USA loses the struggle against terrorism

Is the Boston tragedy a continuation of September 11^th? The explosions that rocked Boston on April 15^th provide some basis for an affirmative answer to this question. The U.S. security is under serious threat, and the U.S. government does not know where to look for its trail: among the "offended" marathon participants, in the camp of "patriotic" groups, or "Al-Qaeda"?

The U.S. authorities are forced to admit that they do not know the organizers of the terrorist act, and finding them will not be easy. Barack Obama defined the explosion as terrorism, thus removing other possible versions. On April 16^th, law enforcement officials said that the bombs that exploded in Boston were made out of common pressure cookers stuffed with nails, ball bearings and gunpowder.

Egg timers were used as bomb detonators. The authoritative source of U.S. security officials said that this pattern was not consistent with al-Qaeda. But patterns may change over time, especially given the strengthening of control measures over the U.S. citizens, tourists, migrants and persons illegally residing in the country. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that the "primitive bombs" were made specifically in order to keep the investigation of terrorist attacks on the wrong track.

Three people were killed in the attack: an 8-year-old boy and two women, one of whom is a Chinese citizen, graduate of the University of Boston. All of them were among the spectators. The number of injured, according to some reports, exceeds 150 people. Of these, many are seriously injured, and some may remain permanently disabled. Why were the bombs not detected immediately? 

According to law enforcement, the bombs were hidden in inconspicuous sports bags or backpacks with dark nylon and left on the sidewalk near the finish line. Why there? American forensic psychologists suggested that if we assumed that the bombs were left by a mentally unbalanced loner, perhaps someone among the failed marathon participants, the location of the murder weapon was chosen symbolically - the finish line as the end of life.

The psychologists believe that if the criminal was a lone terrorist, he could safely leave the bag on the pavement in order to distract the police, and stand quietly near them until the explosion. Doctors of Boston hospitals praised the medical staff working at the scene. They were able to send the injured to the hospitals where each individual could be given the most effective medical care.

Despite the extensive work of the police, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, so far there is no accurate version of what has happened. At this time no one has claimed the responsibility for the terrorist act.

However, the head of the FBI in Boston, Richard DesLauriers believes that finding the culprit is just a matter of time. In the meantime, the FBI agent asked numerous witnesses of the tragedy to provide investigators all photos and videos taken at the time and place of the explosion. Who could be behind the explosion? Inconsistencies of the circumstances, "amateur" nature of the explosion, numerous "random" coincidences do not allow the full use of the ancient rule "look for the person who could benefit from it."

Maybe this was an act of an unbalanced or manic vindictive individual terrorist. In this case, according to Bruce Hoffman of Georgetown University, it will be much more difficult to hunt him down and arrest. First, the motive is not clear, and it is very difficult to figure out. Second, terrorists can be caught as they are likely to keep close contact with each other. In the case of a loner there are no connections or a plot. 

The U.S. officials do not rule out the version of the Al-Qaeda "trail." In 2010, the English language online blog of this terrorist organization described the bomb-making mechanism with the use of pressure cookers. Furthermore, these bombs have been used in acts of terrorism in India, Nepal, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In spring of 2010, terrorist Faisal Shahzad attempted to blow up such bomb in the streets of New York City. Currently investigators are studying the pieces of the exploded pressure cooker, hoping to establish the manufacturer. It would help to bring some clarity. Involvement of one of Boston's "patriotic" groups in the bombing cannot be ruled out either.

These groups always strive for publicity. The Financial Times noted that those who carried out the explosion in Boston have carefully selected the place and time. Two explosive devices powered at a crowded event on the Patriots Day - what is it but the maximum publicity of the crime? The entire world is closely watching the investigation of the tragedy in Boston. Moscow is one of the most attentive "observers." 

Explosions in Boston caused concern in Russia. The World Student University Games in Kazan and the Olympic Games in Sochi are getting near. Russia has spent a great deal of money to carry out a number of major sporting events that can raise the international prestige of the country and show the economic progress in recent years. But the Olympic Games in Sochi, for example, have already been nicknamed "security services nightmare."

Now, this nightmare could worsen. Fred Weir, Moscow correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor, said that the tragedy in Boston made Russia think about the security of its own sporting events. World Student University Games will be held in Kazan, a city where Islamists have shot dead two "infidels." Weir said that in August Moscow will host the World Championships in Athletics. They will be followed by the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, a city located in the immediate vicinity of the North Caucasus and adjacent to Abkhazia.

According to the chief editor of the electronic journal agentura.ru Andrei Soldatov, terrorists may attack one place and thus disrupt the entire Olympics. The Kremlin makes a sharp turn toward rapprochement with Washington, the Russian president said that "in the face of the threat of international terrorism, diplomatic differences are irrelevant," and offered to help in the fight against this evil.

It seems that in addition to foreign and domestic benefits that this move adds Moscow, it has a sincere compassion for the victims of the terrorist attack. Ordinary Muscovites did not remain indifferent to the tragedy, and thousands of people brought flowers to the building of the U.S. Embassy. All issues and innuendo in the relationship between the two countries are losing their importance in comparison with these flowers of sorrow, because condolence, sympathy and support are a natural reaction, the only proper response to the tragedy.

After the Boston tragedy, after poisonous letters sent to Obama, as well as the explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas, it is clear that Washington is losing a crucial round in the battle against terrorism - public confidence to the government. Barack Obama promised to do everything possible to locate and apprehend criminals, but called not to speculate on the tragedy.

The Financial Times noted that the coming days will bring persistent debate about the actions aimed at strengthening the internal security of the United States. Twenty days before the tragedy in Boston the movie "The Fall of Olympus" in which militants captured the White House in Washington was released. Was it a prophecy or a reflection of powerlessness of the American authorities in the face of blind, brutal will of the international terrorism? The world, watching that "all-powerful" America cannot do anything with the invisible enemy is beginning to feel fear, the fear of insecurity. 

The fear of the fact that no one is immune to Boston "finish line." The fear that a deadly surprise attack can be staged not by a network of terrorist organizations, but an ideological or notorious lone maniac who has access to the Internet and basic knowledge of chemistry and explosives. Barack Obama has to act in the name of giving the Americans the understanding that he is able to protect their rights. He has to take tough measures to prohibit the spread of weapons, try to change the mentality and consciousness of the Americans, convincing them that security considerations sometimes are more important than individual rights. Otherwise, the process of atomization of evil in America would become overwhelming.   

Sergei Vasilenkov

Pravda.Ru 

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