Remember
tonight -- because right now we do not know who did this.
The FBI has several unexploded
devices in hand, and my bet is they will have a pretty good line on the origin
of the attack very soon. Bomb makers have unique styles, almost like fingerprints.
In fact, the FBI may find finger prints inside. But we don’t have that evidence
right now.
The materials from the bombs will eventually
give us lots of clues as well. For example, many amateurs favor improvised
explosives like PETN, as opposed to military or even commercial grades of high
explosives. The pictures of the event (lack of blown out windows, etc.) seem to
indicate a low order explosive. But right now, we do not know for certain. One
early medical report indicated a lack of nails, ball bearings, marbles, etc.
which is surprising. A different report claimed that such materials, intended
to create shrapnel and casualties, were
in the bombs. More contradictory
information will come out before the truth emerges.
And so far, no one has claimed
credit. If past experience holds true, before
long, several fakers will claim they did it.
So there is a lot of evidence to go on,
and authorities will soon have some hard leads. But not right now. All we know
right now is that the attacker (attackers?) falls into one of several
categories:
1.
INTERNATIONAL
TERRORIST – which means an attack mounted from overseas by a foreigner and
concerning an overseas political issue. (Example: Al Qaeda, Hamas, etc.)
2.
DOMESTIC
TERRORIST – an American who mounted the attack from inside the US over an internal
/ domestic political issue. (Example: radical right, radical left, radical
environmentalist, etc.)
3.
HOME
GROWN TERRORIST – US citizen inspired by
overseas political issues, perhaps supported by overseas resources. (Example:
Times Square bomber)
4.
DOMESTIC
CRIMINAL – US citizen with a financial motive for the attack (unlikely in this
case, but it could happen).
5.
TRANSNATIONAL
CRIMINAL – International origin with a financial motive for the attack (drug
cartel, Russian mafia -- probably not in this case, but a growing concern).
6.
DOMESTIC
NUT (pardon the technical term) – US citizen with a personal agenda (Example: Uni-bomber)
Not only do we not know the
origin of the Boston attacks at this moment, but the situation is so uncertain
that no experienced analyst is willing to stake his (or her) reputation on a
guess. That is the part we need to
remember.
Because some political ideologues are
right now fairly panting at the prospect that the attacker might ultimately be
linked to their political opponents. Once the attacker is identified, these
opportunists will claim the link is the inevitable result of their opponent’s
political views, and use this to justify restrictions on political speech. And
thus the actual crime may be used as grounds for an even greater crime – the murder
of the right to free speech.
Of course, groups that espouse violence really
are dangerous and should be recognized as such. In particular, some
groups have declared war on America and the American people. We can’t just ignore
their threat.
But political disagreement alone does
not constitute a threat. This is a good rule to remember when the identity of
the Boston bomber(s) becomes known, and ideologues begin to argue that the
linkage to their opponents’ political ideas made violence inevitable.
Don’t over react. Don’t spend money
unnecessarily for the unnecessary consolidation of bureaucratic power. Don’t
surrender rights and liberties in the pursuit of perfect security. We don’t
know much tonight. But we do know these truths. In the coming days, it would
serve us well to remember them.
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