2 terrorist plots foiled in Chicago

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

If there is a God, this would not please him.

God is capricious and at times cruel. Who knows what pleases the Gods?

[thefallensrvnge]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

The mentality of these terrorists is still puzzling to me. What do they accomplish by killing an eight-year-old, two promising young adults, and making hundreds of lives difficult by causing limb removal? What is the benefit of this behavior? It's not going to change U.S. foreign policy in any way that benefits the Muslim world--and in fact, it will probably do the opposite. There is no "defeating America" through Jihad. It's just not possible. So in the end, these are purely futile efforts that are basically suicidal and only cause pain and destruction for innocent people. If there is a God, this would not please him.

Usually one of the main goals of an act of terrorism is to display to the people that they are living under a government that cannot protect them- in sense, to delegitimatize the state. They probably know full well that they cannot defeat America head on, but they aim to throw a little chaos into the system because they like the reaction from the populace.

One the unfortunate side effects of terrorism that people become so afraid they begin to sacrifice personal freedom for safety. Sometimes the regulations seems necessary for the time, but other times it is just outright ridiculous. Things like 9/11 and the Boston Bombing affect us on an individual level more than we can comprehend.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by thefallensrvnge

One the unfortunate side effects of terrorism that people become so afraid they begin to sacrifice personal freedom for safety. Sometimes the regulations seems necessary for the time, but other times it is just outright ridiculous. Things like 9/11 and the Boston Bombing affect us on an individual level more than we can comprehend.

Exactly. And this is where terrorists actually can defeat America. They won't overthrow the U.S. government, but they can cause us to give up enough of our freedoms that the concept of America as we know it (land of the free and all that jazz) no longer exists. If in fact we were attacked on 9/11 because Al Qaeda "hates our freedom" (I believe that was the explanation our simpleton president at the time gave us), then they actually scored a victory, because we have lost much freedom as a result of how we've responded to that attack.

[IEnjoyBeer]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

The mentality of these terrorists is still puzzling to me. What do they accomplish by killing an eight-year-old, two promising young adults, and making hundreds of lives difficult by causing limb removal? What is the benefit of this behavior? It's not going to change U.S. foreign policy in any way that benefits the Muslim world--and in fact, it will probably do the opposite. There is no "defeating America" through Jihad. It's just not possible. So in the end, these are purely futile efforts that are basically suicidal and only cause pain and destruction for innocent people. If there is a God, this would not please him.

Its about control, and fear.

Ive taken college classes on terrorism. Its mainly about instilling fear in society, thus crippling its way of life, and while many may think we are "winning" the war (on an idea nonetheless), id say theyre winning.

[IEnjoyBeer]

Originally Posted by thefallensrvnge

Usually one of the main goals of an act of terrorism is to display to the people that they are living under a government that cannot protect them- in sense, to delegitimatize the state. They probably know full well that they cannot defeat America head on, but they aim to throw a little chaos into the system because they like the reaction from the populace.

One the unfortunate side effects of terrorism that people become so afraid they begin to sacrifice personal freedom for safety. Sometimes the regulations seems necessary for the time, but other times it is just outright ridiculous. Things like 9/11 and the Boston Bombing affect us on an individual level more than we can comprehend.

Precisely.

Its more mental than anything.

[rexzy]

Originally Posted by IEnjoyBeer

Its about control, and fear.

Ive taken college classes on terrorism. Its mainly about instilling fear in society, thus crippling its way of life, and while many may think we are "winning" the war (on an idea nonetheless), id say theyre winning.

You nailed this. Its all about fear. They were able to shut down the whole city for a whole day and instill fear into public. Their mission was accomplished. They won. For 24 hours Boston was under marshal law.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by rexzy

You nailed this. Its all about fear. They were able to shut down the whole city for a whole day and instill fear into public. Their mission was accomplished. They won. For 24 hours Boston was under marshal law.

I wouldn't say they "won", and Boston certainly wasn't under "Martial Law". It was a request to shelter in place, and no one was arrested for leaving their homes. The media certainly freaked out, but their depiction of people being in fear was very different than the reactions I saw from family and friends living in Boston.

I had a friend who was in Jamaica Plain for a funeral that day, and they went ahead and had the funeral. He left Boston to get back to Brooklyn around 1 PM without any problems. I had some family members who got together for a BBQ in the afternoon. Even people in the 20 block lock down area in Watertown could be escorted out of the area by police if they asked (after the first couple hours). While the shut down of the city was certainly an inconvenience for many people, it certainly wasn't unprecedented. People were asked to stay at home and the T was shut down for nearly 2 days about 2 months ago due to a snow storm. Besides, all of the Dunkin' Donuts stayed open - so Boston remained Boston throughout it all.

The only way they "win" is if paranoia increases and stupid policies get enacted. We'll have to wait and see on that one.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by Attrill

I wouldn't say they "won", and Boston certainly wasn't under "Martial Law". It was a request to shelter in place, and no one was arrested for leaving their homes. The media certainly freaked out, but their depiction of people being in fear was very different than the reactions I saw from family and friends living in Boston.

I had a friend who was in Jamaica Plain for a funeral that day, and they went ahead and had the funeral. He left Boston to get back to Brooklyn around 1 PM without any problems. I had some family members who got together for a BBQ in the afternoon. Even people in the 20 block lock down area in Watertown could be escorted out of the area by police if they asked (after the first couple hours). While the shut down of the city was certainly an inconvenience for many people, it certainly wasn't unprecedented. People were asked to stay at home and the T was shut down for nearly 2 days about 2 months ago due to a snow storm. Besides, all of the Dunkin' Donuts stayed open - so Boston remained Boston throughout it all.

The only way they "win" is if paranoia increases and stupid policies get enacted. We'll have to wait and see on that one.

Agreed--it wasn't martial law, but residents of certain areas were strongly encouraged to remain indoors during the massive manhunt. I ventured out around 2:30 for a short time, looking for an open store, and amazingly the few cars on the road were police cars and ambulances; the streets had very little foot traffic, as well ( this was in Cambridge).

Copley Square was finally opened up to the public only today; businesses have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars..

[RarelyOffended]

We got to keep the city safe and we should not live in fear. if it has been foiled the chicago police and FBI have done a good job

[ChicagoMeO]

THAT SUCKS!!!! I am already afraid for chicago, that someone is gonna try to terrorize us, we have some iconic buildings and tall buildings too. When we got sent home after the original 911, it was very scarey walking past the Hancock building... didn't know if that was gonna come tumblin down.