# Anarchists Wanted to Attack NATO, Republican Convention: Feds **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 2, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627 "2012-05-02T13:00:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/21 "2012-05-02T15:33:01Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > :smack: Maybe you need to smack yourself harder to help your thoughts settle. You cited an article about anarchists wanting to attack NATO, then asked: > [@you](#): > > Why is it, Anarchists (fundamentally no Government Philosophy) only target Republicans (my perception)? …which suggests you see NATO as a Republican entity. Don’t blame Czarcasm for finding your line of thought to be of questionable coherence. ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/22 "2012-05-02T15:38:56Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Maybe you need to smack yourself harder to help your thoughts settle. You cited an article about anarchists wanting to attack NATO, then asked: Yes, because it didnt mention any others. No sir, the smack was for you. Additionally, there was more conversation later. > [@](#): > > …which suggests you see NATO as a Republican entity. Don’t blame Czarcasm for finding your line of thought to be of questionable coherence. No it doesnt suggest that. Read the complete title and article then come and play. I and the article no more states NATO is Republican then the bridge they targeted in another article Putting words in my mouth so you can rebuttal them is a elementary debate tactic. Strawmen burn fast and easy ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/23 "2012-05-02T15:41:32Z")
How can quoting you directly be putting words in your mouth? ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/24 "2012-05-02T15:46:32Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > How can quoting you directly be putting words in your mouth? How can the Republican National Convention not be Republican. Did you see the Democratic National Convention? That being said Please quote where I said that the bridge and NATO specifically are Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/25 "2012-05-02T15:47:01Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > No it doesnt suggest that. Read the complete title and article then come and play. I and the article no more states NATO is Republican then the bridge they targeted in another article > > Putting words in my mouth so you can rebuttal them is a elementary debate tactic. Strawmen burn fast and easy Let’s walk through this slowly, step by step. You quoted an article which began with two statements of fact: 1a) These anarchists were arrested for allegedly plotting to blow up a Cleveland, Ohio bridge 1b) These anarchists also allegedly talked about attacking an upcoming NATO summit in Chicago Based on this article, you raise the question: > [@](#): > > Why is it, Anarchists (fundamentally no Government Philosophy) only target Republicans (my perception)? The rest of us are trying to figure out why you consider alleged anarchist plots to blow up a bridge and attack a NATO summit to be evidence for (rather than against) the proposition that anarchists “only target Republicans”. The obvious explanation is that you include “bridges” and “NATO” within the group “Republicans”. QED. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/26 "2012-05-02T15:50:20Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > How can the Republican National Convention not be Republican. Did you see the Democratic National Convention? > > That being said > > Please quote where I said that the bridge and NATO specifically are Republican. You know, I’ll just be generous and assume that in your muddled manner of writing you MEANT to say: “Why do anarchists target Republicans (and occasionally other targets like bridges and NATO) but not Democrats?” ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/27 "2012-05-02T15:51:03Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Let’s walk through this slowly, step by step. You quoted an article which began with two statements of fact: > > 1a) These anarchists were arrested for allegedly plotting to blow up a Cleveland, Ohio bridge > > 1b) These anarchists also allegedly talked about attacking an upcoming NATO summit in Chicago > > Based on this article, you raise the question: > > The rest of us are trying to figure out why you consider alleged anarchist plots to blow up a bridge and attack a NATO summit to be evidence for (rather than against) the proposition that anarchists “only target Republicans”. The obvious explanation is that you include “bridges” and “NATO” within the group “Republicans”. QED. My conclusion is because the DNC werent on their radar. So the RNC is, and the DNC isnt. Additionally, as I linked later, there was another example of the RNC being targeted. Later in the thread, a poster listed articles for DNC targeting. And while they didnt plan to bomb them, violence did break out at the protest. And what was my response to that poster and my response to my changing perception? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/28 "2012-05-02T15:57:16Z")
Question, **dngnb8** : These guys are all violent idiots, right? Nearly everyone on the board would agree with that. Also, they don’t represent anything other than themselves. So why do you care whether their poorly thought out half baked ideology contains any sort of contradiction. “Excuse me, Mr. Idiot Bomber, I think I’ve spotted a contradiction in your reasoning!” ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/29 "2012-05-02T16:09:44Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > This is a very interesting discussion, but not as exciting as I originally thought it would be. That’s pretty much my feeling on 90% of threads I read in GD. ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/30 "2012-05-02T16:43:37Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Question, **dngnb8** : These guys are all violent idiots, right? Agreed > [@](#): > > Nearly everyone on the board would agree with that. Also, they don’t represent anything other than themselves. We can make this presumption, but maybe, in their minds, they represent a better idea of Government > [@](#): > > So why do you care whether their poorly thought out half baked ideology contains any sort of contradiction. I raised the issue because there was someone on the board I moderate who was a self professed anarchist, and who was arrested for planning to bomb the RNC. Thus, I was sharing a perception. As I said, one poster was good enough to post links showing DNC involvement as well. And while they werent planned bombings, they were protested. It seems people only read what they wish to read then respond here. > [@](#): > > “Excuse me, Mr. Idiot Bomber, I think I’ve spotted a contradiction in your reasoning!” You can apply this to most extremists, whether political, religious, or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/31 "2012-05-02T16:43:59Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > My conclusion is because the DNC werent on their radar. So the RNC is, and the DNC isnt. Additionally, as I linked later, there was another example of the RNC being targeted. The point people are trying to convey to you is that you asked why anarchists _only_ attack Republican targets right after you listed some non-political targets they were attacking. If somebody had posted _“A gang of anarchists arrested for allegedly plotting to blow up a Cleveland, Ohio bridge also talked about attacking an upcoming NATO summit in Chicago and this summer’s Republican National Convention in Florida, according to authorities.”_ and then asked _“Why is it, Anarchists only target bridges?”_ would you see the disconnect? ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/32 "2012-05-02T16:44:56Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > My perception on this topic has definitely changed. For those of you who fail to read the whole thread, I thought I would quote what I have said earlier. ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/33 "2012-05-02T16:47:11Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The point people are trying to convey to you is that you asked why anarchists _only_ attack Republican targets right after you listed some non-political targets they were attacking. > > If somebody had posted _“A gang of anarchists arrested for allegedly plotting to blow up a Cleveland, Ohio bridge also talked about attacking an upcoming NATO summit in Chicago and this summer’s Republican National Convention in Florida, according to authorities.”_ and then asked _“Why is it, Anarchists only target bridges?”_ would you see the disconnect? I would not presume that the poster thinks NATO and RNC are bridges. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/34 "2012-05-02T16:47:38Z")
Yeah, no need to pile on **dng** here. Once the info was provided that the DNC was in fact targeted he quickly acknowledged the fact. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/35 "2012-05-02T16:52:53Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > A true, thoughtful anarchist would tend to target liberals, assuming they bought into the “Democrats are the party of big-government” theory. On the other hand, a thoughtful anarchist might care more about the Patriot Act and other Big Brother type iniatives that tend to originate from the right. These lines of thought may seem obvious in principle, but really, a thoughtful anarchist may be thinking even more deeply. You may recall that several prominent Klan leaders said they hoped Obama won the 2008 election. When asked why, they said it was because it would wake up White America and touch off the long-prophesized Racial Holy War\*. Anarchists could adopt the same line of thinking, and disrupt a convention in order to ensure the success of the side they think is _more_ anti-anarchistic. The logic would be that once the Democrats are able to institute a big enough government, or the Republicans are able to sufficiently regulate the vagina, the people will be so cheesed off that they’ll all become anarchists too. \*Klansmen don’t believe in a racial holy war; it’s more in line with urban racist (ie., Neo-Nazi and skinhead) ideology. They do believe that mainstream white people will adopt their views when the darkies take over, though, so it’s close enough for government work. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/36 "2012-05-02T16:58:12Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > Is Anarchist just a smoke screen for Militant Liberal? Actually, Anarchists seem to be a smoke screen for Militant Conservative, as they are far more successful and eager to destroy the government through infiltration and subversion than a couple of homemade bombs will ever be ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/37 "2012-05-02T17:33:03Z")
Your honor, you may think these men are merely guilty of attempting to blow up buildings and kill people. But I’ve uncovered a much more serious offense: _Liberal Bias_. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/38 "2012-05-02T17:40:40Z")
What makes people say that Democrats are the party of Big Government, anyway? Republicans want a government that’s at least as big as the one that Democrats want; they just want it big in different ways. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/39 "2012-05-02T17:53:15Z")
Anarchists tend to oppose government due it being authoritarian (anarchosyndicalists and anarchocapitalists alike). Those that believe government is insufficiently authoritarian are willing to work within the system. If there is a party in government that is more authoritarian than the other it’d be a little unfair to expect the revolutionary anarchists to be as neutral an arbiter between them as those burgeoning proponents of independence at Fox, wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627/40 "2012-05-02T19:40:49Z")
From [_In These Times:_](http://inthesetimes.com/article/13052/movement_building_and_summit_hopping) > [@](#): > > Features » May 1, 2012 > > \*\*Movement Building and ‘Summit Hopping’ > > Organizers debate the potential of mass demonstrations against NATO. \*\* > > BY Rebecca Burns > > While world leaders prepare the agenda for the NATO summit in Chicago this May, organizers are busy mobilizing a war-weary but politically re-energized U.S. public to greet them. Expectations are high for a show of popular strength against the military alliance. > > But will the new politics inspired by the Occupy movement be dragged back into old routines by a familiar showdown between police and protesters? In These Times convened three peace and economic justice organizers for a discussion of the promise and pitfalls of targeting the summit: Patricia Hunt, an organizer with the Chicago-based Coalition Against NATO/G8; Judith LeBlanc, field director for Peace Action and co-coordinator of the Network for a NATO-Free Future counter-summit; and Staughton Lynd, peace activist, historian and member of Occupy Youngstown. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627.md?page=3)