Terror names linked to Air France 447

[Caliga]

Sounds like a desperate attempt to rationalize away the fear of random events.

Not in my case, no.  The vast majority of plane crashes have been due to mechanical failure or pilot error, or sometimes a combination of both, which I guess is what you might call random.  I recognize that. 

[citizen k]

Doesn't a terrorist attack have to be known as such in order to spread terror? There has been no claim of responsibility thus making this a terror attack less likely.

[grumbler]

Doesn't a terrorist attack have to be known as such in order to spread terror? There has been no claim of responsibility thus making this a terror attack less likely.

Indeed.  That is the greatest argument against a bomb.  However, not all airliner bombings have to be acts of terror.  The nombing of the PA flight over Lockerbee (sp?) was not terrorism per se.

[citizen k]

  The nombing of the PA flight over Lockerbee (sp?) was not terrorism per se.

Mass assassination?

[Caliga]

Indeed.  That is the greatest argument against a bomb.  However, not all airliner bombings have to be acts of terror.  The nombing of the PA flight over Lockerbee (sp?) was not terrorism per se.

Correct.  Also, there was a domestic US airliner downed by a bombing in the 1950s or 60s, and in the end it turned out the bomber took out an insurance policy on some relative (wife or mother or something) and downed the plane so he could collect on it.

[Neil]

Doesn't a terrorist attack have to be known as such in order to spread terror? There has been no claim of responsibility thus making this a terror attack less likely.

If noone had claimed responsibility, I would be shocked.  Whether or not they actually did it, that's another matter.

[DGuller]

Indeed.  That is the greatest argument against a bomb.  However, not all airliner bombings have to be acts of terror.  The nombing of the PA flight over Lockerbee (sp?) was not terrorism per se.

Correct.  Also, there was a domestic US airliner downed by a bombing in the 1950s or 60s, and in the end it turned out the bomber took out an insurance policy on some relative (wife or mother or something) and downed the plane so he could collect on it.

Talk about an overkill.

[grumbler]

Mass assassination?

Not necessarily.  Could easily be a protestant.

[Fireblade]

The dude who was 3rd in line to the Brazilian throne was onboard that flight...

My theory is that someone is trying to seize the Brazilian crown, Crusader Kings style.

[Caliga]

I find it hilarious that Brazil ever even had an emperor in the first place.  'Emperor Pedro' sounds like a taco stand or something. 

[DontSayBanana]

I find it hilarious that Brazil ever even had an emperor in the first place.  'Emperor Pedro' sounds like a taco stand or something. 

Or one of those odd little Chinese-Mexican hybrid places...

[Caliga]

Or one of those odd little Chinese-Mexican hybrid places...

[jimmy olsen]

I find it hilarious that Brazil ever even had an emperor in the first place.  'Emperor Pedro' sounds like a taco stand or something. 

[Caliga]

  Dude, admit Emperor Pedro sounds funny... like King Ralph or Doctor Detroit or something.

[Syt]

I wonder if the two names they found were "Mohammed" and "Ali" or something like that. A clear match between the terrorist list and the passenger list!

I've always thought the list of "names" used for that stuff is a complete joke for that reason... there have got to be, what, like 50 million people named Muhammad Hussein, for example?

A Polish colleague of mine, with an inconspicuous Polish name, was delayed at Paris airport for over an hour (missing her plane) because there was an arrest warrant out for someone with the same name. She recently married and used the opportunity to change her last name.