In essence, is there any real difference between Timothy McVey, the guys from 9/11 and the

[hedgehog]

murderers of the Petit family?

I'll grant you the guys on 9/11 committed suicide, and McVey, Hayes and Komisarjevsky planned on walking away. Still, the total disregard for the people they attacked, the total inability to see them as individuals seems to be a common thread. I think the victims were murdered because the criminals were so empty inside. Any political motive was mere window dressing.

All of which goes to the question, why are we spending so much money chasing the Taliban around west Asia? Wouldn't the money be better spent on police work and parole officers?

[Baalath]

1. For the individuals that died, no there isn't, but

for society there is a difference. If they are attacking our government and encouraging the downfall of it, they are also attacking everyone. In those cases they are often hoping to bring about the death of all who support the government.

This doesn't lessen in any amount the horror of an individual crime, but the idea of crimes against the state, does exist because of the violence would be extended to all members of the state or damage would be done to all members of the state, if possible.

Prayers for the family of the Petits. I can't imagine.

<weeps>

[Little Star]

2. There was a political motive for the 9/11 killers and also for

Timothy McVey.

There was no political motive for the murderers of the Petit family.

What do you mean "any political motive was mere window dressing" for 9/11 and McVey?
:shrug:

[hedgehog]

3. War and revolution is oftentimes when the sadists come out to

play under cover of being a good patriot.

How different are the men in the OP from those who water boarded suspected terrorists?

[Little Star]

4. 9/11 terrorists and Timothy McVey were politically

motivated and imho are no different from those who water boarded suspected terrorists, who were also politically motivated.

But the murderers in CT had no political motivation. They were just murderers.

To me there is a difference. I don't believe all nuts and killers are politically motivated.