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I thought the same thing: Some drunk asshole with a rifle and box of bullets. Shoots the transformers randomly, finds a spot where something finally happens,

I thought the same thing: Some drunk asshole with a rifle and box of bullets. Shoots the transformers randomly, finds a spot where something finally happens, with the oil pouring out, runs out of bullets, and goes home. Hanlon's razor: "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." Next, bullet holes in rural road signs will be evidence of domestic terrorism.

diydsp 13y ago
I agree rags, especially liberal-outraging-stoking ones like the Atlantic trump up the details to scare everyone into anxiety for control and profit. And I would totally buy the explanation of drunk dumbass. The only thing that suggests something more sinister is that the attack was preceded by someone entering a vault and cutting telephone wires. That suggests to me more of a "probing" to see just how secure these facilities are. With that in mind, it might not be an actual terrorist cell, but some big agency testing out the response of others. Speculation, but it makes sense for the FBI to look deeper into this.
fennecfoxen 13y ago
FWIW, the people investigating strongly believe that this assessment is wrong. However, they are not giving out all the details to corroborate their assessment (they fear copycats). "This wasn't an incident where Billy-Bob and Joe decided, after a few brewskis, to come in and shoot up a substation," Mark Johnson, retired vice president of transmission for PG&E, told the utility security conference, according to a video of his presentation. "This was an event that was well thought out, well planned and they targeted certain components." When reached, Mr. Johnson declined to comment further". -- "Assault on California Power Station Raises Alarm on Potential for Terrorism", Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304851104579359141941621778 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405270230485110...

diydsp 13y ago

I agree rags, especially liberal-outraging-stoking ones like the Atlantic trump up the details to scare everyone into anxiety for control and profit. And I would totally buy the explanation of drunk dumbass. The only thing that suggests something more sinister is that the attack was preceded by someone entering a vault and cutting telephone wires. That suggests to me more of a "probing" to see just how secure these facilities are. With that in mind, it might not be an actual terrorist cell, but some big agency testing out the response of others. Speculation, but it makes sense for the FBI to look deeper into this.

fennecfoxen 13y ago

FWIW, the people investigating strongly believe that this assessment is wrong. However, they are not giving out all the details to corroborate their assessment (they fear copycats). "This wasn't an incident where Billy-Bob and Joe decided, after a few brewskis, to come in and shoot up a substation," Mark Johnson, retired vice president of transmission for PG&E, told the utility security conference, according to a video of his presentation. "This was an event that was well thought out, well planned and they targeted certain components." When reached, Mr. Johnson declined to comment further". -- "Assault on California Power Station Raises Alarm on Potential for Terrorism", Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304851104579359141941621778 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405270230485110...