Bank Bombing in Woodburn, Oregon: This is No 'Foreigner'

It's still anyone's guess, why a "suspicious device" was planted at the Wells Fargo bank in Woodburn, and a lethal bomb at Woodburn's West Coast Bank.

But someone's been arrested. His name is Joshua Abraham Turnidge. He's a "32-year-old Salem man whose family has deep roots in the area...."

Assuming this is 'Whodunit,' What's the motive?

The county District Attorney isn't talking about motive, or whether anyone else may be involved, which isn't all that unusual at this point in an investigation. And there still aren't many clues in what's been published.

Of the five sorts of suspects I discussed on Saturday, "International terrorists" looks even less likely than it did then. Assuming that he's the bomber, Mr. Turnidge could be anything from a dissatisfied customer to someone wanting to save the Washington ground squirrel from evil developers.

What's This Got to Do With the War on Terror?

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language says that terrorism is: "The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons."

By that definition, the bank bombing in Woodburn, Oregon, is almost certainly terrorism. The odds are pretty good that a virulent strain of Islam isn't involved, but Timothy McVeigh was no Muslim, either.

I'll probably keep following the Woodburn bank bombing, since it is very likely an example that a terrorist may be a 'regular American.'

Related posts:

• "Woodburn Bank Bombing Arrest - Fast Work"
  (December 15, 2008)
• "Arabs Bombed Woodburn Bank? Get a Grip"
  (December 14, 2008)
• "Al Qaeda Behind Woodburn, Oregon, Bank Bombing? Not Likely"
  (December 13, 2008)

In the news:

• "Woodburn bank bombing suspect arrested; police still seek tips"
  The Oregonian, via OregonLive (December 15, 2008)
• "Arrest made in Oregon bank bombing"
  CNN (December 15, 2008)
• "Bank Bombing Suspect Identified"
  KPTV (December 15, 2008)

Related posts, on tolerance, bigotry, racism, and hatred.