Boston Marathon hit by explosions

[Tyrannical]

It's a shame Russia wasn't more successful in Chechnya, as only a thorough cleansing of Islamic influences will fix it.

Ethnic cleansing, it works bitches!

No one said ethnic anything, this time

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It's a shame Russia wasn't more successful in Chechnya, as only a thorough cleansing of Islamic influences will fix it.

Ethnic cleansing, it works bitches!

No one said ethnic anything, this time

You did.

[sandinista]

Of course Sandi types have brought up US/western military action overseas and how it surely must create more terrorists than it destroys, etc (though I kinda doubt these guys were personally pissed about that).

I never said I thought this had anything to do with US foreign policy. Not sure if that's what you are trying to insinuate.

[Cormac]

Thy blanket is wet.

Shouldn't it be "thine"?


But with the thrust of your assertion, I really agree.

[JimC]

Of course Sandi types have brought up US/western military action overseas and how it surely must create more terrorists than it destroys, etc (though I kinda doubt these guys were personally pissed about that).

I never said I thought this had anything to do with US foreign policy. Not sure if that's what you are trying to insinuate.

But do you in fact think that? At least in part?

Because it's not something to dismiss out of hand...

[Cormac]

We need, no doubt, to analyse possible factors that generate terrorist acts. Sandinista and others on the left, from 2001 onwards, have brought up US and/or western military actions overseas, particularly in Islamic countries. There is little doubt that recruitment into terrorist activities has been facilitated and increased; every drone strike into Pakistan that kills women and children is a potent recruitment poster...

But some, a little like mistermack with his ancient tales from the troubles, imbue possible causes with an emotion dangerously close to satisfaction, a kind of "sow the breeze, reap the whirlwind" with extra helpings of schadenfreude...

We need some degree of separation; the condemnation of acts of terrorism such as in Boston should not be undermined with "your turn now" ugliness.

But neither should we stop at least questioning, and more probably opposing the unethical use of military power in its current US form, with its callous disregard for the lives of civilians caught in the drone missile crossfire.

And for those who complain that so much media focus has been on this appalling attack, when worse attacks happen everyday of the week elsewhere which get little or no coverage. The difference is that moat people on this site alone could very easily be directly connected to people caught up in THIS attack, which makes it a lot more personal. As we know, one member IS directly connected to the little boy who was murdered. I have neighbours from here in rural Ireland who were running. I'm sure I'm not the only one from this side of the Atlantic either.

It was closer. The media attention, in this case, was warranted.

[Cormac]

Maybe the US should invade Chechnya and bomb the rubble there to send a message, though?

Not a good idea. It is Russia's military playground, where attrocities such as these are carried out by Russia regularly.

[JimC]

Agreed.

[Cormac]

It'll be interesting to hear what, if anything, the kid says now that he's in custody.

In the meantime, people are just projecting their own belief systems onto what this kid's motivation might have been. Of course Sandi types have brought up US/western military action overseas and how it surely must create more terrorists than it destroys, etc (though I kinda doubt these guys were personally pissed about that). Of course mistermack, having a thing about the IRA, brings up the historical footnote of the IRA drawing some of its US funding from the Boston area and sports a reap-what-you-sow sort of schadenfreude (which says nothing about Boston and less about these bombers, just about mistermack). And since it hasn't been mentioned yet, I'll sum up one right-wing line of thought I've heard from somewhere (which I do not really agree with either): these guys, like many Chechens, were frustrated with the lack of intervention or even interest from the US on behalf of their country's struggle against harsh Russian occupation, and they sought some combination of revenge and attention for their homeland's plight. Or, it might be something else entirely.

How about we just wait to hear what the young jerk has to say for himself?

[JimC]

Maybe the US should invade Chechnya and bomb the rubble there to send a message, though?

Not a good idea. It is Russia's military playground, where attrocities such as these are carried out by Russia regularly.

To the Islamic fundamentalist mindset, Russia, the US, the West all blend into one, a set of infidel enemies to be struck down without mercy...

[JimC]

There seems to be a phenomenon of second generation migrant radicalisation in many places in the west...

Real or not?

[sandinista]

Of course Sandi types have brought up US/western military action overseas and how it surely must create more terrorists than it destroys, etc (though I kinda doubt these guys were personally pissed about that).

I never said I thought this had anything to do with US foreign policy. Not sure if that's what you are trying to insinuate.

But do you in fact think that? At least in part?

Because it's not something to dismiss out of hand...

really too early to form an opinion.

[macdoc]

[Rum]

I almost laughed at the above, but a chill went down by spine before I could.

[Svartalf]

Damn eejitz