Bombs in Rome: Another Flavor of Terrorist

I'm no huge fan of meddlesome government officials. Particularly where personal freedoms are concerned. (See "FCC, the Internet, Regulations, Freedom of Speech, and a Ranting Lemming," Apathetic Lemming of the North (December 23, 2010))

And just now, as lawsuits seem to be sorting out what some judges think America's election results should have been - I'm not exactly on an emotional high, over this country's "constitution-based federal republic" with its "strong democratic tradition." ("United States," World Factbook, CIA (last updated December 9, 2010))

That said, I don't think anarchism is a particularly good idea. It seems to me that there's a reason why people, most of us anyway, have been tinkering with various forms of government for the last several thousand years - and not chucking the idea of having an organization with the authority to enforce rules. (see Princeton's WordNet: Government)

My opinion is that anarchy, like so many other notions, looks good on paper. In practice? I've suspected that Lord of the Flies is something of a best-case scenario. As I wrote in another blog:

"Funny, how when people are freed from the shackles of society - one of their top priorities is generally to find the shackles and get them in working order again."
("Haiti: Looting, Lawlessness, and People being Human"
Apathetic Lemming of the North (January 16, 2010))

Here's what got me started on opining this evening:

"Anarchists say they bombed Swiss, Chilean embassies"
USA Today (December 23, 2010)

"An Italian anarchist group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, the BBC reports.

"A note written on behalf of the Informal Anarchist Federation (FAI) was found on the clothing of a Chilean embassy worker. It read: 'We have decided to make our voice heard with words and with facts, we will destroy the system of dominance, long live the FAI, long-live Anarchy.'..."

Like I said, it looks good on paper, and makes good slogans: like 'down with dominance.'

Applied in the real world, well: I've opined on that already.

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

Offhand, I'd say that hurting folks by sending bombs through the mail isn't very nice. In terms of practical effects, it looks a whole lot like what many folks might call "terrorism."

Those parcel bombs certainly won't help steady the nerves of folks working in the mail rooms of Rome.

Are these anarchists Muslims? It doesn't seem all that likely: and their note seems to indicate that they're mostly interested in anarchy, not Islam.

So, about the recent bombings in Rome? Do I think:

• It's reasonable to call the perpetrators terrorists?
  • Yes
    • Although I might be able to come up with a nit-picking counterargument
• That sending bombs around in parcels and hurting people is nice?
  • No
    • Not at all
• Do I think such activity should be discouraged?
  • Yes

If that makes me a tool of the oppressors, or blind to the (potential) evils of having rules and the ability to enforce them: well, that comes with the territory.

Finally, I'm glad to read that nobody got killed in those attacks.

Somewhat-related posts:

• "Terror Bombing in Sweden: Troops, Cartoons, a Widow, and Questions"
  (December 16, 2010)
• "Who Needs Facts? Cultural Assumptions and Politics"
  (July 24, 2009)
• "Right-Wing Extremists Really Are Terrorists, Sometimes"
  (June 6, 2009)
• "Emotions, the Frontal Cortex, The War on Terror, Anarchists, and the Illuminati"
  (December 23, 2008)
• "9/11: Anarchist Conspiracy!!!!"
  (October 19, 2007)
  • No, I don't think so
    • Really
  But in makes a good story
  • In my opinion

In the news:

• "Anarchists say they bombed Swiss, Chilean embassies"
  USA Today (December 23, 2010)
• "Italian anarchists 'could be behind parcel blasts' in Rome"
  Jack Izzard, World, BBC News (December 23, 2010)
• "Italy: Bombs explode at Swiss, Chilean embassies 'seriously' injuring two"
  Adnkronos International English (December 23, 2010)

Test: Bombs Built in Government Buildings

A test of security at 10 federal government buildings in America ended with a perfect score. In all 10 cases, agents successfully carried bomb parts past building security, assembled devices in restrooms, and walked into several offices with the bombs in briefcases.

"Plainclothes investigators sent to test security at federal buildings in four U.S. cities were successful in smuggling bomb components through guard posts at all 10 of the sites they visited, according to a government report.

The investigators then assembled the bombs in restrooms and freely entered numerous government offices while carrying the devices in briefcases, the report said.

The buildings contained offices of several federal lawmakers as well as agencies within the departments of State, Justice and Homeland Security, which is responsible for safeguarding federal office buildings...." (CNN)

Two of the buildings were leased by the feds, the others were government buildings. All 10 were being protected by the Federal Protective Service, or FPS. These weren't low-value targets, either.

"...They included offices of a U.S. senator and House member, as well as offices for the departments of Homeland Security, Justice and State, the GAO reported...." (MSNBC)

The tests were made last year, the report released more recently. The Obama administration plans to reorganized the Federal Protective Service soon: this news won't hurt that effort, I think.

The Government Accountability Office, or GAO, conducted the tests.

It's Not Fair?

It's possible that the GAO security test had something in mind other than just doing its job. Anonymous "security experts" haven't always approved of the GAO's actions:

"...In the past, security experts have criticized some GAO investigators for publicizing sensational findings or 'sting' operations that are not based on intelligence-driven risk assessments. Investigators for the Congressional auditing agency stress however that they followed generally accepted government standards with this round of testing...." (MSNBC)

A few points to remember, though: This test was planned and conducted during the previous administration; Somebody needs to do quality control on government services; Fewer people get hurt if a GAO test finds gaping holes in security, than if a real terrorists puts a gaping hole in a building.

It's been 14 years since the Oklahoma City bombing and almost eight years since 9/11. People trying to use airlines have had to change their habits and submit to inconveniences - at best. Maybe it's time for the feds to do the same: before more people get killed.

Related posts, mostly about common sense and national security:

• "Statue of Liberty's Crown: Happy Birthday, America"
  (July 4, 2009)
• "Department of Homeland Security No Longer Fears American Veterans?"
  (May 14, 2009)
• "President Obama and State Secrets: It's Different, When You're in Charge"
  (April 13, 2009)
• "Change in Homeland Security: Don't Worry, Be Happy"
  (February 24, 2009)
• "Muslim Family Talks Safety, Gets Booted From Flight"
  (January 2, 2009)
• "Maryland State Police to 'Terrorist' Nuns: Oops, Our Bad"
  (October 11, 2008)
• "TSA: Our Tax Dollars at Work: Protecting the Flying Public from Nipple Rings"
  (March 27, 2008)
• "Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant: Security was the Pits"
  (February 28, 2008)
• "Pipe Bomb at Palo Verde Nuclear Reactor"
  (November 2, 2007)
• "NASCAR Cooties and Federal Intelligence"
  (October 12, 2007)

In the news:

• "Bomb parts smuggled into 10 federal buildings during test"
  CNN (July 8, 2009)
• "Investigators made bombs in federal sites"
  MSNBC (July 8, 2009)
• " 'Shocking' Security Breaches at Federal Buildings"
  ABC News (July 8, 2009)
• "GAO: Major security flaws found at federal buildings"
  USA Today (July 8, 2009)
• "Report: Probe found weaknesses in federal security"
  The Associated Pres (July 7, 2009)

Woodburn Bank Bombing - Another Arrest, a Few Answers

Why someone set a bomb that killed two police officers in Woodburn, Oregon, is still an open question.

But, something that's been bothering me was cleared up. The dead police officers had carried the bomb into the bank before it went off. That seemed odd: the best guess I had was that they were trying to minimize damage, in case of an explosion, to the one building. Turns out, I was wrong. KPTV reported:

"...Local police officers arrived at the Wells Fargo building, opened a garbage bin and spotted a cell phone on top of what appeared to be a package. Hakim and an FBI bomb technician were called. They examined the package and cell phone and determined it was a hoax device.

"Woodburn police searched the area around the two banks for other devices, and a green metal box was spotted next to the West Coast Bank building.

"Hakim, Tennant and Russell arrived at the West Coast Bank. After Hakim inspected and X-rayed the green box, he said he was 'confident that it was a hoax device and that it could be taken apart to be placed into evidence.'

"Hakim brought the green box into the bank to work on it, with help from Tennant and Russell, and it detonated.

"The court document clears up the mystery of why bomb technicians brought the bomb inside the bank -- because they thought it was harmless...."
(KPTV (December 16, 2008))

That makes sense:

• A device at a neighboring bank had been a fake
• Examination and an x-ray of the device at the West Coast Bank apparently didn't show that it was a bomb
• The police officers assumed that the West Coast Bank device was a hoax, like the first one

A curious detail is that the police linked the father to the bomb, through cell phone purchases. The father was too old to be the man in the security video, which was a puzzle: until investigators found out about the son.

This hasn't been a good day for the Turnidge family, with the arrest of

• Bruce Turnidge, father of
• Joshua Turnidge

Any one of the five possible explanations for who - and why - the Woodburn bank bomb was set might still be true. The more we find out, though, the less this looks like the work of international terrorists. I won't say it's impossible: just wildly unlikely.

Related posts:

• "Bank Bombing in Woodburn, Oregon: This is No 'Foreigner' "
  (December 15, 2008)
• "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:

• "Father, son held in Oregon bank bombing"
  CNN (December 16, 2008)
• "Suspect's Father Arrested In Woodburn Bombing"
  KPTV (December 16, 2008)

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

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.

Woodburn Bank Bombing Arrest - Fast Work

The headline tells pretty much the whole story: "Suspect arrested in Woodburn bank bomb case."

Sounds like more details, including the name of whoever was arrested, will come out tomorrow afternoon. Make that "this afternoon." I see it's after midnight here.

Related posts:

• "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:

• "Suspect arrested in Woodburn bank bomb case"
  Portland Tribune (December 14, 2008)
• "Arrest made in Oregon bank bombing"
  Associated Press (December 14, 2008)
• "Arrest Made In Woodburn Bank Bombing"
  KPTV (December 14, 2008)

Al Qaeda Behind Woodburn, Oregon, Bank Bombing? Not Likely

Woodburn, Oregon, has two dead police officers, a damaged bank, and a lot of questions this morning.

Bank Bombed: It Could Have Been Worse

A bomb went off at 5:24 p.m. yesterday, in a bank. It's open till 6:00, and if the place hadn't been evacuated, there would have been three to five employees, and maybe customers, there instead of the police chief, a police officer, a bomb technician from the state police, and two employees.

Cranky Customer? Mad Bomber? an International Conspiracy?

Law enforcement knows a little about whoever set the bomb: "...'That person is very dangerous and that person needs to be found as soon as possible,'...." Putting money where their mouth is, the FBI and ATF put up a $35,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible.

It's not at all clear who - and what - that is. It could be someone who wasn't satisfied with the service at Woodburn's West Coast Bank.

Or, maybe the target was the Wells Fargo bank, right down the street, and the bomber is directionally challenged. There had been a bomb threat at the Wells Fargo bank, too, and a suspicious-but-harmless package, earlier. So maybe both banks were being targeted.

Actually, there are quite a few possibilities:

1. Dissatisfied customer
2. Someone with a grudge against American banks in general
3. One of the bunch who've
   • Set fire to houses
   • Put spikes in trees
   • Burned a Vail, Colorado, ski resort
4. White supremacists
5. International terrorists

Right now, there's no way to tell. Option 1 is quite possible, and so is #2 - particularly with the high passions raised by the federal bailout of mis-managed financial firms.

Options 3 and 4 are not at all unlikely: Either banks involved might have made loans to 'one of those people,' or a developer of "McMansions."

Option 5 isn't impossible, but I don't think it's all that likely. It's fairly easy to suspect an Al Qaeda link in something like the Mumbai attack. But it's a long way from the World Trade Center to the West Coast Bank in Woodburn, Oregon. The town has a little less than 22,000 people: It sounds like a wonderful place to live, but it's not exactly a high-profile American target.

Terrorism: It's Not Just the Middle East

I've made the point before, that the War on Terror isn't limited to the Middle East ("Terrorism East of Lahore"). And, no group has a monopoly on terrorism.

Enough said.


View Larger Map

In the news:

• "Second officer dies from Oregon bank blast"
  Boston Herald (December 13, 2008)
• "Officer killed, police chief injured in Oregon bank explosion"
  CNN (December 13, 2008)
• "West Coast Bank's Woodburn West Branch is Damaged in Bombing Blast"
  MarketWatch (December 13, 2008)
• "No Suspects or Leads in Deadly Oregon Bank Bombing, $35G Reward Offered"
  FOXNews (December 13, 2008)
• "Bank Blast Kills 2, Injures 2"
  KPTV (December 13, 2008)

Background:

• Community Information
  Woodburn Chamber of Commerce
• "Welcome to Woodburn"
  "Part of the greater 'WWWelcome to Oregon™ ' guide to information and online resources about Oregon"
• "Ecoterrorism Suspected in House Fires in Seattle Suburb"
  The New York Times (March 4, 2008)
• "The Threat of Eco-Terrorism"
  FBI Congressional testimony (February 12, 2002)

Times Square Bombing: "We Did It" Didn't

Coincidences do happen, even incredible ones.

Looks like those "we did it" letters coming just before the Times Square recruiting office bombings is an example.

"Leads in Times Square bombing fizzle"
CNN (March 7, 2008)

" 'The letter's really innocuous,' New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told CNN's 'American Morning' Friday. 'It's really advice to the Democratic Party as to how to win the 2008 election.'

"The letters drew suspicion because they were delivered to members of Congress the day of the bombing and included a picture of the recruitment station with the words, 'We did it.'

"Kelly said the letter writer claims the picture was the writer's 2006 holiday card and the words 'We did it' referred to the Democrats' takeover of Congress in that year's elections."

I think it's curious, and revealing, that "really innocuous" advice to Democratic politicians, although missing a specific threat, looked enough like a terrorist's statement to warrant investigation.

On the other hand, yesterday a Republican sympathizer claimed that the "We did it" letters were some kind of Democratic plot. Turns out, he was right: in a way.

When we heard that investigators had cleared the author of those letters and/or manifestos, I was suspicious: American law enforcement is smart, and efficient, but that was extremely fast work.

Now, with more facts coming out, the decision to write off the letters as part of the recruitment center attack makes more sense. The 'campaign advice' interpretation certainly explains why only Democrats got the messages.

Meanwhile, at the Canadian border, there's another lead which may or may not have anything to do with the bombing. Three people were coming from New York to Canada last month.

"As the car was routinely searched, a backpack with pictures of New York, including ones of Times Square and at least one showing the recruiting station, was found. Canadian authorities also found some anarchist material...."

Here's a pretty safe prediction: This investigation is going to take a long time, and crazy claims will be made, by liberals, conservatives, and people who aren't even on that continuum, whose dedication to an ideology has trumped their reason.

Embrace Peace or I'll Kill You! Times Square Blast Linked to Peacenik(s)

Peace-loving bombers. Looks like they're back. One, anyway.

That explosion at a recruiting office in Times square this morning seems to be connected to the War on Terror: hardly a surprise, but other possibilities existed.

A handful of letters have been sent to Congresspersons. All of them Democrats, according to an unnamed police source.

"The letters sent to Capitol Hill contained at least one picture of the station, apparently before the attack, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told CNN.

"Police knew of fewer than 10 of the letters that had been received by members of Congress, a second law enforcement source said.

"The letters were all received by Democrats, another law enforcement source said.

"They contained a picture of a man standing in front of the recruiting station with the statement "We did it," according to an e-mail sent by the office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, and obtained by CNN"

There's more at the CNN article, " Letters after Times Square bombing claim: 'We did it'" CNN, (March 6, 2008): and more detail about the letters at "We Did It' Letters Eyed in NY Bombing" Washington Post (March 6, 2008).

A columnist (columnist, not communist) wrote, "... AP says manifesto was anti-Iraq war screed, 'Happy New Year, We did it;' Newsday: At least 10 got the package" - Michelle Malkin (March 6, 2008). The Washington Post's AP article was more restrained, calling what was enclosed with the picture, "approximately 10 sheets of paper that seemed to be a political manifesto railing against the Iraq war."

This sort of thing has happened before, in 2005:

• May, 2005: British Consulate
• October, 2005: Mexican Consulate (near there, anyway)

Those times, a cyclist was around shortly before the explosion. At almost exactly the same time of night - or morning - and the May, 2005, bomb was similar to the one that busted up the Times Square recruitment center.

There may not be a connection, but police have to consider the possibility that the incidents are connected.

I get the impression that it's not nice to remember the 'dark side' of the sixties. As someone pointed out (accurately enough), when the Army Math Research Center at the University of Wisconsin at Sterling Hall was bombed, only killed one person and injured four.

Besides, Dr. Robert Fassnacht was a physicist, probably in league with the military-industrial complex. Who knows, his superconductivity research might have been used to kill innocent Vietnamese babies, or something.

I'm disappointed, but not surprised, by what happened in Times Square today. For years, there hasn't been much more than a steady stream of vitriol from people who

• Hate war
  (a reasonable attitude)
• Hate America and/or the American military
  (exercising a right defended by the American military)
• Feel that it's the Yankees that who cause war
  (a debatable point at best)

With emotions whipped to a fever-pitch by the presidential election and the refusal of some American leaders to ignore deadly threats, I won't be surprised if there aren't more 'statements' like today's.

---

¹That may seem "obvious," but there were other possibilities. The explosion could have been:

• A mistake, where a dyslexic carrier delivered the device to the wrong address
• The last phase of a protection shakedown, directed at people living or working over the recruitment office
• A nefarious plot by the American military machine, to direct attention away from their demolition of the Twin Towers on 9/11 ²

Remember, I said "possibilities," not probabilities.

²I'm nowhere near 'intelligent' enough to believe that - but the odds are that this notion has already been serious posted.

Pakistani Government Promises Objective Investigation of its Involvement in Bhutto Assassination Attempt

Last week, Benazir Bhutto survived an assassination attempt that killed over 130 people in Karachi, a major port city in Pakistan. She was in a convoy, celebrating her return from exile. One reason for the high death toll was Bhutto's popularity. She and her convoy were surrounded by a crowd of supporters. And, at least one suicide bomber.

The Pakistani government has to investigate the attack: over ten dozen deaths in a major city, of a returning popular leader, with international news coverage, can't be ignored. My guess is that at least some in Pakistan's government would just as soon close their eyes and pretend the attack never happened. The October 18, 2007, assassination attempt involves some debatable judgment and odd coincidences.

• Bhutto refused government plea to take helicopter to Pakistan founder's tomb
  
• Bhutto's convoy took 10 hours to get through Karachi
  
• Street lights went out at sunset, giving attackers cover
  
• Phone service went out, preventing Bhutto's convoy from asking for help
  
• Bhutto went inside her armored vehicle shortly before the blasts
  
• Bhutto wants American and British experts to help Pakistan's government investigate the attack
  
• Pakistan's government
  • Refuses foreign help
  • Made an odd choice for chief investigator of the attack:
    a police officer who had been present when Bhutto's father was "allegedly" tortured in 1999
    (Bhutto's father was accused of corruption: presumably, that's why he was "allegedly" tortured)

Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said that the investigation will come to correct conclusions without foreign help. Or interference? "I would categorically reject this," he said. "We are conducting the investigation in a very objective manner."

Pakistan's government has evidence to work with:

• Photographs
• Pieces of vehicles
• Pieces of people
  including what presumably is a suicide bomber's head - somewhat the worse for wear, but recognizable

I don't blame Bhutto for wanting American or British experts to be involved in the investigation. First, they might have more experience and training that the local specialists. Second, they'd be good witnesses of the investigation: a sort of guarantee that facts get considered.

Pakistani politicos and others already have their own explanations for who's to blame for the bombing:

• Bhutto, who should have followed government advice, and taken a helicopter instead of driving through Karachi
• Bhutto's husband, who tried to blow up his wife in order to boost her popularity
• Elements in the Pakistani government, who don't want Bhutto to win upcoming elections

The idea of Pakistani government people being involved isn't as bizarre as it might seem. Mujahedeen groups, formed in part by General Zia-ul Haq to fight the former Soviet Union in Afghanistan, later helped form Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Pakistan leader Musharraf's religious affairs minister is Haq's son. The young Haq is one of the people that Bhutto is responsible for the assassination attempt.

It's a complicated situation, to put it mildly.

I think it's also a case in point for how we can't assume that countries in the Middle East and elsewhere are equivalent to America and other countries that enjoy the rule of law.

One of the most obvious differences is that here in America, politicos throw metaphorical mud at each other. Elsewhere, they throw bombs. Or, send young nitwits with grenades and suicide vests.

Related posts, on Individuals and the War on Terror.

Posts about Benazir Bhutto.

Bhutto, Bombs, and Curious Coincidences

The blame game has started, after the Bhutto Bombing in Karachi, Pakistan. CBS News said that it looked like Al Qaeda was gunning for Former (and maybe future) Prime Minister Benezir Bhutto, when they heard that she was heading back to Pakistan.

Baitullah Mehsud, a Taliban commander and bigwig in his tribe's territory on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border, said that he'd meet Bhutto with suicide bombers. That at least one suicide bomber had a blast in Karachi, an associate of his says the Taliban wasn't involved.

Bhutto thinks there may have been some combination of four groups involved in the attack:

• Taliban elements
• Al-Qaeda
• Pakistani Taliban
  (I'm not sure what the distinction is)
• "A fourth -- a group -- I believe from Karachi," she said

Sounds like the street in Karachi was a sort of shooting gallery, with bombs instead of BB guns.

Pakistani security types say that Bhutto should have stuck to their plan of flying to her speech by helicopter.

With 20-20 hindsight, it's obvious that a helicopter ride would have avoided the street-level attack. On the other hand, helicopters have been known to fall out of the sky, too.

It's 'way too early to know exactly what happened, but the Karachi police seem to be piecing together the evidence. There was at least one suicide bomber: a young man who first lobbed a grenade, and 22 seconds later blew himself up next to a truck.

The bomber's head landed near the rest of the wreckage, and was taken to a forensics lab. Karachi police hope to figure out who he was.

There was a police presence around Bhutto's convoy, including the van that helped shield her from the biggest blast. On the other hand, a broadcast news report said that there was a rather light distribution of police around the route.

Which might help explain why it took the convoy 10 hours to go through Karachi.

Bhutto didn't blame the Pakistani government, but said that individuals in the government might be involved. This isn't as crazy as it sounds. Karachi street lighting failed at sunset, and Bhutto's people couldn't call the national security adviser. Phone service wasn't working, either.

Sometimes conincidences are just that: "A sequence of events that although accidental seems to have been planned or arranged." (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition).

Sometimes, though, there are cause-effect links.

Pakistan isn't up to American standards of telecommunications, but they're not doing too badly in the major cities. And, one of the country's three international gateway exchanges is in Karachi - which shows that the major port city isn't a backwater.

Pakistan's national power agency, NEPRA, gives the impression that the Pakistani power grid is in pretty good shape. A claim I take with a grain of salt.

Just the same, I think it's odd that street lights go out and phone service failing in an Islamic country, just as the convoy of a woman who is likely to become president passes through town. With a light police presence.

Related posts, on Individuals and the War on Terror.

Posts about Benazir Bhutto.

Pakistan Politics: Bhutto Bombed

Good news:
Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, is alive.

Bad news:
Over a hundred people in Karachi, Pakistan, aren't.

Bhutto was on her way make a speech at the tomb of Pakistan's founding father. About 150,000 of her supporters were on hand, near her convoy. She had returned to Pakistan today.

In 1988, Bhutto became the first woman to lead a post-colonial-era Muslim state. She was booted out of office on corruption charges, re-elected in 1993, and booted out again in 1996 on - what a surprise - corruption charges. She's been living in Dubai since 1999.

I don't know whether there's anything to the corruption charges, or if it's part of the Stans' culture: a sort of post-election mudslinging.

Bhutto isn't exactly the Taliban's ideal of femininity. She studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Oxford, has an additional degree from Harvard University, doesn't wear a burqa, and led a Muslim country.

Twice.

Going on three times, if she runs in the next Pakistani election, and wins: both of which seem likely.

Back-to-the-seventh-century Muslims have many reasons to be infuriated with Bhutto. In this woman we have a woman who is:

• Educated
• Doesn't wear a burqa
• Has run a country
• Supports the war on terror

The Taliban, AL Qaeda, and like-minded Islamic fanatics will be solidly against Bhutto. That's as close to certain as things get in this world.

Parts of the press and academia in America have a tough decision now: Is Bhutto

• A brilliant woman, fighting oppression
  or
• corrupt puppet of a militaristic American administration

Maybe I'm being unfair.

In any event, I like to think that Bhutto's popularity - and Musharraf's apparent efforts to team up with Bhutto because of her popular support - show that the people of Islamic countries are ready to accept an alternative to jihadist leaders.

Related posts, on Individuals and the War on Terror.

Posts about Benazir Bhutto.

Star Simpson's Play-Doh: Poltical Statement, Prank, or Just Plain Stupid?

A MIT sophmore walked into Logan International Airport's terminal this morning, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. Outside the sweatshirt, she wore a circuit board, with some wires, and putty attached.

Then she walked up to an information booth, and asked about incoming flights.

Circuit board. Wires. Putty. That would get attention anywhere, but Logan is special. Quite a few of the terrorists in the 9/11 attack took off from there.

Authorities at Logan arrested her.

"She's extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used," the top police officer at Logan said. "And she's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."

The putty turned out to be Play-Doh.

A cable news report gave the punch line to this event. Star Simpson, 19, the Hawaiian MIT sophomore who started the excitement, says that she sees the device as a work of art.

All of which raises two questions:

1. What was she thinking?!
2. Does she know about the 9/11 attack, and the war on terror?

Then, there's New York's Columbia University, the ROTC, and a foreign dignitary. But that's for another post.

Most of the information here is from the Berkshire Eagle.