretty much know now where people are coming from).

btw, were you able to locate your old training partners? was everybody okay?

hey Glenn...
I agree with thirteen. I don't agree with you sometimes but I respect where you have been in life and your opinions....on something like this.

I know you are a runner...doesn't matter but it hit me hard as well. Those poor folks..

awful stuff

Thirteen sent you a PM regarding the thread.

I sent this bit to you in the PM but thought I should post it here.

"Everyone I knew that was participating in the marathon were well away from the explosions. My heart is broken with the loss of life especially the 8 year old that was there to see his father. Totally devastating. I may not act like it on here but I have a daughter who is 7 going on 8 in August. I have never had her at a race because usually her and her mother are living in Japan and I rarely race there anymore. I would be so proud to have her at any race to see me off or greet me at the finish. I can't think what the Father's loss of his son is doing to him. I'm speechless."

While I feel relief that on a personal level my friends are safe. I am left stunned and devastated that something like this has found it's way to the United States. Regardless of who is responsible, foreign or domestic, this is terrible and cowardly act. Regardless of politics and what the motivation is ,,,,terrible and cowardly.

The road to Boston for many is tough the training the qualification and then the race itself. For so many runners it is a place that IS the goal. Just to qualify for this marathon means so much. To have that disrupted by bombs is unimaginable. The horror of spectators losing limbs that have possibly just carried them through a marathon somehow makes it more devastating in a mental way.

 

[VeloCity]

Edited indeed. Conversation seemingly going only one direction here, so I'll leave it to those with similar views.

Sorry dude, but the "one direction" is justified by those pesky facts.

At least 380 people were indicted on terrorism-related charges in the United States between September 11, 2001 and December 31 2012.

207 of those people are identified as "jihadist" terrorists, and they subscribe broadly to the ideology of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda.

174 of those people are "non-jihadist" terrorists, who subscribe to violent, radical interpretations of one of the following ideologies: rightwing, leftwing, animal rights activism, environmental activism, or anarchism.

The pool of non-jihadists is overwhelmingly made up of rightwing extremists: 80 percent, followed by animal and environmental activists at 15 percent.

At least 29 people have been killed by non-jihadist extremists since 9/11, while 17 people have been killed by jihadists.

Just 5 percent of jihadists indicted since 9/11 had carried out some kind of violent attack, while just under 50 percent of non-jihadists committed a violent crime before they were charged.

Just 16 percent of jihadists were able to acquire weapons before they were indicted, while 38 percent of right or leftwing terrorists possessed weapons (often in large quantities) at the time of arrest.

50 rightwing extremists were able to acquire explosives or bomb-making components, five of whom obtained those weapons through government sting operations.

23 jihadist extremists were able to acquire explosives or bomb-making components, 12 of whom obtained those weapons through government sting operations. http://homegrown.newamerica.net/

Could be anyone for any reason, sure, but little surprise that most people automatically assume that it's either a foreign jihadist or a home-grown right-wing extremist, considering that the vast majority of these types of incidents have been carried out by one of the two.

 

[Scott SoCal]

Sorry dude, but the "one direction" is justified by those pesky facts.

Could be anyone for any reason, sure, but little surprise that most people automatically assume that it's either a foreign jihadist or a home-grown right-wing extremist, considering that the vast majority of these types of incidents have been carried out by one of the two.

Careful Velo. Your hatred is showing.

 

[BroDeal]

I am tending toward a domestic crazy without political motive or lone person, probably a foreigner, nursing an external/foreign policy political grudge. I doubt a citizen with domestic political concerns would choose the type of bombs that were used, which were made to inflict maximum casualties, and a target of a large group of random people. A bulding or something that represents the typical right-wing boogeyman would be a more likely target if it was domestic terrorism.

 

[Scott SoCal]

I am tending toward a domestic crazy without political motive or lone person, probably a foreigner, nursing an external/foreign policy political grudge. I doubt a citizen with domestic political concerns would choose the type of bombs that were used, which were made to inflict maximum casualties, and a target of a large group of random people. A bulding or something that represents the typical right-wing boogeyman would be a more likely target if it was domestic terrorism.

In before your post is deleted.

Get with the program. Velo's stats show it has to be some right wing lunatic.

 

[VeloCity]

Careful Velo. Your hatred is showing.

Could be a hippie lefty protesting climate change or the Keystone pipeline or a Venezuelan communist avenging Chavez's death for all we know, but fact is most of these types of incidents in the recent past have been carried out by either a foreign jihadist or a right-wing extremist. Odds are that the Boston bomber(s) is/are most likely from one of these two groups as well.

 

[patricknd]

Thirteen sent you a PM regarding the thread.

I sent this bit to you in the PM but thought I should post it here.

"Everyone I knew that was participating in the marathon were well away from the explosions. My heart is broken with the loss of life especially the 8 year old that was there to see his father. Totally devastating. I may not act like it on here but I have a daughter who is 7 going on 8 in August. I have never had her at a race because usually her and her mother are living in Japan and I rarely race there anymore. I would be so proud to have her at any race to see me off or greet me at the finish. I can't think what the Father's loss of his son is doing to him. I'm speechless."

While I feel relief that on a personal level my friends are safe. I am left stunned and devastated that something like this has found it's way to the United States. Regardless of who is responsible, foreign or domestic, this is terrible and cowardly act. Regardless of politics and what the motivation is ,,,,terrible and cowardly.

The road to Boston for many is tough the training the qualification and then the race itself. For so many runners it is a place that IS the goal. Just to qualify for this marathon means so much. To have that disrupted by bombs is unimaginable. The horror of spectators losing limbs that have possibly just carried them through a marathon somehow makes it more devastating in a mental way.

dead nuts correct with this post, thanks for the perspective reminder

 

[mewmewmew13]

Thirteen sent you a PM regarding the thread.

I sent this bit to you in the PM but thought I should post it here.

"Everyone I knew that was participating in the marathon were well away from the explosions. My heart is broken with the loss of life especially the 8 year old that was there to see his father. Totally devastating. I may not act like it on here but I have a daughter who is 7 going on 8 in August. I have never had her at a race because usually her and her mother are living in Japan and I rarely race there anymore. I would be so proud to have her at any race to see me off or greet me at the finish. I can't think what the Father's loss of his son is doing to him. I'm speechless."

While I feel relief that on a personal level my friends are safe. I am left stunned and devastated that something like this has found it's way to the United States. Regardless of who is responsible, foreign or domestic, this is terrible and cowardly act. Regardless of politics and what the motivation is ,,,,terrible and cowardly.

The road to Boston for many is tough the training the qualification and then the race itself. For so many runners it is a place that IS the goal. Just to qualify for this marathon means so much. To have that disrupted by bombs is unimaginable. The horror of spectators losing limbs that have possibly just carried them through a marathon somehow makes it more devastating in a mental way.

yes.
sad beyond belief

I wish this thread was more focused on the reflection of the tragedy than an outlet for screaming at each other over political and other beliefs.

It seems so disrespectful and awful to be backbiting after such a sad event.

 

[VeloCity]

I doubt a citizen with domestic political concerns would choose the type of bombs that were used, which were made to inflict maximum casualties, and a target of a large group of random people. A bulding or something that represents the typical right-wing boogeyman would be a more likely target if it was domestic terrorism.

The Atlanta Olympic bombing dude used a homemade bomb designed to inflict maximum casualties and targeted a large group of random people at a high-profile event. Pipe bombs full of nails in a bag placed under a bench in a park where thousands had gathered for a concert, 2 deaths, over 100 injured, and that was only because the bomb was discovered and the area largely cleared before it went off. His motive was entirely political - in Randolph's own words, "the purpose of the attack on July 27 was to confound, anger and embarrass the Washington government in the eyes of the world for its abominable sanctioning of abortion on demand". On the surface, imo it's the one that's most similar to the Boston bombing, but again, we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[del1962]

I would just like to offer my condolences to those who died, those who are injured and their friends and family.

I remember in the eighties that the Boston Marathon was considered one of the most (if not the most) prestigous.

I note that there will be a 30 second period of silence at the Londom Marathon to remember the victims, personally I think it should be a minute.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

has everybody seen this? Viewer discretion

 

[Semper Fidelis]

speculation

Everyone has an opinion it is only natural. Right wing nut, Left wing nut, NUT, or a Terrorist, - Foreign or Domestic.

Any guess is as good as the other. Trouble is that most of the time we guess with our hearts / and gut based on ingrained impressions.

Some of the reports I have heard is that the person in the Hospital (that is not allowed to leave freely - but not under arrest) had something on his hands either burns or something to that effect and the only injury was shrapnel to the back of his calf on one leg (indicates back turned to the blast?) When taken or when the cops / first responders got to him they said one of his first statements was I thought there was a second bomb???? (this would have been before the second explosion?) Then he asked them if anyone was dead?

Roommate at the apartment said he was not that type of guy to do this but had not been seen for the last 2 days. ????

Bomb was made out of "Crock pots" / Pressure cookers. Same as the failed as the same device at TIMES SQUARE.

No terrorist group has claimed responsibility. Not uncommon but usually they will want to brag.

What do I speculate? Possibly one or a group of young home grown terrorist types------- who probably had twitter accounts.

 

[rhubroma]

Everyone has an opinion it is only natural. Right wing nut, Left wing nut, NUT, or a Terrorist, - Foreign or Domestic.

Any guess is as good as the other. Trouble is that most of the time we guess with our hearts / and gut based on ingrained impressions.

Some of the reports I have heard is that the person in the Hospital (that is not allowed to leave freely - but not under arrest) had something on his hands either burns or something to that effect and the only injury was shrapnel to the back of his calf on one leg (indicates back turned to the blast?) When taken or when the cops / first responders got to him they said one of his first statements was I thought there was a second bomb???? (this would have been before the second explosion?) Then he asked them if anyone was dead?

Roommate at the apartment said he was not that type of guy to do this but had not been seen for the last 2 days. ????

Bomb was made out of "Crock pots" / Pressure cookers. Same as the failed as the same device at TIMES SQUARE.

No terrorist group has claimed responsibility. Not uncommon but usually they will want to brag.

What do I speculate? Possibly one or a group of young home grown terrorist types------- who probably had twitter accounts.

This was not the modus operandi of a left wing terrorist. At least that much should be clear.

 

[Netserk]

veloclinic's comment.

Pure poetry.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Careful Velo. Your hatred is showing.

Do the math, it breaks down to 207 jihadists, 140 rightwing extremists, and 26 evo/animal rights kooks, but you may well be right Scott that still leaves 5% for all other nutjob believers, odds are it came from one of those.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

I know who did it: Some mentally ill and/or evil person who believes that those issues they can't go to sleep because they are pathologically thinking about mean so much that others must die so that people will understand just how f*^ked-up they think the world is.

I vacillate between having complete revulsion toward the death penalty, and wishing it were more painful. I'm on the second half today.

 

[ToreBear]

The holiday makes sense for that type of group as it commemorates the start of the Revolution (April 19th). The target, however, seems odd, as Massachusetts is one of only three states that celebrate Patriot's Day, and it was one of the iconic sporting days of the year. I'd expect right wingers to attack federal or at least government targets (as McVeigh did). This seems very much like an attack on Boston itself, and one poised to gain international attention, as the marathon is very competitive. The target at Harvard is famous for it's international affairs programs, and is very influential. This looks foreign to me. (I have no expertise, and the profile also fits a disgruntled New Yorker, jealous that their marathon got ruined by the hurricane, jealous of Harvard, and hating the Red Sox.)

A federal facility of some kind would likely be a hard target. Too much protection/risk of discovery. And to make a dent one would need a lot more explosives. Something like a car full of it.

That would be difficult to set up, and sneak into a worthwile area.

So my thoughts are some kind of right winger, jihadist or North Korea.

If it's a jihadist it would IMHO have had to be someone who does not "look muslim" in anyway, since they would be the first one to get attention placed on them.

North Korea could probably arrange something on their own or through third parties.

But to me the right winger theory is the one I feel has the most likelyhood of being correct.

 

[ToreBear]

I know who did it: Some mentally ill and/or evil person who believes that those issues they can't go to sleep because they are pathologically thinking about mean so much that others must die so that people will understand just how f*^ked-up they think the world is.

I vacillate between having complete revulsion toward the death penalty, and wishing it were more painful. I'm on the second half today.

If you kill them, they can no longer suffer for their crimes.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

If you kill them, they can no longer suffer for their crimes.

I recognize that, my vacillation is due to the conflict between emotion and intellect.

 

[The Hitch]

A federal facility of some kind would likely be a hard target. Too much protection/risk of discovery. And to make a dent one would need a lot more explosives. Something like a car full of it.

That would be difficult to set up, and sneak into a worthwile area.

So my thoughts are some kind of right winger, jihadist or North Korea.

If it's a jihadist it would IMHO have had to be someone who does not "look muslim" in anyway, since they would be the first one to get attention placed on them.

North Korea could probably arrange something on their own or through third parties.

But to me the right winger theory is the one I feel has the most likelyhood of being correct.

Why would north Korea start targetting civilians in Boston.
There's no motive and it would be the dumbest thing they could possibly do.

 

[Scott SoCal]

I know who did it: Some mentally ill and/or evil person who believes that those issues they can't go to sleep because they are pathologically thinking about mean so much that others must die so that people will understand just how f*^ked-up they think the world is.

I vacillate between having complete revulsion toward the death penalty, and wishing it were more painful. I'm on the second half today.

This, exactly.

 

[ToreBear]

Why would north Korea start targetting civilians in Boston.
There's no motive and it would be the dumbest thing they could possibly do.

Smart or dumb is a matter of perspective. It depends what you want to achieve.

Oh they could do a lot of dumber things as they have done previously on numerous occasions.

 

[The Hitch]

Smart or dumb is a matter of perspective. It depends what you want to achieve.

Oh they could do a lot of dumber things as they have done previously on numerous occasions.

The united states does not strike me as a country which would sit on its hands if it ever found out north Korea was planting bombs in its major cities. From an ir perspective Pyongyang has absolutely nothing to gain from this. They don't care if American citizens live or die. If they have done dumber things before it would been on an infinately smaller scale.