Category: Terrorism

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media, Terrorism2 Comments

‘We’ve Heard Plenty’

Well, that settles that, then: Our job this time was to take the hardest questions we could find and ask them, ‘What’s the answer to it,’ and then spend a couple of minutes listening. Because this is really the side of the story that has been mined only in the most superficial ways. We’ve heardplenty from the critics. We’ve heard a lot from Edward Snowden. Never mind if the critics are correct. Never mind if the critics have a valid point. Never mind if the critics have THINGS TO BE CRITICAL OF. We’ve heard enough from them. We’re done. We … Continue reading ‘We’ve Heard Plenty’

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media, Terrorism1 Comment

‘there’s a loud bang from outside that makes my coffee cup jump on the table’

Allison Hantschel

This is still the best thing I read after 9/11. Everything happens at once, and yet at the same time somehow nothing happens at all for a second, as the building sighs and slumps towards us, and the top section shrugs down into the hole made by the plane, and a ring of debris and ash shoots out from where the hole starts. From the ground, it looks like the top of the building is going to come clean off and fall in our direction, but for a full two beats, we all just…stand there…admiring it: “It’s coming down.” But … Continue reading ‘there’s a loud bang from outside that makes my coffee cup jump on the table’

Adrastos, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism3 Comments

Wingnuts Over Egypt

Peter Adrastos Athas

It’s easy to forget that some of our crazier Congress critters are taken seriously abroad because they’re bona fide members of Speaker Boner’s boneheaded caucus.This time it happened in Egypt at a bizarre presser held by Bachmann, Gohmert and King, the 3 nuts of the apocalypse: “We have seen the threat that the Muslim Brotherhood has posed here for the people in Egypt. We have seen the threat that the Muslim Brotherhood has posed around the world. We stand against this great evil. We are not for them. We remember who caused 9/11 in America. We remember who it was … Continue reading Wingnuts Over Egypt

Athenae, Terrorism8 Comments

On Being Watched and Being Watchful

Allison Hantschel

Thoughts on the surveillance state, in no particular order: 1. Every Republican, Glibertarian, and other opportunist screaming about this who was of voting age when the Patriot Act was passed and George W. Bush was re-elected can shut right up. I forget who said it when the FISA fight was first going on, but he or she said something about how “these are all powers you wouldn’t want Hillary Clinton to have,” which, as it turns out, was true from their perspective, and their outrage is just a little bit rich. 2. Which makes it not okay one little tiny … Continue reading On Being Watched and Being Watchful

Athenae, Terrorism, War in Afghanistan, War in Iraq5 Comments

All War is a Crime

Allison Hantschel

Jude commented on this post: The government and the rebels have been indiscriminately bombing and shelling cities; conventional explosives are WAY more deadly than air-dispersed chemical agents. Yet we still have this 1916-era mentality about how poison gas is somehow just so ungentlemanly that it deserves a special level of outrage. That’s bullshit. Artillery barrages and bombs do terrible, terrible things to human bodies. When you’re suffering and/or dying, you don’t give a shit whether hot steel, concussion trauma, napalm burns, or poison gas did the trick. Which is really what my issue with any bombing is about. It’s not … Continue reading All War is a Crime

Athenae, Terrorism5 Comments

Why Is This Our Job?

Allison Hantschel

Questions for Obama on Syria: First, why does this particular heinous act rise to the level of justifying a military response? More specifically, why did a similarly heinous act by the Egyptian army elicit from Washington only the mildest response? Just weeks ago, Egyptian security forces slaughtered hundreds of Egyptians whose “crime” was to protest a military coup that overthrew a legitimately elected president. Why the double standard? Second, once U.S. military action against Syria begins, when will it end? What is the political objective? Wrapping the Assad regime on the knuckles is unlikely to persuade it to change its … Continue reading Why Is This Our Job?

Athenae, Law/Justice, Terrorism8 Comments

Everybody Remember Ari Fleischer?

Allison Hantschel

He’s still a douchebag! I know you’re all relieved: The events sparked a debate on CNN last night, prompting former Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer to defend his former boss’s decision to open Gitmo to begin with. “We have it because these people did not even follow the law of war, let alone the rule of war,” he said, adding, “These people didn’t even wear a military uniform. They engaged in battle against America as terrorists, a violation of the laws of war. That’s why Guantanamo got invented.” But most legal experts say detention practices at Gitmo violate … Continue reading Everybody Remember Ari Fleischer?

Athenae, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism4 Comments

In Case You Were Concerned, Saxby Chambliss is Still an Asshole

Allison Hantschel

This guy. THIS GUY, we have commenting on our international and national security situation:  Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), the top ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Sunday the “chatter” that led to the closure of 21 U.S. embassies and consulates in the Muslim world was “very reminiscent of what we saw pre-9/11.” “[It is] the most serious threat I’ve seen in a number of years,” Chambliss said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Well, you would know, you smuggy dumbass. You ran against Osama bin Laden in 2004:  A. Continue reading In Case You Were Concerned, Saxby Chambliss is Still an Asshole

Athenae, Law/Justice, Terrorism8 Comments

Everybody Remember Ari Fleischer?

He’s still a douchebag! I know you’re all relieved: The events sparked a debate on CNN last night, prompting former Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer to defend his former boss’s decision to open Gitmo to begin with. “We have it because these people did not even follow the law of war, let alone the rule of war,” he said, adding, “These people didn’t even wear a military uniform. They engaged in battle against America as terrorists, a violation of the laws of war. That’s why Guantanamo got invented.” But most legal experts say detention practices at Gitmo violate … Continue reading Everybody Remember Ari Fleischer?

Athenae, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism4 Comments

An Armed Revolution Led by Somebody Else

Oh please. This isn’t going to be scary. You know why not? Because Idol is on, that’s why. If all these people really were capable of being roused to action any one of a hundred things would have roused them by now. We heard this about Obama’s election and heard it again about health care and I’m sure at the headquarters of the post-apocalyptic wishf-fulfillment society that is the RNC these days they’re muttering it under their breath all day long, but absolutely nothing is going to get people out of their recliners. (I have lots of thoughts about fanboy … Continue reading An Armed Revolution Led by Somebody Else

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Law/Justice, LOL, Political Crack, Terrorism4 Comments

False Flag Puke Cornered In Cambridge

Peter Adrastos Athas

Remember the infowars malaka who asked Deval Patrick about guvmint complicityin the Boston Marathon bombing? He was in Cambridge recently where he ran into a guy who gave him the full Jude treatment and cussed his worthless ass out. Do not listen to this out loud at work or in front of impressionable chirren unless you want to expand their vocabulary, that is: Via All In with Chris Hayes. Continue reading False Flag Puke Cornered In Cambridge

Adrastos, Diary, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks, Television, Terrorism

Revisionism is in the air

Peter Adrastos Athas

The Bush lieberry is opening tomorrow in Dallas. It’s perfect that my least favorite recent President’s lieberry/mausoleum is opening in one of my least favorite cities in the known universe. There’s probably a worse town on Trafalmadore or one of the Stans but I doubt it… The lieberry opening has brought on a wave of W revisionism. The twerpy dullard David Gregory told us on the NBC Nightly News that Bush tweren’t so bad even though he strained to find some positive accomplishments. The main revisionist line is that Bush kept us “safe from terrorism” but there’s always a footnote, … Continue reading Revisionism is in the air

Athenae, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism3 Comments

The Enemy

Allison Hantschel

This is the stupidest part of a very, very stupid week: After saying emphatically that trying Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in a federal civilian court is the only option because the 19-year-old bombing suspect is a U.S. citizen, White House press secretary Jay Carney on Monday added that President Barack Obama’s inner-circle has his back on the decision. “The entire national security team is in agreement on this approach,” Carney said during a press briefing, after noting that it’s a “matter that’s decided by the Department of Justice.” Republicans, notably Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John McCain (R-AZ), have argued that Tsarnaev … Continue reading The Enemy

Adrastos, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism1 Comment

The Confession

Peter Adrastos Athas

After all the posturing by little Lindsey and his ilk about how to treat the accused Boston Marathon bomber, he was read his rights, and then confessed earlier today. I agree with what A said earlier: this guy is a criminal and we have a massive system dedicated to dealing with people like him. Try him and lock him up, the only terrorist he seems to know was his big brother who’s currently taking a dirt nap… It’s increasingly looking as if this is just the latest outrage perpetrated by angry young men. It seems closer in twisted spirit to … Continue reading The Confession

Adrastos, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism1 Comment

The Confession

After all the posturing by little Lindsey and his ilk about how to treat the accused Boston Marathon bomber, he was read his rights, and then confessed earlier today. I agree with what A said earlier: this guy is a criminal and we have a massive system dedicated to dealing with people like him. Try him and lock him up, the only terrorist he seems to know was his big brother who’s currently taking a dirt nap… It’s increasingly looking as if this is just the latest outrage perpetrated by angry young men. It seems closer in twisted spirit to … Continue reading The Confession

Athenae, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism3 Comments

The Enemy

This is the stupidest part of a very, very stupid week: Aftersaying emphatically that trying Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in a federal civilian court is the only option because the 19-year-old bombing suspect is a U.S. citizen, White House press secretary Jay Carney on Monday added that President Barack Obama’s inner-circle has his back on the decision. “The entire national security team is in agreement on this approach,” Carney said during a press briefing, after noting that it’s a “matter that’s decided by the Department of Justice.” Republicans, notably Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John McCain (R-AZ), have argued that Tsarnaev should … Continue reading The Enemy

Adrastos, Big Damn Heroes, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism2 Comments

Blessed Relief

Peter Adrastos Athas

I was working for a friend this week and wasn’t able to blog as much as usual; the first instance of blessed relief for y’all. I followed yesterday’s events via live blog on the Guardian, which spared me the teevee hype although NBC did a good job last night. And Pete Williams rocked the media universe all week long with his calm and factual reporting. I was struck by the way President Obama and Gov. Patrick approached the crisis in contrast to W and his minions with their fear mongering and colorful alarm charts and shit. No drama Obama and … Continue reading Blessed Relief

Adrastos, Big Damn Heroes, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism2 Comments

Blessed Relief

I was working for a friend this week and wasn’t able to blog as much as usual; the first instance of blessed relief for y’all. I followed yesterday’s events via live blog on the Guardian, which spared me the teevee hype although NBC did a good job last night. And Pete Williams rocked the media universe all week long with his calm and factual reporting. I was struck by the way President Obama and Gov. Patrick approached the crisis in contrast to W and his minions with their fear mongering and colorful alarm charts and shit. No drama Obama and … Continue reading Blessed Relief

Adrastos, Terrorism5 Comments

Take A Deep Breath

Peter Adrastos Athas

The horrendous Boston Marathon bombing has the 24/7 news cycle wigging out as is the 24/7 social media babble. Everyone has a theory-I do too-but nobody really knows what happened just yet, and neither do I. Here’s the deal: we’ve all gotten used to things happening quickly in the era of the interwebs. Instant gratification just isn’t possible in an investigation such as this one. Conclusion jumping has become our national pastime, but sometimes you’ve just gotta be patient, take a deep breath, and try to relax. This is one of those times. Continue reading Take A Deep Breath

Athenae, Diary, Terrorism6 Comments

I Am Not a Marathoner

Allison Hantschel

I don’t run marathons. I have friends who do, and their names were the first ones I plugged into the marathon site after explosions turned the finish line into a crime scene. None of them were running in Boston today, but they run, and the first picture I saw was of a man with his legs blown off, and all I could think was that that man is a runner. Running’s weird. It’s strange and hypnotic and cultish; I used to joke to a runner friend that she was just telling me all the work would feel good eventually and … Continue reading I Am Not a Marathoner

Adrastos, Terrorism5 Comments

Take A Deep Breath

The horrendous Boston Marathon bombing has the 24/7 news cycle wigging out as is the 24/7 social media babble. Everyone has a theory-I do too-but nobody really knows what happened just yet, and neither do I. Here’s the deal: we’ve all gotten used to things happening quickly in the era of the interwebs. Instant gratification just isn’t possible in an investigation such as this one. Conclusion jumping has become our national pastime, but sometimes you’ve just gotta be patient, take a deep breath, and try to relax. This is one of those times. Continue reading Take A Deep Breath

Athenae, Diary, Terrorism6 Comments

I Am Not a Marathoner

I don’t run marathons. I have friends who do, and their names were the first ones I plugged into the marathon site after explosions turned the finish line into a crime scene. None of them were running in Boston today, but they run, and the first picture I saw was of a man with his legs blown off, and all I could think was that that man is a runner. Running’s weird. It’s strange and hypnotic and cultish; I used to joke to a runner friend that she was just telling me all the work would feel good eventually and … Continue reading I Am Not a Marathoner

Athenae, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism8 Comments

An Armed Revolution Led by Somebody Else

Allison Hantschel

Oh please. This isn’t going to be scary. You know why not? Because Idol is on, that’s why. If all these people really were capable of being roused to action any one of a hundred things would have roused them by now. We heard this about Obama’s election and heard it again about health care and I’m sure at the headquarters of the post-apocalyptic wishf-fulfillment society that is the RNC these days they’re muttering it under their breath all day long, but absolutely nothing is going to get people out of their recliners. (I have lots of thoughts about fanboy … Continue reading An Armed Revolution Led by Somebody Else

Athenae, Economy, Games, Immoral Values, Kids Today, Terrorism, War in Afghanistan, War in Iraq5 Comments

It’s Always Time to Talk About Shit That Doesn’t Matter

Allison Hantschel

I keep going back to this, from the brilliant Cleolinda: (Here’s my thought on that in a nutshell: Violent movies and videogames do not make people violent. Violent people are attracted to violent media. Of course, so are many of the rest of us, just for different reasons. I ended up watching The Matrix about 46,000 times–at one point on a three-day loop–for the book, and I shot nobody. If you want to talk about warning signs, don’t look at the kid’s taste in movies or his literary output–look at those two things in the context of his real-life behavior, … Continue reading It’s Always Time to Talk About Shit That Doesn’t Matter

Athenae, Economy, Games, Immoral Values, Kids Today, Terrorism, War in Afghanistan, War in Iraq5 Comments

It’s Always Time to Talk About Shit That Doesn’t Matter

I keep going back to this, from the brilliant Cleolinda: (Here’s my thought on that in a nutshell: Violent movies and videogames do not make people violent. Violentpeople are attracted to violent media. Of course, so are many of the rest of us, just for different reasons. I ended up watchingThe Matrix about 46,000 times–at one point on a three-day loop–for the book, and I shotnobody. If you want to talk about warning signs, don’t look at the kid’s taste in movies or his literary output–look at those two thingsin the context of his real-life behavior, which was already disturbing … Continue reading It’s Always Time to Talk About Shit That Doesn’t Matter

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, Terrorism10 Comments

With Us

Allison Hantschel

Re-posting for the umpteenth time because it was the first thing I read after that day, after that blur of a day and the two-three weeks that followed, that didn’t feel like a fucking greeting card, that made any kind of sense to me at all: As we approach the Brooklyn Bridge, a ferry pulls in to the pier, calling for passengers to Jersey City. That’s where Don lives. We both stop, frowning, and for a moment we just stand there together as others pass us with their heads down, concentrating on going. We don’t want to leave each other. … Continue reading With Us