I've said enough already and really appreciate getting ripped for it.
Move on and one can read from the O.P. and see my sincerity. But god forbid why do some think just a hope will save us and it doesn't happen again? Blood in a photo... OK and what was someone's point? One victim or thousands, an 8 year old or an 80 year old widow, it's the same.
The damage was done, so now what? In their mind, the deranged individual or group has succeeded. Yes, I said it... have succeeded,
in their own mind. It doesn't matter if they blew themself(s) up, caught, or prosecuted... THE WHACKS DON'T CARE. Do Americans get that? Apparently not.
We certainly have a different type of war on that also happens to be on our turf. To start understanding I suggest to read or watch a few good documentaries on terrorism. Could these reads or documentary save a life or lives? Maybe but don't count on your government. One is about a real hero Rick Rescorla, a distinguished Nam Vet later in a position with security at Morgan Stanley WTC. Another is John P. O'Neill, former FBI specialist in terrorism (and snubbed by the agency!), appointed chief of security at the WTC two weeks prior of the tragedy. Those fellows may be gone but they left us with vast knowledge and an insight of how these terrorist think. By chance, I recently caught the HBO first episode called Vice. They interviewed firsthand of captured suicide youth militants and worth seeing. (online stream of that episode is avail.)
Nobody needs to be obsessed or worry a life away but I feel Americans still don't have a grip or real understanding of what were up against. Too bad a few hours of studying terrorism isn't required in high school history classes. Might raise a better awareness of anti-culture / cult sectors and reality check for the future gen. Schools teach kids what freedom means but exclude discussion of religion. Ridiculous. A curriculum should be including recognizing the dangers of 'freedom of religion' and where some brain washed up bringing beliefs has infiltrated a country's violence.
Back to Boston - what's up with the lack in security preparation at that event? There's no perfect solution, surely realize nor expect to fully cover a 26 mile route but the perimeter or a few blocks around the staged / primary happenings could have been much better. A specific block(s) should have been primary secure areas with checkpoints. Runners in and an exit is not difficult to patrol either. The primary target of a terrorist is a public and or symbolic structure or event and the Boston event is a prime example. Not only that, its an International event - RED FLAGS! Sorry, but security failed. (No different than those going to Times Square on New Year Eve. All go thru various checkpoints and backpacks, large purses, etc. are NOT PERMITTED.)
Someone mentioned here like - "I hope in the future we don't have to deal with pat downs". Are you kidding? I would think it very appropriate to do so if at the main or any large events, especially at that Boston marathon primary area. And whenever I go to major event like an NFL game, I can't believe how idiotic some behave when told to leave or refused with a backpack. Having dog-sniffers around obviously didn't work. The individual or individuals must have known or timed it right avoiding dogs. Thats why ALL in a high visibility event should be banned of large bags, containers of any sort. Accept it.
Also no covered trash cans, mail boxes (probably long gone by now in Boston), stupid props like the MM thing, inflatable characters or other . (Smartly Chicago didn't allow covered containers during the G8 and NATO summits.) BTW- Those props could easily be plants before or during any event so simply ban them. I also watched some video clips brought into news highhlights on CNN and other. The one with an FBI specialist during the interview was vague and in amazement, I noticed the vid clips running in the background CLEARLY showed LACK of concern for security preparation. Nobody mentioning this? Jeez.