Bumblers: the story changes…again
Early reports that the Boston bombs were set off by cell phones turn out to have been mistaken, and they are now thought to have been triggered by “line of sight” controllers from remote control cars.
Why might that be important? Well, this does not conform to the type of mechanism described in the article in “Inspire” that was widely thought to have been their online instruction manual.
Many other mysteries persist. For example, to whom was Tamerlane talking on his cell phone a few seconds before the blast? Unless I have the wrong idea about how cell phone records work, it seems to me that the authorities should already know the phone number (and approximate location?) of this person. Was it perhaps a third bomber? It’s possible, because no photos have surfaced that show either brother using a “line of sight” controller.
And what about the power of the explosives themselves? It would not have been easy for the Tsarnaevs to have obtained sufficient explosive material without help, a fair amount of money, and/or the ability to mill their own powder and a place to practice. All of these things point to the possibility of their having had assistance or at least confederates.
I’ve noticed that around the blogosphere there’s a fairly prevalent attitude that the Tsarnaev brothers were incompetent bumblers. Yes, they made quite a few errors after the bombings, errors that resulted in their capture. But they avoided making the biggest error of all (from their point of view, anyway): blowing themselves up before they even got to plant their deadly packages. They also avoided the second biggest error: making a dud bomb.
Doesn’t sound so very bumbling to me, by the usual standards. It puts me in mind of the first WTC bombing, which killed “only” six people and injured about a thousand, but in which the perps were considered almost comical by many people because of the way they were caught:
While combing through the rubble in the underground parking area, a bomb technician located some internal component fragments from the vehicle that delivered the bomb. A vehicle identification number (VIN), found on a piece from an axle, gave investigators crucial information that led them to a Ryder truck rental outlet in Jersey City. Investigators determined that the vehicle had been rented by Mohammad Salameh, one of Yousef’s co-conspirators. Salameh had reported the van stolen, and when he returned on March 4, 1993, to get his deposit back, authorities arrested him.
It sounds almost like a comedy routine, except there was nothing even remotely funny about the larger picture or about the 2001 re-do that was not bumbling at all. Quite a few people believe that had the 1993 bomb been placed slightly differently, the tower would have fallen back then (see this).
But those who have their reasons for trying to make us believe that we overreact to terrorism (i.e., the left) would like the narrative to be that most terrorists—except Bin Laden, whom the brave Obama killed—are idiots who are mostly good for a laugh, whether they manage to murder and maim people or not.
The cover up. The last part of the triad.
It’s maddening. It’s digusting. It’s hijab-ugly.
1.The policy of denial and outright aid.
2. The rationalization after attacks and attempted attacks occur.
3. The cover-ups (think Benghazi “what difference does it make? Think “workplace violence!).
And by rationalization I mean this rationalization:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalization_(making_excuses)
not this one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalization_(sociology)
which has been replaced by tribal and identity politics through leaders instituting emotional law (“pragmatic jurisprudence”) for rational jurisprudence.
Overreaction, had it a better, quippier, moniker would work as epithet. It seems the Right is always overreacting – to higher taxes, lower expectations, burgeoning welfare rolls, government intrusions, the DHS purchasing a billion rounds of ammo, TSA gropings, fondlings, irradiations; illegal immigrants, Islam, Sharia, beheadings, honor-killings, cultural equalitarianism, vibrant diversity, voter fraud, administration scandals, Benghazi, and of course Obama.
” . . . Bin Laden, whom the brave Obama killed.”
Oh, you do so make me laugh Neo!
That was a good one.
I think it’s entirely possible that there are 3 tiers, at least within foreign countries: recruiters and inspirers, facilitaters, and cannon fodder. The second group could train and provide some supplies to the third, but they wouldn’t really care if they got blown up.
Expat says it well. The facilitators include the Saudis and various rich liberals who we can’t punish because they contribute so heavily to our politicians.
If we (normal Americans) are going to seriously protect ourselves, we need to look our enemies squarely in the eye and do what is necessary.
Expat hits the nail on the head. I think frick and frack were cannon fodder. And just catching the cannon fodder makes the current adminstration happy, (it’s even better if they die), so don’t expect any (and I know you don’t) them to even make a show of going after the recruiters, inspirers, and facilitators. It’s too much work–and hits too close to home.
For those who haven’t seen Wretchard’s Three Conjectures, the link follows. Hard to see any holes in the track to inevitable catastrophe.
I’d like to suggest a domestic, rather than an international, trio of conjectures.
1. Eventually a tipping point in dead Americans from domestic terror.
2. The government is seen as either incompetent, only vaguely interested, or even suspected of complicity.
3. Civil disturbance against individual Muslims or institutions.
Only place for a change is the government’s competence. Yeah, me either. So 3 is inevitable.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22wretchard+three+conjectures%22&ei=UTF-8&fr=w3i&type=W3i_DS,136,0_0,Search,20111147,0,0,0,0
I agree with much of your assessment.
My one area of difference is that… When these guys pull off an unlikely event, then get caught? I honestly wonder if they aren’t turned over by their own. Why? Advertisement. An indirect sort of it. The ones who are caught are the ones who know the least. Plus, it often mostly ends the search? Dunno, just something vaguely annoying about the easy, or relatively easy, captures. And the speed of the process sometimes.
Line-of-sight? Blowing the “they’re just lone wolves” story all to pieces?
The most transparent administration in history is a.) a hot house of bureaucratic ineptitude, b.) trying to distract the public to further its PC agenda, or c.) a&b.
Andrew McCarthy: http://tinyurl.com/dxoho7q
Yeah, the wireless provider can pull the phone* records right off the switch (when they know within minutes/hours to check) and from the billing system later as well. In addition, the phone’s cell tower info is recorded (to determine location) However, the mystery man probably used a burner phone and then chucked it, so likely not much subscriber & good tracking info.
*This assumes that they recovered the brothers’ cell phones (which they probably did).
There’s speculation that gun powder from fireworks was used. A NH store owner reports selling a large quantity of fireworks to the brothers in February, according to the FBI. I don’t know anything about making bombs, so I’m just sharing something widely reported over the last three days. Nothing is conclusive at this point.
“or at least confederates”
Ya,sure, blame southerners. You yankees are all the same!
Best use of the word “carapace” ever:
“The whole point of the presentment is to get the arrested person out of the government’s clutches and into the Bill of Rights’ carapace.”–Andrew McCarthy
Thank you for the link, Parker. The revelations the information McCarthy provides are, well, maddening, disgusting, and hijab-ugly.
So many revelations, but here’s the one that really grabs me: It is the filing of the complaint, not the federal magistrate, which is the initiating event to get the arrested person out of the government’s clutches and into the Bill of Rights’ carapace.
Mike:
If you read the linked article, you’ll see that it dealt with the fireworks angle. Here’s the quote:
Using powerful fireworks to pack a bomb does not make any sense. And, although the powder used in fireworks is not the same as the powder used to load modern cartridges, that has not stopped some grave robbing politicos from calling for bans on the gunpowder many tens of thousands, myself included, use to reload. Never a Crisis Wasted should replace In God We Trust on the greenback. During the era of the messiah I trust DC as far as I can throw the Washington Monument.
sharpie,
I’m glad you found the link of interest. The McCarthy essay is a good example of what keeps me paying attention and trying to understand the events of the day and the larger history that unfolds before our eyes and ears. Its heartening to know there are people who are far more erudite than I. The same goes for our host and the commenters here at neoneocon. Everyday is a good day to exercise the mind, to question and seek.
Speaking of Wretchard, I read yesterday’s post.
In it, he quotes an editorial in the Washington Examiner:
(Emphasis mine.) This cannot be repeated often enough.
This order had to have come from the top; either Obama, Holder, or someone they appointed. It does not matter whether it was prompted by an innocent effort to purge the FBI of bigotry or something far more sinister. The end result will be the same: more dead Americans.
Personally, I’m firmly in the “far more sinister” camp. It makes no difference whether or not Obama is himself a Muslim. He is clearly on the side of Islam and is literally an enemy of America.
These kids did not act on their own. They were hardly “bumblers”. And the only people peddling that story are the very people who are working for the same proximate end as these bombers. That is, Liberals, all Democrat Politicians, the majority of the government bureaucracy including public employees like school teachers, and a high number of run-of-the-mill Dem voters.
The difference between the brothers and those who want to “fundamentally transform” America is a matter of method and ultimate end. But they both realize they must destroy before they rebuild. The two sides, of course, will go head-to-head apres le deluge. They are both predicting swift victory in that one.
But until then they are effectively allies and you will get not a thimble’s full of truth out of either of them.
It’s all for the cause baby.
“apres le duluge”
ceux qui noient le rassemblement la lame et les chutes sur tous.
Here we are, another Saturday night on earth. We are born through the pain of our mothers and the anxiety of our fathers. We grow, we live, we begat, we suffer, we experience joy and anger, and we persevere until we no longer breathe the atmosphere and p*ss water.
http://tinyurl.com/cqte2o4 dites-ainsi nous tous
All around the planet there are angels and demons; same as it has ever been. We love, we are loved and we are loved in return. I’m a sentimental man.
http://tinyurl.com/ckrvm2t Its not about the stars above, its about what we hold in our hands, what we sense with scent, taste, and skin. Life is good.
The remote control, I understand, was that of a RC car/airplane toy which use radio waves just like your remote car alarm. Actual line-of-sight isn’t necessary; all that’s required is to be withing range. I can arm my car alarm from my apartment 20 yds away and around a corner.
Obama and the media want us back in a pre-9/11 mentality. And, as far as they’re concerned, we are.
“Never a Crisis Wasted”?
I propose a better one: “Let No Innocent American Escape.”
I read the article on the 1993 bombing: I hadn’t realized it was so HUGE. Over 1,300 pounds of explosive. These murderous bastards are so evil it staggers the mind.
EVIL.
Bomb making isn’t rocket science. Ask half of typical American boys that grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. We loved to blow stuff up. Just not people. You could probably make bombs of similar power to those in Boston by simply using the tips of a few thousand white tip matches.
The materials will always be with us. The problem is the minds of people that are full of hate.
Any time innocent limbs are ripped off, the word “bumbler” is inappropriate. Whoever makes that claim is tone deaf and sorely lacking in human compassion towards the victims.
As so many here have pointed out the inconsistencies with the “line of sight” theory, and asked obvious questions about the phone records, we can probably expect a new fib next week.
I read on a blog recently, maybe this one, that people in general are a lot smarter about terrorism and investigative thinking because of the proliferation of terrorism and television documentaries breaking down the methods they use and how they get caught. Makes sense, and poses a problem for the lie generators, who can’t think them up fast enough before they are shredded by thinking people. Combined with information being exchanged instaneously among people globally, a lie that goes around the world is followed just as quickly with questions and skepticism. In this age, Truth is a lot faster to put its boots on.
At least it is interesting to watch this administration try to “manage the information” (PC term for lie) it releases, and see who the real bumblers in this farce are.
Parker- if you’re still looking – I want to take up reloading – I have all the tools and dies, but no experience. Any books or websites you can recommend?
I bought “The ABCs of Reloading”, but don’t know anyone personally who reloads. My father and his father did but they are long gone, all that’s left are the tools.
If Neo will give you my email address, that might be easier.
Thanks
Do I trust what the administration and the various alphabet agencies tell me about the Boston Marathon bombers?
Not after Benghazi, no. By choosing to be completely absent during the 7+ hour attack, Obama wrote off the lives of 30+ Americans (and an Ambassador) as casualties while they were still very much alive and fighting (or fleeing). He and his team crafted a story & talking points about it being caused by an obscure video, and not 9/11 or terrorism within hours.
Not only do I not trust him or members of his admin. to tell the truth about any terrorist attack, I don’t even believe he feels much responsibility for protecting American lives. At least not more than he cares about covering his own derriere.
The fact that the Tsarnaev brothers were probably not rocket scientists (literally or figuratively) is not at all inconsistent with the fact they were dangerous terrorists. In fact such people are often chosen by others to be the direct perpetrators for precisely the reason they are naé¯ve and easily manipulated. The nadir of this was several years ago when the Palestinians sent a retarded teenager on a suicide bombing mission. Luckily the nasty ol’ IDF discovered him, disarmed him – and sent him home.
“… the left) would like the narrative to be that most terrorists … are idiots who are mostly good for a laugh, whether they manage to murder and maim people or not.”
And all you can do about it is laugh back, but then you realize the satire is too close to reality to be funny:
The FBI Investigates the Boston Marathon Bombing, from Latma, the Israeli right-wing satire show.
High-larious, Ziontruth. I laughed out loud.
Ziontruth; That IS funny, and I think sadly it does sometimes seem to be the truth. Which is scary.
The piece makes you laugh until you consider that really isn’t that much different; then you cry.
That was great, ziontruth. Somehow I doubt that American comedy shows like Saturday Night Live will be doing a sketch like that anytime soon.
Gates of Vienna calls it the JIM phenomenon.
The three monkeys can’t see Jihad, hear Islam nor speak of Muslims.
=========
It’s a truism of modern war to not deliberately engage multiple enemies at once. (Two front wars)
The ummah skirmish in the ancient (Neolithic) way — fighting all, all the time; in every direction, without direction.
It’s so old it’s new again.
From the Daily Beast:
And yet, though there is no universal terrorist personality, nor has a single, broadly applicable profile ever been produced, there are things we do know. Terrorists are generally motivated by a profound sense of (albeit, misguided) altruism; deep feelings of self-defense; and, if they are religiously observant or devout, an abiding, even unswerving, commitment to their faith and the conviction that their violence is not only theologically justified, but divinely commanded.
Hain’t that what they all call a parody? Yuse means to tells me theys people belief that shit?
Goofy, ain’t they?
expat said, “I think it’s entirely possible that there are 3 tiers, at least within foreign countries: recruiters and inspirers, facilitaters, and cannon fodder.”
Yep, and we can keep killing/capturing the cannon fodder for the next 100 years. It won’t do much to stop the war. We have to go after the facilitators (money sources) and the recruiters/inspirers (imams & madrassas).
However, lee says, “And just catching the cannon fodder makes the current adminstration happy, (it’s even better if they die), so don’t expect any (and I know you don’t) them to even make a show of going after the recruiters, inspirers, and facilitators. It’s too much work—and hits too close to home.”
Just so, lee, just so.
Thanks for the laugh ziontruth. Maybe they will do a sequel, with the FBI giving Tamerlan’s diary back to his distraught mother as a show of international goodwill.
Wikipedia loves Islam. Notice how it so gently, almost lovingly, explains the hijab:
“a veil which covers the head which is particularly worn by Muslim women beyond the age of puberty in the presence of non-related adult males. It can further refer to any head, face, or body covering worn by Muslim women or men that conforms to a certain standard of modesty.”
Ohh, how lovely. Modesty. Yeah.
Wikipedia continues:
Although the Qur’an stresses modesty, it does not specifically require women to keep their heads or faces covered. In fact, the Qur’an never explicitly uses the term hijab in reference to body veiling in any context, instead utilizing the words khimÄr (خمار) and jilbÄb (جلباب), not hijab. Hijab or (Hejab) refers to The Rules of covering up. It never references the specific item or items of clothing used to cover up.
Ohh. How lovely. Modesty. We all like modesty, don’t we.
Wikepedia continues:
“Islam does not promote celibacy; rather it condemns premarital sex and extramarital sex . In fact, according to Islam, marriage enables one to attain the highest form of righteousness within this sacred spiritual bond.”
Am I getting a whiff a apologetics, here. It’s that phrase “in fact” which tips me off. One uses the phrase “in fact” to set off an incorrect view.
In fact, Wikipedia apologizes all the time for Islam. Notice this whiff regarding celebacy:
“In fact, according to Islam, marriage enables one to attain the highest form of righteousness within this sacred spiritual bond.”
Really. Kind of different than that celibacy which enables Catholic priest to bugger children, huh? Yeah, just a little bit.
Finally, note the gorgeous creature wearing a hijab:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Palestinian_women_with_hijab.jpg
Notice how the face is tilted forward to deemphasize the hijab.
Here’s a better representation:
http://hotair.com/
Scroll down to see the lovely Mrs. Tsarnaev. Is there something about the hijab that concentrates mass in the lower half of the face. Kind of like a bulldog?
Here’s a line of sight that will put you off your dinner.
http://www.drudgereport.com/
Wouldn’t a remote control come in handy to turn that off?
Modesty thy name is hijab. Snort!
Snort, breath in, and guffaw.
Sharpie…
Your pal ‘Arabstinian’ has enough make-up to qualify as a ‘painted lady’ in the West.
In fact, the typical Arabstinian’s only make-up is a styptic pencil — to compensate for all of the flying fragments so common in the air pollution there.
southpaw,
Start with your press and dies, and what caliber/s you want to reload. There are a variety of reloading tables depending up caliber. Buy used or new brass (if you can get it), buy the appropriate primers, a variety of bullet weights, and a couple of recommended powders. Follow the reloading tables and start with mild loads. Slowly work up to more powerful loads. Keep records of how your loads preform. Borrow a chronograph. After a while you will discover which recipe works best to perform the function you want your loads to achieve. Target practice, hunting loads, and those loads that produce the best accuracy.
This can take a lot of time and patience, but after a while you will discover what loads get the most from your particular firearm. The beauty of reloading is you will eventually determine what functions best in a particular rifle or handgun.
I reload 8MM Mauser, 357 Mag, and 38 Special. I have, through trial and error, discovered what loading recipes best fit my arms. I have a FMJ load and a soft point load that get the best performance from my Mauser. Same goes for +P 38 load, and my 357 Mag. I have loads for my 357 that are practice loads, hunting loads fully capable of harvesting deer at 50-75 yards, and load that is best for stopping 2 leg predators in their tracks.
It a meditative practice. However, if you’re only interested in developing loads for a .223 it will be rather simple. Find the load (bullet) and powder charge that best performs the task you want to fulllfill with our rifle. Once you find that, stock up on componets to replicate that load and crank then out to you heart’s contentment.
I use RCBS Pro 2000 press and it never fails as long as I am attentive. It won’t crank out thousands per hour room be hour, but with practice it can crankfe out 100s per hour of high quality ammo to feed your freedom stick.
Parker —
Thanks! I hope to reload the .260 Remington I just bought. Factory ammo isn’t plentiful, and it’s at least $2/round. Plus most of what you can get your hands on doesn’t take advantage of its potential. Definitely the .223 and probably the .270. If I don’t sell it, maybe the 7-30 Waters. That’s a really nice rifle but you can only get ammo by order, and I don’t know how much longer it will be available.
” It would not have been easy for the Tsarnaevs to have obtained sufficient explosive material without help, a fair amount of money, and/or the ability to mill their own powder and a place to practice”. I think I recall that the bombs had about 6 pounds of powder apiece, which they obtained from fireworks. Hmmm, black powder is available at any gun shop, and (I just checked) costs about sixteen dollars a pound. Pretty cheap and easy.
Life imitates art:
Is Army career over for radical Islam academic?, from Washington Times, hat tip to the American Thinker.
That Latma video scene having the FBI agent arrested by his colleagues just for saying “Muslims” doesn’t look so far-fetched.
Surellin: read the linked article, which explains the reasoning behind the statement.
It would not have been easy for the Tsarnaevs to have obtained sufficient explosive material without help, a fair amount of money, and/or the ability to mill their own powder and a place to practice
Not true…
Its very easy todo such
You ever try to buy a pound of black powder or dynamite…
Tge hard part is to not leave a trail…
Aquisition or creation is easy
Impossible to stop jnless the population is mentally crippled like vodka pickled soviets
The Left needs to coerce Americans into maintaining the belief that most of terrorism comes from domestic American groups: like Christians, right wing militants, gun armed mobs, and Sarah Palin.
Only in this way, can they acquire enough power to crush human resistance to their rule. They plan to deal with Islam after they have won.