Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

BTW. Happy Birthday Kim Il Sung. Not reading anything into it. Or not.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Certainly reminded me of IRA style of operations.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Pretty sure it was reported that they had the local area towers shut down, but then what is reported and what is actual fact are sometimes different. If they were not shut down it would seem to me to be a reckless error. Remote detonation by cellphone is an all too common tactic.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Agreed. It worries me if the current wackos are taking up those old tactics.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Aren't the towers owned by another company? Maybe the phone network operators feel the need to say nothing was shut down (by them)

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Verizon said the same.

Anyway, the death count has now risen to 3.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

With 20 - 25 people with lost limbs.

It's appalling. We tend to forget, in our security, that in some countries this sort of thing happens a lot.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22149863


I am not comparing one horror to the other - they are all horrible.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Horribly ironic really, considering the large Irish heritage of Boston.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

I'm guessing the Irish Car Bomb will not be on the local bar menu's for a while at least :/

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Of all the idiotic theories I've heard today, this one wins first prize.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

I can't believe you're making jokes about it.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Only heard about this a few minutes ago. Terrible news. Haven't read the whole thread but hope no one on here or friends were caught up in it. :fingerscrossed: WTF is the matter with people, we know it solves nothing.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Many people find humor the only way to cope with such tragedy.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Get off your high horse.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

It was said on these boards near St Patricks day that calling a drink a car bomb was sick and twisted, especially to those of us who experienced the horrors of the car bomb years in London and beyond.

I don't think it is a joke. But maybe that particular cocktail name should not be used. Ever.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Just heard this on the early evening news .

What a dreadful , sickening day for Boston & for all who were simply enjoying a fun, family event.

Simply have to hope that the person(s) responsible can be found.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Think that might have altered now, the para about Sandy Nook is now no.7. Not seen that much coverage except the films of the explosions, but I feel so sorry for all those involved, and hope that everyone who posts on here or has family in the qarea or who were there are all safe.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Such terrible news. Thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

This is simply awful. As a marathon runner, there really is a great community of friendship amongst all the participants and knowing the efforts they have put in to run this race, I find it unfathomable how anyone could target such an inclusive and peaceful sport.

My heart goes out to the dead and injured.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

The objective me is looking at this and thinking that we effectively do the same thing with drones in Pakistan and Yemen and....on a regular basis, we kill more and injure fewer each time, but we are not horrified by it when we do it to somebody else.

We are a hypocritical society.

Don't be mistaken, I am as sad as any at these bombings, but I will wait till there is evidence before jumping in and blaming somebody.

The Saudi guy was badly burned and running away so they treated him as a suspect! After the first explosion, I would move away quickly because there are often additional devices to get the responders when they crowd in.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

And what on earth does any of this have to do with what happened yesterday?

I lived in Northern Ireland through the absolute worst of 'The Troubles' and I experienced things that I'm still trying to forget. I see nothing good in glorifying that period at all and I see no need for sick jokes. I don't even know how we got on this track because the suggestion that the IRA had anything to do with yesterday's events is one of the most ludicrous things I've heard.

My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by yesterday's horror and with the law enforcement officials who are tracking down whoever was responsible. Let them do their job and hope they bring the sick coward(s) responsible to the full force of justice. Let's stop speculating and jumping to conclusions - especially ridiculous speculation that begets really bad and inappropriate attempts at humor.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

The British meet dark situations with dark humour, as the most cursory glance at our culture shows. No need to try to generate arguments over it - it's part of who we are.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Bob, I'm sure you're a good and intelligent person. I've read enough of your posts to guess that about you. You've helped many people with many really great posts. That one was just a bad one - as I'm sure you know perfectly well even if you won't admit it.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

No it wasn't. Give it a rest.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Well be careful who you share your humor with. Not many people will see anything humorous about a young woman dying after having her abdomen ripped open in front of friends and family, an 8 year boy being blown to pieces in front of his mother and sister, limbs being torn off people and blood flowing on the sidewalk. Maybe you should keep that part of your "culture" under wraps for a while.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Oh for goodness sake.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

No one said the IRA did it, someone said it reminded them of the IRA. It made me think of the bad old days too.

MaryandNed you are bringing disharmony to this thread, that is inappropriate.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Did anyone really say it was the IRA? Don't be daft.

But it is more out of that kind of terrorist attack style than of the ME style of suicide bombings. A simple observation, which is probably why people are speculating it to be home grown.

As for the drink, it's a tasteless thing to promote and such a tragedy as this on home soil will perhaps get it off the menu.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

No, it might have been tongue in cheek, but it was also serious.

Having a celebratory drink to terrorist activities is a little tasteless. I'm sure now that it might be seen as such and will likely be disappearing from many of all the bars and pubs that have it on the menu.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

So now the people of Boston know how the people of London, Birmingham, Warrington, Belfast, Londonderry, Guilford and all the other places bombed by the IRA scum

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

The 6 year old sister of the young boy who died has lost a leg in the explosions. Their mother has had to have brain surgery.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Awful, just awful.. :(

We've just been on vacation in the US and flew home from Boston on Saturday night. Didn't really visit the city, just flew home from there, but driving around on Saturday saw the signs saying that traffic would be heavy on 'Marathon Monday'.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

I'm uneasy with this comparison. It's certainly true that the results for innocent people affected are the same. However, I'm not sure I can draw a direct line between precise drone strikes against an enemy who deliberately surrounds himself with innocents and an indiscriminant bombing of zero military significance at the Boston Marathon. In my mind, these are not comparable or "morally equivalent" situations.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

I think from the point of view of the bombers, they ARE comparable and "morally equivalent". Both sets of bombers (in Boston and Afghanistan) set out to kill and mutilate innocent people. And remember that drone-pilots specialise in "double taps", when they wait for rescuers to arrive at the scene and send a second rocket to kill them. We don't know yet whether there was a "double tap" planned for Boston.

In ALL terrorist bombings, whether in the USA or the Middle East, there is a cruelty almost beyond imagining. We who aren't involved should feel the same revulsion, whoever the perpetrators are.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

I think it was a perfectly valid comment.
Yes, food for thought.

A terribly sad day.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Agreed, on both points. First thing it put me in mind of was the IRA as well, same methods at least.

The car bomb comment wasn't a joke anyway, it was a serious comment that has been brought up on here many times as something that is inappropriate.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

That is pure bullshit.

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I'm really confused, are you saying that American military drone pilots deliberately target rescuers and innocents? If so, that's a ludicrous claim. Perhaps you are using "drone pilots" in some other sense? Grasping at straws here.

This goes without saying. Again, confused as to why you're bringing this up. Are you equating American military drone strikes with terrorism?

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
 

Matter of perspective I suppose. The the locals out there, they could very well think that.

Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon