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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLawmakers suggest terrorism involved in Boston
WASHINGTON (AP) With little official information to guide them, members of Congress strongly suggested on Monday that the deadly Boston Marathon explosions were acts of terrorism and vowed to bring anyone responsible to justice.
"My understanding is that it's a terrorist incident," Sen. Dianne Feinstein told reporters, saying she had been in contact with U.S. intelligence agencies. Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said intelligence officials reported no advance warning that "there was an attack on the way."
Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, the senior Republican on the panel, issued a written statement that said, "As the evidence mounts that this was a terrorist attack, our intelligence and law enforcement agencies must do whatever is necessary to find and interrogate those responsible so we can prevent similar attacks."
The remarks stood in contrast to President Barack Obama's own brief statement at the White House, where he made no mention of terrorists or terrorism as a possible cause of the bombings.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/senate-and-house-mark-deadly-explosions
MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)A natural disaster?
SlipperySlope
(2,751 posts)By definition terrorism is carried out for political reasons. If the bomber was simply insane then it would not be considered terrorism.
MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)and thereby commit terrorism.
SlipperySlope
(2,751 posts)It isn't a matter of sanity, but it still comes down to knowing intent.
Hypothetically...
If a maladjusted teenager drops pipebombs in trash cans because he is thinks it would be funny, that is not terrorism.
If a maladjusted teenager drops pipebombs in trash cans because he is wants the United States to leave Afghanistan, that is terrorism.
Right now we know nothing, but the leading assumptions seem to be that this was either done by Jihadists or by Teabaggers. If either of those theories turn out to be true then this would be terrorism.
But if it was done by someone who was holding a grudge for being disqualified from last year's marathon, or someone who wanted school to be cancelled tomorrow so they wouldn't have to take a test, then it wouldn't be terrorism.
MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)pretty small, but, given our admitted lack of information there is a very tiny, infinitesimal chance that it's NOT terrorism.
also.
I'd say your example of the person holding the grudge would actually count as terrorism.
SlipperySlope
(2,751 posts)I'll readily agree that the most likely profiles for who did this would both fit the definition of terrorism, but still point out we shouldn't jump to conclusions without evidence.
As far as a disgruntled person setting bombs, I'm reminded of the school bombing in Michigan that killed 44. That bombing is generally not considered terrorism as there was no apparent political motivation (although even there a small minority still consider it to be).
I realize that quibbling over definitions is silly. What happened in Boston happened and what we call it doesn't change anything. It seems that the word "terrorism" has simply become too politically charged; witness the debate over whether the Fort Hood shootings were terrorism or not.
OnyxCollie
(9,958 posts)Bay Boy
(1,689 posts)...the question is whether it is foreign or domestic.
rdharma
(6,057 posts)Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)White House: Boston Explosion Appears To Be Terror Attack
The explosions that struck the Boston marathon on Monday "appear" to be to a terrorist attack, according to the White House.
"Any event with multiple explosive devices -- as this appears to be -- is clearly an act of terror, and will be approached as an act of terror," the official said in a statement, according to Politico.
"We dont yet know who carried out this attack, and a thorough investigation will have to determine whether it was planned and carried out by a terrorist group, foreign or domestic," the official added.
Addressing the nation on the attacks, President Barack Obama also urged the American people to show restraint before all of the facts have emerged.
more...
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/white-house-boston-explosion-appears-to-be-terror
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022679829
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)rightsideout
(978 posts)The Bengazi (however you spell that) blame game is starting to gear up again.
My thought is you can't say much if anything until you know more details especially during the "fog of war."
One thing's for sure, it was carefully planned. Who ever did this obviously studied the race and timing.
tularetom
(23,664 posts)Of course it's terrorism. Anytime a bomb is set off in a public place what else can you call it?
Of course that does not mean it's political terrorism of any kind. It may just be a nut with his own personal grudge.
What these politicians mean when they call it terrorism is that "mooooslims done it". And it may be the case that this was the work of fanatical Islamists. Of course it may also be some right wing nut pissed off about paying his taxes.
Nobody knows yet so why don't they all just STFU and let the investigations unfold.
Locut0s
(6,154 posts)Is it home grown or not. I suspect it is, though wouldn't be surprised either way.