Paris Fear

So first I hear that the people committing the Paris attack were not immigrants.  They were citizens of the EU – France and Belgium – and none of them were part of wave of refugees that have been coming to Europe this year.  Even the alleged ringleader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was born and raised in Belgium.

Next we hear that the report that the perpetrators communicated throughPlay Station 4 machines is bunk.

There is so much crap being made up to spread fear through the populace that I don’t know where to begin.

But let’s begin here, with this question.  It was asked of Secretary of State John Kerry by Lester Holt of NBC news:

“Mr. Secretary, we learned from Russia today that it was in fact a bomb that took down the MetroJet over Egypt a couple of weeks ago. ISIS claimed responsibility. ISIS apparently behind the Paris bombings. These are capabilities that no one apparently knew they had. How could the US and the West expectations of ISIS be so wrong?”

The passage I highlighted is what really got to me. 

Capabilities no one thought they had?  Seriously?  What the hell is Lester Holt talking about?

Everyone in the United States has the capability of pulling off something like this. 

We are awash with weapons.  Any person who has a desire to commit mass murder in the U.S. can get the kinds of guns that were used in Paris.  And many of them have.  That’s no great shakes.  Hell, we have xenophobes saying we can’t letrefugees come to the U.S. because weapons are so freely available here. 

Bombing airplanes?  We know people have the capability of placing a bomb in an airplane.  That’s why we screen everybody before we let them on the plane, from young children to little old ladies.  That’s why we screen luggage before we pack it in the cargo bay. 

We also know that ourability to detect bombs sucks.

Here's a picture of the bomb that was placed on the MetroJet (h/t TPM).  

Looks like something a child could build.

The difference between an ISIS terrorist or an Adam Lanza and the ordinary American citizen is not whether they are capable of committing a mass killing.  We’re all capable of that.  And unless we are willing the radically change our laws and way of life, we will all continue to be capable of that.  

The difference is that they want to commit a mass killing, and are willing to do so.

We are never going to stop people from being able to kill other human beings. 

We need to focus on stopping them from wanting to kill other human beings.

Today's links:

The GOP's Campaign to Make You Hate the IRS

IRS Workers are Miserable and Overwhelmed

NY Budget Deal Includes Tax Breaks for Large Yachts and Private Planes  This is really bad.

California, By the Nuts  Nobody is making California's farms, especially including nut growers, conserve water during the drought.

Controversial Ukrainian Pianist Dropped From Toronto Symphony Orchestra  Very similar to the Salaita case.   Robert Reich hits the nail on the head about this whole topic in "When Big Money Sways Nonprofits, Public Loses."

Teeth Whitening at the Supreme Court.  About an important case nobody is talking about.

What Part of "No, Totally" Don't You Understand?

Let the 2016 Presidential Poster Wars Commence!