…Localized domestic terror? Could be. Lord knows Hillary and her pals have done their damnest to stoke the flames of anti-Wal-Mart sentiment, scapegoating a corporation that employs thousands upon thousands of people.
However, the fact that the explosives were placed in the toy and pet aisles—and that the attacks happened during one of the heaviest weekends for Christmas shopping—gives me pause. After all, domestic terrorists are generally savvy enough to know that targeting children and families won’t win over many converts to the “cause.”
Whereas some other terror groups…well, they find such targets optimal.
Full story here.
(h/t STACLU)
I’m sure we’ll hear the followup either way. But what a way to inflict terror. Wal-mart, of all things.
There’s an update at the first link. two 15 year old boys were arrested Saturday evening and released to their parents Sunday morning. link.
oh, STACLU also has an update posted.
FoxNews says that two teenagers were charged with setting off the bombs. Plus setting 3 others that did not detonate.
Perhaps they were protesting not getting the latest playstation. Or hate the commercialization of Christmas. Or they are young idiots with no sense of morality.
Take your pick.
And they’re right on the case too:
In maine.
Deja vu!
Which regularly re-elects the RINO Susan Collins, ya twit.
Oh, I know. And Stop the ACLU is rooting out the liberalism. In a Maine wal-mart.
But you know, teenagers come in all faiths and colors. Maybe we should hold our conclusions, and continue our speculation for a while longer? Just imagine, the insight into our culture that terrorists would have to have to hit a wal-mart?
Sad and pathetic. I *still* hear that wind across empty coke bottle sound when actard attempts to rebut.
Get a refund on that fancy book larnin’, Actoid.
Sounds to me like a couple of hick kids.
Terrorism? I doubt it. Just plain old run of the mill teenage assholes.
Terrorists just knocked over my neighbors’ mailboxes. With cars. I called 911.
Asshole kids.
Hazmat on aisle 3 . . .
Who either (a) didn’t know, (b) didn’t care, or (c) didn’t mind how destructive those things could be.
The difference between (b) and (c) is the difference between destructive negligence and positive intent.
If those two phrases are, like, actual legal terms. I make no warranty.
Remember that kid out in the midwest a few years ago, with the pipe bombs? He was trying to make a smiley face on the map. Maybe these kids are just similarly boneheaded.
Possible. Even probable.
Like I said in the post, the things that really gave me pause were where the timing and where the bombs were placed.
If this was to be terrorism relating to the GWOT, I figured it would probably be on the order of the shootings in LAX. In any event, what I wrote was as accurate as I could make it with the info I had. And I’m sure nobody here will dispute that Islamic terrorists (as opposed to say, ELF) find targeting schools, school buses, malls, etc—places where kids tend to be—well, let’s just say unproblematic. Because to do so would be to dispute the many many many many many examples that speak to that pattern and proclivity.
The real sad aspect of this story is the fact that kids as young as 15 display such a disregard for life…..And actus, give it a rest
But is it still Hitlery’s fault?
Maybe I’m a bit out of practice, but I couldn’t find where Mr. Goldstein mentioned color or faith.
So actus, I can only assume from your comments that the word “terrorist” paints a picture in your smallish brain (which, by the way, must be encased in the densest, most impenetrable bone structure on record).
I, on the other hand, view all teenagers as borderline terrorists, and I am prepared with my patented scruff-o-the-neck move for any who cross me. And that means you too, actus.
Jeff, thinking upon it, I’d speculate that these kids are “playing terrorists”. They planned and executed a terrorist-style operation, including target identification (I assume that they conducted surveillance, or at least recons), weapons selection, and execution. It’s fairly clear that the only reason more people weren’t injured (or killed) is because they untrained and inept (witness how they were caught).
This begs the question of “Why?”
What with the profusion of the results of terrorist bombings in the media, the impacts of setting bombs off anywhere near people ought to be obvious. That they deliberately and methodically did so indicates that they are amoral, and were not concerned with the consequences. Or were not concerned to worry that there might be consequences.
I don’t think they were stupid, not in the intelligence sense. Cleary, they had enough smarts to work out a (poor) plan, build simple bombs, and then place them. Stupid in actions, but probably not stupid underneath.
So, I think that the question really should be “Why are the kids amoral?”
Since lefties, er , ah, progressives, are nihilistic at heart, that might be the link of these kids playing terrorists to our “liberal” society. Not unlike that college party, where some idiot went as a terrorist, and everyone there (including the school president) thought it was “funny”.
Meh. Next thing you know, you’ll be able to buy the kiddies a ready made “Terrorist Toy Set” for Christmas, complete with AK47, face mask, bomb belt, and head chopping knife. It’ll be right next to the fireman and police toys. And probably at Wal-Mart.
Yet another reason to be concerned about those idiot non-unionized workers chained to the cash registers. I mean, isn’t anyone concerned about how they’re supposed to duck explosions?
Well, radical animal-rights people might well target the pet aisle – after all, pet-keeping is slavery, and humans are worth no more than any other animal.
And anti-human types like ELF (like your comment mentioned) might well attack the toy section, too.
It’s not like ELF is trying very hard to gain converts anyway; they have to know that their core message is fundamentally and permanently unpopular at the deepest level.
(Which doubtless helps convince them they’re correct – after all, there’s no chance they’re being suckered by populism!)
ELF, unlike muslim or anti-choice terrorists, tries to avoid harming human life. I don’t think they’ve ever taken one.
As a person who was once a teenager, I endorse that view wholeheartedly. I well recall the time… ummm, the statute of limitations might not have run out, so I’d probably better not go into detail.
Regards,
Ric
I once nearly burned down my family’s house. I don’t think I was a teenager yet, but I was precocious.