Reflections on the Heroes of Beslan

A group claiming to be Taliban/El-Qaida claims to be responsible for the bombing death of eighty Pakistanis several days ago. The reason stated was the attack was in retaliation for the death of Osama bin Laden.

Perhaps now would be a good time to start clarifying these muddled problems, first with better definitions.

A murderous attack on strangers is an atrocity. "Atrocity." The 911 event was not an "attack" or "terrorism." It was an atrocity and should be referred as such. There is no other explanation for such an event. It may also be pathological, the result of some illness, but group pathology is both rare and complex; such a designation would require some considerable debate. But it is, at least, an atrocity.

One can not claim credit for an atrocity. One can confess to it, be blamed for it, be held responsible for it but one cannot claim credit for an atrocity unless one is insane.

A random act perpetrated against random people does not have a "reason". Blowing up total strangers because someone you like was killed is a disconnected, vicious atrocity. It has only one rational purpose: Satisfying blood lust. Creating reciprocal pain. This is not the personal or symbolic retaliation of the Hatfields and the McCoys aimed at inflicting pain on a stated enemy or opponent; it is a howl or a sneeze made flesh. It is a malignant twitch.

There is only one possible explanation that might make such an atrocity reasonable: If the perpetrators were at war with life.