Terrorism in Boston
OK — John Brownlee on blog.Wired.com has an article wondering if the Boston Toon Bozos were really such bad guys. Apparently Mr. Brownlee feels ‘In my book, someone being reasonable presumes they aren’t a hysterical moron, but I’m not really sure the state of Massachusetts shares my definition.’. Sounds pretty supportive to me.
Recall the placement if the devices. Putting the device on highway overpass support pillars, imitating placement of demolition charges, looks like terrorism to me.
Apparently both the manner of placement, and the discovery of a pattern of placements were sufficient to convince several reasonable members of the Boston police, fire, and other response and administrative agencies there was a risk and a danger.
I figure the terrorists had *at most* 15 minutes from the time the responses started to admit and claim responsibility, including full disclosure of all details, placements, specifications of the devices, etc. Waiting 16 minutes or longer was clearly a pattern of disrespect, arrogance, and intent to cause terror and damage. This was clearly an anti-social, criminal act. I vote for prosecution as terrorists pursuing a foolish agenda. It is their agenda that is foolish, not the terrorism they employ to gain their ends. The damage in this case may be limited to funds for lost work, for stress to response workers, and damage to public trust and public security. As well as inviting copycat bombers, with both fake and true explosives, to follow the leader.
I disagree with Boston charging the thugs with a ‘hoax’. The law I would use would be ‘terrorism’. No, there is no smoke and rubble such as the World Trade Center. But that doesn’t mean lives weren’t threatened, that life didn’t change for people, and that fear won’t affect the lives and actions of those affected for some time to come. And the reason for the act was to influence people. Using fear to affect and influence people — that is terrorism to me. Pretty clear and simple. Arrogant and disrespectful. Terrorists in every sense of the word. Bullies. Hang ‘em high.
It further occurs to me that these ‘toon’ publicity gizmos in Boston and elsewhere are public demonstrations (of stupidity in action? Electronic graffiti? plausible deniability for defacing pubic and private property? .. whatever), then the charges should include a criminal public demonstration or parade without a permit. One count for every device — consider the gizmos ‘float’ and the toon bozos and responding police as ‘assemblies’. At least one count per gizmo.
Hang ‘em high.