Boston Marathon: Is terrorism ever justified?

[Serial_Apologist]

The police shot one of the two suspects in a shoot out in which the other escaped and is now on the run according to lunchtime news. The whole of Boston is now on lock-down.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

and the two suspects were lobbing explosive devices at the police in that pursuit ...

...and having just heard the shooting last night it might be a tad premature to be definite that the police shot him, rather that he was shot in exchanging fire with the police ... i doubt that he or his brother, along with most of the police, were aiming very well at the time ... it sounded really terrifying and residents nearby appear to have been lucky not to be injured given the volume of firing ..

[marthe]

I am sad to see my Boston in lockdown. My sympathy lies with the victims and their families but I also fear that these events will trigger a new spate of anti-immigrant feeling, even violence, in the US.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I am sad to see my Boston in lockdown. My sympathy lies with the victims and their families but I also fear that these events will trigger a new spate of anti-immigrant feeling, even violence, in the US.

Wise words, marthe.

[Thropplenoggin]

The militirisation of the police - that's what scares me.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...4_67112023.jpg

[teamsaint]

The militirisation of the police - that's what scares me.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...4_67112023.jpg

oh dear, and you due back in the UK. Be prepared....

Police armed with Automatic weapons last time I went to Waterloo on a Saturday morning.

[scottycelt]

Police armed with Automatic weapons last time I went to Waterloo on a Saturday morning.

Yup, it's always the same when Millwall FC has a home fixture ... :whistle:

[Mr Pee]

The militirisation of the police - that's what scares me.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...4_67112023.jpg

When the Police are dealing with terrorists brandishing automatic weapons and explosives, would you rather that they went in with a Panda car and a feather duster? :erm:

[Pabmusic]

The militirisation of the police - that's what scares me.

When the Police are dealing with terrorists brandishing automatic weapons and explosives, would you rather that they went in with a Panda car and a feather duster? :erm:

Mr Pee is, of course right. And 'militarism' is OTT unless the police begin to use that level of 'militarism' when dealing with their everyday duties. However, it is good that we feel uneasy about it; we don't want it to become the norm.

[scottycelt]

Mr Pee is, of course right. And 'militarism' is OTT unless the police begin to use that level of 'militarism' when dealing with their everyday duties. However, it is good that we feel uneasy about it; we don't want it to become the norm.

Of course we don't. However, those responsible for police turning into soldiers are the terrorists. You didn't see police with guns in the UK until the appalling practice of planting bombs in public places full of innocent people, including women and babies.

Congratulations to the Mass. police for finally apprehending the second suspect. The media will be at a total loss to explain this one as he has apparently been considered by those who knew him best to have been anything but 'a loner', Goodness me, a seemingly 'regular American guy' being just as capable of evil as 'a loner', whatever next?

Nevertheless, whatever his reasons for committing multiple murder and injury, it is genuinely sad that an 19-year-old, with a seemingly bright future, finds himself in the terrible position of being imprisoned and a target of hate for other prisoners for the rest of his life.

[teamsaint]

Yup, it's always the same when Millwall FC has a home fixture ... :whistle:

but not Crystal Palac, which was the game I was going to !
.:smiley:

I really am unsure as to how police carrying automatic weapons on a saturday morning at waterloo helps combat terrorism, or anything else, unless they know there is a gun battle in prospect.

But it does help generate a higher level of fear in the general population.

And obviously keep the lid on the saints/palace rivalry that usually ends up in a shoot out.

[Richard Barrett]

it does help generate a higher level of fear in the general population

Indeed. And - how exactly does arming the police with automatic weapons protect the population against terrorism? Chasing after armed suspects is one thing (although we saw in the Menezes case how wrong that can go), but in the course of routine patrolling duties is quite another.

[teamsaint]

one might also see the arming of police as part of an overall ramping up of the use of arms , which begins of course with governments and the arms industry.

We could compare the waste of human life caused by American European (and Russan and chinese) arms sales to repressive regimes , to the harm caused by terrorists, remembering that over time many "terrorists" have been sponsored by our governments.
Its an issue that really does need looking at as a whole.

[Richard Barrett]

which begins of course with governments and the arms industry

- as we see from the tragically supine response of the US Senate to even the most minimal controls over gun ownership in that country.

[Mr Pee]

I really am unsure as to how police carrying automatic weapons on a saturday morning at waterloo helps combat terrorism, or anything else, unless they know there is a gun battle in prospect.

The police are obviously privy to intelligence details and threat level analysis about which the public are, probably thankfully, mostly kept in the dark.

I am sure that decisions regarding the arming of police officers are taken with all that information in mind. It does not generate a higher level of fear in me. Events like the Boston bombing terrify me far more than the sight of an armed policeman. It is easy to get complacent these days.We as members of the public can have that luxury; the police, intelligence and security services can not.