Greg Sargent is now tweeting that the FBI is characterizing the Boston bombings as a “terrorist attack,” though it’s unclear whether it’s domestic or international in nature. Some of the usual suspects, of course, are already asserting it’s an act of “Islamic terrorism” (see below), but that was the initial suspicion in Oklahoma City as well. We’ll just have to wait and see.
The President just spoke briefly, and said it was premature to “jump to conclusions.”
Here are some remainders of a strange and troubling day:
* I don’t know what it is with the New York Post‘s coverage of the Boston bombings: they are still reporting 12 are dead (officials are saying two confirmed deaths), and now is claiming (and Boston police are denying) a “Saudi national” is in custody as a suspect.
* At Foreign Policy, Daniel Altman looks at the possible economic impact of fighting–or not fighting–North Korea.
* Gun lobbyist stupidly bragging about involvement in drafting of Manchin-Toomey gun bill.
* At Ten Miles Square, James Wimberley assesses the potentially radical Vatican Reform agenda of Pope Francis’ Gang of Eight.
* At College Guide, Daniel Luzer reports on a hedge-fund king seeking to get access to teacher retirement funds. Yikes!
And in non-political news:
* Pulitzers announced; New York Times wins four.
In honor of those killed and injured in Boston, and their friends and family, here is the “Dona Nobis Pacem” from Bach’s Mass In B Minor, as performed by the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig.
Selah.
