I grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland during the "troubles" so have had too much experience of bombings and the fear that they can provoke.
Whilst last Monday's bombing was, and is, terrible (unequivocally so), I am glad that the remaining bomber was captured alive. Not because I wouldn't will him dead but, rather, that it's important that the relevant agencies can obtain as much understanding as possible about whether others, and if so who, were involved.
The sad reality appears to be that a single crazed idiot or two can create bombs that can bring cities to a standstill. Whilst the effect is still every bit as bad, I'd very much hope that this is the work of two crazed and warped scum rather than something wider.
For all the talk re US and the terrorism threat (which clearly exists), it is remarkable how few significant terrorist incidents there have been on US soil since Sept 11. I don't know but can only assume that the security intelligence is more persuasive than we may sometimes credit.
ps - Chechnya is a part of Russia and will hopefully remain so for a long, long time. One thing that does annoy me is that the global media view the Chechnyan separatists as the bone fide representatives and spokespeople of that territory.
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