How will the Boston Marathon bombings be capitalised on?

[nahadef]

With all due respect to the dead and injured, this is a very interesting topic, to me at least.

This is the biggest terrorist action in America since the World Trade Center. And though two bombs went off, two didn't.

Bush-Cheney made a big deal of the fact that America wasn't attacked in the years after 9/11, and Cheney went out of his way to say that America would get attacked under the Obama presidency. This is simply how American politics is at this point in time.

As it is, already, one popular American mental patient, er, public speaker, Alex Jones has used this as a chance to show that the government is out to curtail American freedoms.
Alex Jones Declares Boston A ﾂ'False Flag' Operation, ﾂ'FBI Behind' ﾂ'Every Domestic Terror Plot' | Mediaite

As popular as he is, he's still pretty much out there on his own. But, I think the news networks will be going over this for months, if not into the next presidential election.

From a very superficial standpoint, it looks like a domestic action to me. Boston is a city associated with American independence, and the marathon had numerous anti-gun themes attached (tributes to different shootings). And I see it as a strange target for a foreign terrorist group. But that could be all just superficial, and I really don't know anything more than anyone else does.

Hopefully the people responsible claim responsibility, which will put things somewhat better in perspective. Unfortunately, this is going to replace the upside-down economy and out of control gun violence in American discourse for the foreseeable future, regardless of the feelings of the people injured in this event.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Well, if this was not done or facilitated by the CIA/FBI/DoD or some other government org with an acronym, the bigwigs are loving it anyway. Americans will naturally freak out like they always have been in recent years, thanks to all the shreiking about terrorism, as well as the newspapers and Hollywood priming the people up for paranoia.

Right now, you can imagine that so so many people are already blaming Muslims and/or al-Qaida, and all without a second thought about all the havoc America has wreaked in the M.E., but just sheer victim complex, much like Japanese belly-aching about Hiroshima and Nagasaki without a thought about Nanking and Pearl Harbor (not that I remotely think one justifies the other, but you do need a little context).

I too am going to guess domestic, but, even if it is, Americans will look for ANY angle to make-believe its foreign, such as if the bomber is second generation American or something or is of a "foreign" religion such as Islam.

And like I am suggesting, even if this is another one-off event, the people and the government will act like we are under massive attack. Gun sales will go up and new laws will be enacted, and all that will happen is that freedom will be traded for weapons, more paranoia, and security, but the security won't actually come.

Why people are so quick to rule out false flags though, I am not 100 percent sure. Its completely stupid though, considering how much its proven how some in the government lie their @$$es off, and how we don't know the half of it, and how these people just keep silently slithering away and getting rich off of what they did.

It well beyond the point that assuming a false flag even when wrong would actually be beneficial. Always assuming its NOT a false flag has given us lies and war and a police state.

And I have not read anything beyond headlines concerning this yet. My mind is open. But I can tell you right now that if I was in America, I would be more afraid of the government and the police and my neighbors' gun stock piles than I would of being the victim of a terrorist attack, foreign or domestic.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Okay, I read an article. The press does not know anything. Could be proper terrorism by a group with a message or revenge in mind, could be a false flag, could be some loony with a grudge against Boston or the marathon or an even more random loony. I would not jump to any conclusions at all, but if had to bet, I would bet domestic. And if not? Chickens came home to roost, and I am sorry they roosted on an 8 year old boy whose brainwashing was not even complete yet instead of GWB who deserves to die painfully.

BTW, I don't always agree with Alex Jones, but I often find myself not necessarily disagreeing either, not that I have seen much of him actually. But my impression is: I think we need more like him and fewer like Rush Limbaugh. Also I think Alex's conclusions are usually rational even if there is not quite enough evidence to make it proven beyond a doubt.

 

[hideway]

Why not just wait until we know anything at all about the perpetrators of the attack before we start making wild assumptions.

 

[nahadef]

Why not just wait until we know anything at all about the perpetrators of the attack before we start making wild assumptions.

Because that's not how American politics and media works.
After shootings and 9/11, people cry "too soon," but often it's too late when people actually start discussing it.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Just saw on Facebook............

they have made an arrest on the bombing. Be nice to see it solved quickly and everyone involved rounded up.

Uncle Frank

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Why not just wait until we know anything at all about the perpetrators of the attack before we start making wild assumptions.

I am not sure what sort of wild assumptions you are referring to.

About the perps?

Or about the outcomes?

Edit: Or perhaps the motives?

I promise you this...if we stop asking questions, we will never get any answers.

And also there is a difference between listing possibilities and suspects and making wild assumptions. Sadly people are not very clear about the difference.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

You know, there seems to be an unfornate tendency to believe and trust the authorities about just about anything, no matter how many times they are caught in a lie or say seriously ridiculous things (such as the recent FAT LIE that North Korea could miniaturize a nuke and launch it on a missile).

What I am thinking is that people err on the side of government and authority because they suppose they know what is going on, leaving only two options: its the truth this time or its another lie. Seems easier than sorting through a long list of possibilites. But it won't get you more truth, that is for damned sure. The mentally lazy are just a pack of fools.

If you want the truth, you are going to have to listen to Alex Jones and others and make a judgment call. I bet that will get you the truthmore often than just listening to the government, who may well hand us a fistful of lies about this attack in order to appear competent and in control.

 

[nahadef]

they have made an arrest on the bombing. Be nice to see it solved quickly and everyone involved rounded up.
Uncle Frank

Was that correct? I checked when you posted, then checked again now, but it seems they have descriptions, and not arrests.

All the same, I'm looking forward to the people being apprehended. With the look of the bombs (pressure-cookers), it looks to be very homemade. Luckily they weren't as successful as they wished, with two not going off.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Yeah, last I checked they had some video footage of a suspect and that was it.

 

[hideway]

With the rush to be the first one to report on some detail (like suspects or arrests) many media outlets have outright stopped checking and double-checking their sources before reporting anything.

Here is an example:
[video=youtube;YURf-kYTaVo]
(Reporting by The Young Turks - CNN clips with the false reporting of the arrest start at 0:34 in case you want to skip it)

As far as I know only the authorities only have not-identified "possible suspects" so far.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

It's obvious that all pressure cookers, ball bearings, and nails should be banned.

 

[nahadef]

It's obvious that all pressure cookers, ball bearings, and nails should be banned.

Exactly. This is absolutely the kind of mindless argument the gun lobby will make for a long time. A group of people were harmed and killed with something that wasn't a gun, therefore wanting to have assault weapons restricted is ridiculous.

It's a better argument than the one about cars killing people too, but still pretty ridiculous.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Exactly. This is absolutely the kind of mindless argument the gun lobby will make for a long time. A group of people were harmed and killed with something that wasn't a gun, therefore wanting to have assault weapons restricted is ridiculous.

It's a better argument than the one about cars killing people too, but still pretty ridiculous.

And it should be obvious why its ridiculous, but to so many people, it is not obvious at all. So I will make a couple explanations.

One is the simple fact that tens of thousands of people have been killed in America in the last ten years with guns. The number killed using pressure cookers, nails, and ball bearings or any combo of the above is probably under a hundred (not sure when the Atlanta Olympic bombings were exactly). Also, America has a very high murder rate compared to other developed countries. The primary weapon is the gun, and no, most people don't have the skills or patience to make bombs and won't make them for lack of access to guns in upwards of 95 percent of the time...obviously...as evidenced in other countries and by COMMON SENSE.

Next, just a couple days ago, a four year old picked up a gun and killed a woman in America. No four year old ever accidentally put nails and ball bearings in a pressure cooker and killed anybody.

But I am sure we will see more paranoia because of this and that will result on some new law restricting freedom somehow.

P.S. Unfortunately, I think Roland was being sarcastic. Also, I warn everyone not take the bait he put on the hook with the word "banned". So many of us support restrictions on guns but not a general ban on guns. If you take his bait, it will look like you support a total ban even if you don't, and we will wind up with a never ending tit for tat debate that goes absolutely nowhere.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

Okay, then. Let's not ban them. Let's register and license all pressure cookers.

Or perhaps we should ban murder. Your theory that but for guns people wouldn't kill people is interesting.

I agree it is mindless to want to ban something just because a tiny minority of owners use them to kill.

 

[Hezam]

After seeing the suspects pictures 99 percent of the comments in Aljazeera news website are :
" Thanks God they do not look like Arab! "

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Okay, then. Let's not ban them. Let's register and license all pressure cookers.

Lets wait until numbers prove an actual need. There is none at this time.

Or perhaps we should ban murder.

We already have. But it keeps happening. So we go further and restrict likely and common means of doing it.

Your theory that but for guns people wouldn't kill people is interesting.

Your habit of putting words in people's mouths is NOT interesting.

People will find other means, in ever diminishing numbers just for the sheer inconvenience. I know knife murders rank second to gun murders, but if only half of those who find they cannot get a gun thanks to better restrictions pick up a knife to commit murder, that will be a lot of lives saved. In fact, those people will likely fail, because its harder to kill with a knife. Suddenly you need the element of surprise or some advantage like tight spaces. Outside your prey might outrun you, and stuff like that.

But seriously, what is there to lose? Like I said, America's murder rate for a developed country is very, very high if not the highest, even per capita. America has absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I agree it is mindless to want to ban something just because a tiny minority of owners use them to kill.

Here we go with the "ban" bait again.

I don't know why you, a usually intelligent and sensible poster, has to resort to this sort of tactic to try and "win".

I do have some ideas though, and none of them are very complimentary.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

After seeing the suspects pictures 99 percent of the comments in Aljazeera news website are :
" Thanks God they do not look like Arab! "

Not so fast Hezam.

The suspect was described as a "white male with dark complexion or a Middle Eastern male with thick curly hair wearing a charcoal gray hooded sweatshirt ... possibly with an assault rifle and explosives."

Yahoo! News Canada - Latest News & Headlines

Not that he looks Middle Eastern enough to me to mention it.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

One dead , one still loose.

Lot of action trying to get the second bomber now in Watertown, Mass. Big search going on now. One private security guard at M.I.T. is dead, another MTA police officer wounded. Guess they threw explosives/hand granades? at the police during the initial chase and shootout. I'm betting the second bomber who escaped will end up killing himself rather than be taken alive. Glad I don't live in Watertown area right now, looks like a war zone during this manhunt.

Uncle Frank

 

[Mark of Zorro]

I am damned curious how they locked in on these two so fast.

And I am not going to be so quick to declare these are the right guys.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

From what the confusing reports have said.....

the two bombers decided to make a break for it from wherever they were hiding out. They robbed a 7-11 store and then hijacked a car. That got the police after them not knowing who they were. Apparently they kidnapped the car owner when they carjacked the vehicle. They told the car owner they were deffinately the two bombers and then let him go. The police cornered the vehicle and had a giant shootout with guns and explosives. One was shot and later died. The other hopped back in the stolen vehicle and rammed his way out of the police surrounding him and got away in Watertown , Mass. where they think he now is hiding out. That's about it so far.Everything will be speculation for a week or two probably till the finally figure all the real facts out. They have released the names of the two bombers. They are brothers from Chechnya who have been in the US for quite a while. The authorities have asked the whole city area of Boston to go into lockdown and stay in their homes until the second bomber is caught. That's like almost 700,000 people being asked to stay inside and lock their doors. All transportation like buses and trains/subways are shut down also. Pretty big reaction for one man. They are saying he could have people helping him , but they are not sure on that. I guess even the National Guard has been called out to help the police.






Uncle Frank

 

[nahadef]

Looking at the stories of the guys, it's pretty baffling. Two alienated Muslim Chechnyan guys. I can understand what they might find distasteful about life in America, but I can't understand their bombing choice.
Error | Click here to access images.

"Originally from Chechnya, but living in the United States since five years, Tamerlan says: 'I don't have a single American friend, I don't understand them.'"

"Tamerlan says he doesn't drink or smoke anymore: 'God said no alcohol.' A muslim, he says: "There are no values anymore," and worries that 'people can't control themselves.'"

Their bombing targets, while not religious, are probably about as decent as you could find in America. Marathon runners treat their bodies like a temple, and I'm sure they drink and smoke way under the national average. If they bombed a nightclub, it wouldn't be justified, but it would be in line with those quotes. There is still a lot not understood.

And Roland, we get it. You think this bombing is a reason for people to be able own AK-47s. Got it, and you illustrate my OP very well.

 

[undrentide]

After seeing the suspects pictures 99 percent of the comments in Aljazeera news website are :
" Thanks God they do not look like Arab! "

That reminds me of this article.
Sad.
BBC News - Boston bombings: Muslim Americans await bomber's ID

 

[nahadef]

That reminds me of this article.
Sad.
BBC News - Boston bombings: Muslim Americans await bomber's ID

And this
White Out: Media Heap Suspicion On Brown People In Boston Marathon Bombing
Shittiness all around.

 

[Hezam]

Seriously WTH ! They are still playing Tom and Jerrey !!
i'm laughing and im pissed off Lol
How ever i tried to find a connection between a person from Chechnya to " Bomb" a " Marathon" in " America" !!! i dont get it....i dont understand this.
I would understand if they bomb in Russia but America !?

The only thing that people here think about this event is that it's a dirty game to make excuse not to support Syrian people because there are "Terrorists" fighting the Assad with them, This is what people here are talking about now.

Thanks for keeping us updated.