I need to get off topic here (I know this is a mommy blog) but I, as well as many other people, experienced an event that has been on my mind. Now, please (and I mean please) do NOT consider my a conspiracy theorist. I do not consider myself one. All I am trying to do here, is get off of my chest, some of the things that I find slightly worrying about the Times Square bomb.
While I do not think that our government would set out to hurt the innocent people of this country, I do believe that one or two sneaky things have happened under the government's watchful eye. I am not setting out to invalidate the severity of the current events, or the war against terrorism in which many of our loved ones fight in, have fought in, or have even died for. What I am targeting (if you so choose to think that is my intent) is specifically the bomb in Times Square, NYC. I am elaborating on a suggestion made to me by a friend that the bomb left in Times Square could have been a hoax (for lack of better words) in order to raise and maintain awareness of terrorism, and to re-validate the country's slipping support of the war in which we are fighting.
My personal opinion, as well as the opinion of some other intelligent, level-headed people I know, is it is completely feasible that the bomb left in Times Square was not the work of Faisal Shahzad. Before you dismiss this post as anti-American rhetoric, I would appreciate if you can read what I write here with the understanding that I am basing my OPINIONS on published (from well known sources) documents, and can, and will, post links referencing all of the facts stated below.
Now, I cannot say with certainty that I believe this was the work of our own government; what I can say is that I cannot believe with certainty that it was not. One of the first things that I noted as being "fishy" is the fact that the bomb in the Pathfinder did not go off. (This is an undisputed fact, and I do not feel this needs to be cited. If you would like proof of this, by all means, you should perhaps dismiss the rest of this post.) The problem that I have with that (not that it is a problem, thank goodness no one got hurt) is that according to CNN,
"After receiving explosives training at a camp in Pakistan's region, returned to the United States via a one-way plane ticket February 3, the court documents say, citing Customs and Border Protection records" CNN Web Article, paragraph 12.
Now, OK, I have to assume that a terrorist with explosives training would have the ability to rig a car bomb that would go off. For me to think that a Pathfinder full of explosives, packed by the trained hands of Shahzad would end up being a dud and not go off, is a reach. Again, I am grateful no one got hurt.
Another part of this even that strikes me as a little askew, is that within 54 hours the accused terrorist was not only apprehended, but our government, as well as the media, knew everything about his history. "and city detectives helped the FBI wrap arrest Shahzad within 54 hours." NY Post: Paragraph 4 (keep this open if you wish, I will be referring to this article again.) While this is not completely impossible, I do think that it is a very difficult task to accomplish. Does this prove anything? Not particularly, but again, it is just another thing that bothered me a little bit.
The last thing that I will mention here, (there are a few other, much smaller aspects and details I could go into) and perhaps the biggest part of this event that stands out in my mind, is a Headline from The New York Post. NYPD Spared Cuts After Terrorist Bust. If you choose not to read the article, which is fine with me, I will outline some of the biggest problems I have with this article. Prior to the bomb, over 900 police officers were due to be laid off. An officer who can only be described as "jubilant" by the Post was quoted saying that the failed car-bomb "is a perfect excuse" (that can be found in the opening paragraph of said article). Now, I really do not feel the need to go on and on about the remainder of the article, nor do I wish to dissect this article and point out all of the things that do not sit right with me. I will plainly state that given Mayor Bloomberg's budget adjustments, I cannot help but feel that the dud car bomb as planted to reinforce the need for police officers, and the ongoing War of Terror, which is losing support from Americans.
Bloomberg's 2011 executive budget, being unveiled today, "won't include a reduction in the number of police officers out on our streets keeping New York City safe," said spokesman Stu Loeser." (paragraph 2 of the same article.)
In closing, I would appreciate a little open-mindedness when processing this post. Please, feel free (in fact, I encourage it) to respond to this, regardless of your stance on my opinion. Just keep in mind, this is my opinion only, that is all I have the right to discuss, I am in no way trying to sway any one's judgement and beliefs in the government, I am not trying to start of conspiracy theory, and I am my NO means Anti-American.
On that note, I promise I will post some mommy stuff another day, this is a mommy blog after all. I am hoping that everyone is having a good time momming and I hope you are gearing up for Mother's Day!
