[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jodell8964', 'C')ould this possibly be another False Flag Event...

[Poordogabone]

I remember in the mid 90's after a series of explosions in Paris how they sealed over 10 000 street/subway trash cans.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'M')any other security measures are already in place in Paris. After the first -- and bloodiest -- bombing on July 25, police sealed trash cans in the subway system and increased patrols on trains. After a second bomb exploded in a trash can near the Arc de Triomphe on Aug. 17, most city trash cans were sealed.

[Beery1]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Poordogabone', 'I') remember in the mid 90's after a series of explosions in Paris how they sealed over 10 000 street/subway trash cans.

[Shaved Monkey]

Locking trash cans isnt going to save anyone soon
We will only see an increase in indiscriminate killing of civilians when everyone has access to drones in the future.
and we know how indiscriminate they can be.

[Beery1]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('WildRose', 'M')y guess is that the person (or persons, at most 2) who did this are angry, screwed up people who did this to see what kind of damage they could do.

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Oneaboveall', 'W')hen it comes to corralling, pepper-spraying, maiming peaceful protestors or partying college students; enforcing potentially illegal foreclosures on behalf of banks, or seizing MLK posters from activists, our police forces move with a precise efficiency that puts the SAS and the GSG-9 to shame.

[steam_cannon]

A guy came into to work today and hadn't mentioned he and his family were going to the marathon. They were thinking about heading up farther, they knew a friend running who was a few minutes behind and he's an ex-reporter so he's pretty good at getting close to events. At the time they were only a block away from the finish line area when the first bomb went off and they were still around for the second explosion.

He said it sounded like a lighting strike somewhere close behind them (they were facing away), but that was wrong for the weather for lighting and everyone around was confused at first. He got some video and then they started walking briskly back to the hotel when the sirens started and it all started to sink in. He didn't see anything too odd, though he mention there was a strange guy who wasn't in a uniform telling everyone only VIP's can go up this way, if you're not a VIP then you have to go around the block some other indirect way. He mentioned a few times about how odd that guy seemed, but he didn't remember a lot of details about him. A lot of weirdness that day. He was interviewed and in the newspaper.

For me it was a surprise that someone next to me at work was there.

I also heard from a friend about a lady at work who was tracking a runners progress online who near the end seemed to be going in the wrong direction. Then some people came in the room and told her what was going on.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rockdoc123', 'W')hat was the rationale for that timing?... Perhaps the idea here was that by 4 hours you would hit the middle of the pack and have the most chance of getting more people in the blast radius?
seems like a weird statement being made in any event.

[WildRose]

I'm thinking that the person(s) likely tried it before, probably in a remote location, in order to be sure it would work as planned. And, if not caught, what then? An attack on a larger scale? A horrible thought, but possible as it was not a suicide bombing.

[jupiters_release]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jodell8964', 'C')ould this possibly be another False Flag Event...

[Cloud9]

I am old enough to remember that the champion of the war on poverty and the master mind behind the Gulf of Tonkin incident are the same person. A blind trust in government at any level is to overlook the fact that government is made up of men and women who have successfully climbed over their peers to the pinnacle of power. To pretend that they are not masters of manipulation is to overlook the obvious. To assume that they will not attempt to manipulate the public with this event. We already have Salon wishing out loud that the perp is some right wing white guy. That wish speaks volumes for the self loathing whites on the left.

[Ibon]

A few random thoughts that aren't really tied together.

The only value in opening speculation as to who done it at this early stage is that it gives us the opportunity to consider the big picture that drives groups or individuals to these extremes.

Far right or far left extremists or foreign terrorists? What are the factors that would bring any of these groups to these actions? Everyone has their favorite demon to bring forth at these moments.

One concern I have is the increased use of drone strikes that the CIA seems committed to with the support of both our last US presidents. Retribution can come home to roost.

We live in a world that will increasingly produce fanatical fringe elements. We can expect these types of incidences coming from multiple sources simply because we will see more groups and individuals marginalized or disenfranchised.

It wasn't that long ago that Americans for example were able to see the disenfranchised of the world as somewhere far away and it was easy to disregard disparities as being from some other far away country or culture. Now we are increasingly living in an era where the home grown fanatic and the foreign terrorist are equally likely candidates.

Except car accidents or the very rare jet airliner crash, gun violence or cancer we have become quite insulated from the random acts of violence. This was not the case historically when hunger, disease, working accidents, civil and racial violence was more common.

So these incidents are horrific because first of all they are by their nature horrific events but secondly because we have become so accustomed to the stability around us that random events just seem so deeply unfair and injust.

If you look within when each of these incidents occur you can find that grateful place, even if it is a little bit selfish, thanking god or luck that it wasn't you or one of your loved ones. In these early stages of dealing with random chaos we are very fearful. But with each act of nature or human violence we will slowly become accustomed to this and in doing so also appreciate every moment of every day you are spared.

I went to Colombia during the 80's and 90's installing medical equipment and had to go to Medellin and Cali and of course Bogota and I can remember how the culture became accustomed to the random acts of violence and kidnappings and how everyone just went about their normal activities with this background apprehension that ebbed and flowed depending on how recent events occurred. Colombia by the way today is far safer in most locations than it was back then.

We can make bold and strong statements about not tolerating these type of incidents but we can only do so much mitigation before the mitigation itself reaches a point of being intolerable.

This is a microcosm example of how part of the solution of dealing with the increased chaos is to accept the limits of mitigating against it.

[PrestonSturges]

People look suspiciously at the right wingers for three reasons:

1) Right wing web sites have been going crazy with their talk of a new civil war that just needs "a spark" to get going.

2) Every time there is a terror attack on American interests anywhere in the world, Republican politicians do their Al Qaeda victory dance.

3) Wingnuts commenting on this attack make asinine deranged conspiracy theory comments that are pretty much what you would expect from potential terrorists.

4) I have seen plenty of wingnut comments about how they need to learn to build IEDs so they can resist the government/UN takeover.

[steam_cannon]

It sounds like they found the bomber.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('press-citizen', '[')url=http://www.press-citizen.com/viewart/20130417/NEWS01/130417004/Suspect-identified-arrest-imminent-Boston-Marathon-bombing-case-officials-say]Suspect identified, arrest imminent in Boston Marathon bombing case, officials say[/url]

Investigators combing through photos and videotape believe they have identified images of a suspect seen delivering one of the explosive devices that killed 3 people and injured more than 170 at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, according to media reports.

[Cloud9]

Preston where are you getting your information for your 4th conclusion? I spend a lot of time with people you would deem to be right wing nut cases and none of them are talking about IEDs. Their concern is about pending gun abolitionists legislation and ammunition supplies.

[dinopello]

FBI Sez

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'C')ontrary to widespread reporting, no arrest has been made in connection with the Boston Marathon attack. Over the past day and a half, there have been a number of press reports based on information from unofficial sources that has been inaccurate. Since these stories often have unintended consequences, we ask the media, particularly at this early stage of the investigation, to exercise caution and attempt to verify information through appropriate official channels before reporting.

[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cloud9', 'P')reston where are you getting your information for your 4th conclusion? I spend a lot of time with people you would deem to be right wing nut cases and none of them are talking about IEDs. Their concern is about pending gun abolitionists legislation and ammunition supplies.

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', 'h')ow they need to learn to build IEDs so they can resist the government/UN takeover.

[Shaved Monkey]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cloud9', ' ') We already have Salon wishing out loud that the perp is some right wing white guy. That wish speaks volumes for the self loathing whites on the left.

[SeaGypsy]

Alan Jones is too stupid for words. A fuckwit for a fuckwit audience. The right does itself no favours in Australia having a moron like him for a spokesman. The green left coalition here has already shot itself in the foot with immigration anyhow, Jones makes no contribution of any value to the debate.

[Cloud9]

I'm not a follower of Glen Beck or any other radio talk show host. Guess I need to pay a closer attention. Food security and personal security are the primary concerns of people I talk to.