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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 05:05 AM Apr 2013

The "Facts" Keep Changing About the Boston Bombings -- And It's Fueling a Conspiracy Theory Industry

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/facts-keep-changing-about-boston-bombings-and-its-fueling-conspiracy-theory



Here are some of the biggest changes to facts released in this investigation:

Suspects’ arms – After the manhunt, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said the brothers were “ heavily armed” and numerous reports detailed a fairly extensive arsenal. According to a New York Times report from April 21 citing a law enforcement official, “The authorities found an M-4 carbine rifle … two handguns and a BB gun.” Now unnamed sources say there was only a single 9mm pistol between the two brothers. Indeed, photos of the shootout suggest only one brother had a weapon.

Boat gunfight? – Police initially reported that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev fired on police when they found him hiding in a boat Friday night. “ It was back and forth … yes — he was firing,” Watertown Police Chief Ed Deveau told CNN Saturday (though the FBI cautioned at the time that only federal authorities had official information). In its definitive “ tick tock” of the events, the Washington Post reported that the suspect inside the boat “was shooting back.” But later, the Washington Post and the AP reported yesterday that Tsarnaev was unarmed when police found him after what what was described as a gunfight. As it turns out, police may have been spooked by an errant shot, and fired into the boat, but apparently zero shots came out.

7 -Eleven and the MIT officer – Initial reports suggested the brothers tried to hold up a 7-Eleven, and then killed an MIT officer who either responded to the robbery or just happened to be in the area. But days later, authorities revealed that the holdup was committed by different suspects and the confusion was caused by the close proximity of the two events. It’s still unknown exactly why the brothers killed the police officer.
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The "Facts" Keep Changing About the Boston Bombings -- And It's Fueling a Conspiracy Theory Industry (Original Post) xchrom Apr 2013 OP
And? Behind the Aegis Apr 2013 #1
The report of multiple firearms found, and specifically named, was made up out of whole cloth. Demit Apr 2013 #4
And you know this how? Behind the Aegis Apr 2013 #5
Because they didn't exist. Demit Apr 2013 #6
Or as I said, it was "early reporting." Behind the Aegis Apr 2013 #7
Reporters report what they are told. Someone told them things were found that really weren't. Demit Apr 2013 #11
To some extent this is happening because the cops are not used to this level of scrutiny Fumesucker Apr 2013 #2
Yes - such events create absurdities by way of rumour, lies and inuendo. dipsydoodle Apr 2013 #3
I don't see how any of this matters if they have incontrovertible proof they did the bombings Turborama Apr 2013 #8
CTers find what they look for. Union Scribe Apr 2013 #9
well when you're a copper datasuspect Apr 2013 #10
Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2013 #12
DUer Woody Box was banned from DU just the other day... SidDithers Apr 2013 #16
Recommend jsr Apr 2013 #13
Stop watching CNN during these kinds of events. JoePhilly Apr 2013 #14
Very well put. AKA Chinese whispers a la US news stations. n/t Turborama Apr 2013 #15
My favorite conspiracy from Facebook... spinbaby Apr 2013 #17

Behind the Aegis

(53,823 posts)
1. And?
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 05:11 AM
Apr 2013

I fail to see what is so interesting. The facts are still emerging, many of the previous "facts" were wrong because of over-eagerness to "get the story." That this "inspires" conspiracies is just run-of-the-mill.

 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
4. The report of multiple firearms found, and specifically named, was made up out of whole cloth.
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 05:51 AM
Apr 2013

That's not over-eagerness. That's deliberate fabrication. You don't find that interesting??

 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
6. Because they didn't exist.
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 06:37 AM
Apr 2013

Unless you are suggesting that a law enforcement official specifically naming an M-4 carbine rifle, two handguns and a BB gun, then those items not being there after all, is some sort of accident or mistake.

Behind the Aegis

(53,823 posts)
7. Or as I said, it was "early reporting."
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 06:41 AM
Apr 2013

You are doing exactly what the article is suggesting; creating conspiracies. Notice the "law enforcement official" was never named. Perhaps you are suggesting that they are part of the conspiracy.

ETA: BTW, you never explained how it was "deliberate fabrication."

 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
11. Reporters report what they are told. Someone told them things were found that really weren't.
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:26 AM
Apr 2013

No, I'm not going so far as to create a reason for why that is. I am just noting it.

To your second point, surely you are aware that in recent years newspapers quote unnamed officials all the time. They "request anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on the record." I find that a reprehensible trend, but it is definitely an entrenched one now.

To your last point, yes I did. To say that you saw things—in such detail that you can name them, as the official did—and then later not be able to produce them as evidence, can't be accidental or some sort of mistake. It just can't.

I'm not arguing any conspiracy theories. I'm just marveling at how specific the initial information was that turned out to be not true at all.

Fumesucker

(45,851 posts)
2. To some extent this is happening because the cops are not used to this level of scrutiny
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 05:16 AM
Apr 2013

They often seem to say what makes them look best and 99% of the time they get away with it because they aren't in the glare of the spotlight or if they are it's only for a short while. This case is unusual and there's a great deal of interest in it so incorrect statements that would be overlooked in most cases are going to be pointed out in stark terms.

Bad habits can be extremely difficult to break, as most of us are all too painfully aware.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
3. Yes - such events create absurdities by way of rumour, lies and inuendo.
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 05:17 AM
Apr 2013

None worse however in this instance than the accusations leveled through social media at Sunil Tripathi.

Turborama

(22,109 posts)
8. I don't see how any of this matters if they have incontrovertible proof they did the bombings
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:01 AM
Apr 2013

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that the surviving culprit of the crimes is punished.

If conspiracy theorists are intent on making themselves look like terrorist apologists that's their problem.

Union Scribe

(7,099 posts)
9. CTers find what they look for.
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:06 AM
Apr 2013

That's all there is to it. What's funny is they never stop to wonder why the people running the conspiracy never get their stories straight right off the bat. That, to me, would sound more suspicious than the natural misreporting and corrections that always follow such a big operation.

 

datasuspect

(26,591 posts)
10. well when you're a copper
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:10 AM
Apr 2013

that's basically a free ticket to lie. a police officer is held in the highest esteem in the court system: his testimony is practically unimpeachable due to his standing as an information provider to officers of the court.

problem is, they aren't under international scrutiny like in this situation.

Response to xchrom (Original post)

SidDithers

(44,228 posts)
16. DUer Woody Box was banned from DU just the other day...
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 08:21 AM
Apr 2013
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=137491&sub=trans

And now you, someone who just joined DU, is linking to their blog.

Coincidence, surely.

Sid

JoePhilly

(27,787 posts)
14. Stop watching CNN during these kinds of events.
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:40 AM
Apr 2013

In the rush to be the first to break some news almost every news outlet takes ANY piece of information, regardless of how speculative and expands it as much as possible.

Here is what happens ...

Explosion occurs and we hear there are suspects. A reported asks if the suspects are heavily armed. An official says, we don;t know but at this time we are assuming that its possible. Another reporter writes "official says suspects are probably heavily armed".

The next reporter adds to it.

And in about 10 minutes, the media has talked its way into 20 guys with machine guns are definitely involved.

spinbaby

(15,073 posts)
17. My favorite conspiracy from Facebook...
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 08:41 AM
Apr 2013

No idea what the "secret war in Chechnya" is, but this has been popping up a lot on Facebook lately:

**MUST READ....He is brought to an Emergency Room run by Israeli doctors. It is decided because of the neck wound they "must" remove his larynx, and he will never talk again... How convenient for those who want him to shut up about his brother's ties to America's secret war in Chechnya, and their true role in the Boston Marathon bombing.

****THE NEW FACE OF TERROR OR NEW FACE OF INNOCENCE MADE TERROR****

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