Boston Marathon bombing kills 3, injures over 140

Boston Marathon bombing kills 3, injures over 140 | US National Headlines | Comcast:

 BOSTON (AP) — Two bombs exploded in the crowded streets near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing at least three people and injuring more than 140 in a bloody scene of shattered glass and severed limbs that raised alarms that terrorists might have struck again in the U.S. 

A White House official speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still unfolding said the attack was being treated as an act of terrorism. 

 President Barack Obama vowed that those responsible will "feel the full weight of justice." 

As many as two unexploded bombs were also found near the end of the 26.2-mile course as part of what appeared to be a well-coordinated attack, but they were safely disarmed, according to a senior U.S. intelligence official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation. 

The fiery twin blasts took place about 10 seconds and about 100 yards apart, knocking spectators and at least one runner off their feet, shattering windows and sending dense plumes of smoke rising over the street and through the fluttering national flags lining the route. Blood stained the pavement, and huge shards were missing from window panes as high as three stories.

In the wake of these terrible injuries and death, President Obama has been reluctant to label the attack an act of terrorism.

BREAKING NEWS:

“Any event with multiple explosive devices — as this appears to be — is clearly an act of terror, and will be approached as an act of terror,” the official told Reuters.

Clearly, it is an act of terrorism.  What other purpose can such attacks have?

But I believe I can understand the Presidential reluctance; in the 1996 bombing attack of the Atlanta Olympics, officials were too quick to blame a local man who was reported as having been seen loading a mysterious package in a trash bin; it turned out to be a harmless act by a maintenance worker.  We were too quick to jump to conclusions then, and it would be unwise to jump to conclusions about this day's tragedy.

BESIEGED:
We do seem to have more tragedies than we can keep up with lately, don't we?

Clearly, nobody can blame this on any lapse of awareness on the part of the president, his administration, or any branch of the government.  As we all know, explosive ordnance is highly restricted by law, and cannot be legally acquired without complete documentation including confirmation of identity and a permit to purchase explosive components.

We can only presume that explosives involved in these explosions were acquired out-of-country, and smuggled into America through our borders; an act which is also prohibited by law, so it's difficult to understand how it could have happened in any circumstances.  After all .. every act which must have performed is entirely contrary to the Rule of Law.

(The perpetrators, whomever they are, must have been mad.  Or exceedingly evil.  I'm pretty sure there is a law against that.  And if there is not an existing law prohibiting Evil Acts .. why now?  There should be one!)

OUTRAGEOUS:
As a native-born American, I am appalled by this sort of attack.  I would hope that the U.S. Senate would take such steps as seem necessary to curtail surreptitious importation of explosive devices from outside our borders.    We can only hope that our government would determine the source of the explosives used, and the means by which they smuggled explosives into our country.  We rely on our Government to protect us from attack, and cannot imagine how this can have been effected ... given the vigilant efforts of our border patrols to stop international incursions of persons and materials.

After all, the protection of our National Security is one of the primary Federal Requirements embodied in our Constitution.

I don't care what it takes, no effort is too extreme to protect our homeland from quasi-terrorist explosive attacks.  Whatever it takes to keep quasi-terrorists from importing devices of mass destruction into our borders;  if it saves just one child, is worth the effort. 

When I was in the army, we had a unit motto:

No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great;

Duty First!

This is the motto of the First Infantry Division, and it has served our country well.

I'm sure that our leader, and our leadership, embrace the philosophy espoused there.  Our civilian leadership cannot aspire to greatness, if their determination might fail to meet the same level of responsibility as they require of our military.