# Explosions at Boston Marathon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781 "2013-04-15T19:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 64
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1261 "2013-04-21T20:49:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I doubt it. It just looks like a different transliteration of his name. I’ve seen it spelled Dzhokhar, Djokhar, and Djohar in news reports. It’s a Russianized form of _jawhar_, which is the Arabicized form of the original Persian word, _gawhar_, which means ‘jewel’ or ‘essence’. It’s used as a name for either boys or girls; the Persian language has no grammatical gender at all. It derives from Middle Persian _gōhr_, from Old Persian _gauθra_ or _gavaθra_, possibly from a root _gav_- meaning ‘increase’. When the word _gawhar_ was borrowed from Persian into Arabic, because Arabic doesn’t have the /g/ consonant, they substituted _j_. Further, Russian doesn’t have the /h/ sound, so they substituted _kh_. Russian also doesn’t have a single letter for “j,” so they spell it with a combination of two Cyrillic letters: “dzh” (the “zh” is a single letter in Cyrillic). Meanwhile, the diphthong _aw_ coalesced into the vowel /o/, which is how it’s pronounced in modern Persian spoken in Tehran. All these adaptations across languages make the original etymon pretty well unrecognizable any more. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1262 "2013-04-21T22:35:01Z")
tv news is saying he is responding in writing to some questions. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1263 "2013-04-21T22:53:42Z")
There’s a photo [here](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/21/boston-bombings-suspect-marathon/2100733/) of Dzhokhar climbing out of the boat under his own power. I had assumed he was already shot in the neck and in critical condition by this point, but obviously not. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1264 "2013-04-21T23:37:46Z")
I wonder what can be done if there’s evidence that the older brother did get training in Russia? Would the Russians be asked to investigate? Thats such a volatile region. Russia has battled the chechnyan rebels since the 1990’s. We sure don’t need to kick over that anthill. I hope theres no direct connection to them. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1265 "2013-04-22T00:00:17Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > There’s a photo [here](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/21/boston-bombings-suspect-marathon/2100733/) of Dzhokhar climbing out of the boat under his own power. I had assumed he was already shot in the neck and in critical condition by this point, but obviously not. Sounds like he tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the mouth; he failed. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1266 "2013-04-22T00:08:11Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I wonder what can be done if there’s evidence that the older brother did get training in Russia? Would the Russians be asked to investigate? The Russian security service was already reported to be heavily, one might say enthusiastically, involved in identifying the Tsarnaevs. No need to ask them; they’re certainly working their side already. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1267 "2013-04-22T00:33:52Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Sounds like he tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the mouth; he failed. Yes, I had wrongly assumed it happened while he was still in the boat. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1268 "2013-04-22T00:45:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Thats such a volatile region. Russia has battled the chechnyan rebels since the 1990’s. Since about 1790. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1269 "2013-04-22T01:58:26Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Yes, I had wrongly assumed it happened while he was still in the boat. Well, he didn’t shoot anything after he was out of the boat. It appears he was able to climb out of the boat after the neck wound was made. ---
**Author:** ![Reyemile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@Reyemile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reyemile)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1270 "2013-04-22T02:04:46Z")
Newest news reports on [Boston.com](http://Boston.com) are suggesting that Tamerland was captured mostly intact and was handcuffed, pinned under several officers, when Dzhokhar’s car came barreling towards him; the officers got out of the way, but Tamerland couldn’t, and he was dragged behind the SUV for some distance, suffering fatal wounds in the process. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1271 "2013-04-22T02:40:39Z")
> [@Reyemile](#): > > Newest news reports on [Boston.com](http://Boston.com) are suggesting that Tamerland was captured mostly intact and was handcuffed, pinned under several officers, when Dzhokhar’s car came barreling towards him; the officers got out of the way, but Tamerland couldn’t, and he was dragged behind the SUV for some distance, suffering fatal wounds in the process. I wonder if Dzhokhar could be charged with an additional count of murder in that case? I certainly hope so. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1272 "2013-04-22T02:47:10Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I wonder if Dzhokhar could be charged with an additional count of murder in that case? I certainly hope so. We should give him that one as a freebie. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1273 "2013-04-22T02:49:03Z")
> [@Reyemile](#): > > Newest news reports on [Boston.com](http://Boston.com) are suggesting that Tamerland was captured mostly intact and was handcuffed, pinned under several officers, when Dzhokhar’s car came barreling towards him; the officers got out of the way, but Tamerland couldn’t, and he was dragged behind the SUV for some distance, suffering fatal wounds in the process. The report I read was that big brother charger the police, little brother went the other way in the car. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1274 "2013-04-22T04:11:07Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > We should give him that one as a freebie. I hear what you’re saying, and I think it’s too bad he didn’t kill himself, too, but maybe having to live with the realization that he killed his own brother might just drive home to him what a worthless piece of amphibian shit he really is. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1275 "2013-04-22T05:03:29Z")
The police are speculating that the brothers had a mutual suicide pact and that Tamerlan killed his brother knowing his brother would prefer to die rather than be captured. ---
**Author:** ![opossum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2bfe46/32.png) [@opossum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/opossum)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1276 "2013-04-22T05:21:53Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > No. Unless you can show examples from other western liberal democracies where injured suspects in serious cases were denied medical care. > > Actually, in pretty much any other western liberal democracy, the accused would already have the right to medial care under universal health care plans. 😉 I wasn’t really thinking of the Canadians or the Dutch, I think in most countries in the world Dzokhar would have been tortured to death by now. Think China or Cuba or the place they came from. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1277 "2013-04-22T06:47:37Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > The police are speculating that the brothers had a mutual suicide pact and that Tamerlan killed his brother knowing his brother would prefer to die rather than be captured. You have it the other way around. Dzhokhar killed Tamarlan and he is the survivor. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1278 "2013-04-22T07:27:17Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > You have it the other way around. Dzhokhar killed Tamarlan and he is the survivor. Oops, so I did. Thanks for the correction. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1279 "2013-04-22T07:44:09Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > The police are speculating that the brothers had a mutual suicide pact and that Tamerlan killed his brother knowing his brother would prefer to die rather than be captured. Or, as my wife suggested, at that point Djokhar was coming to his senses, and was pissed at his brother for (as he saw it) getting him into this mess. I doubt she’s right about this, but I admire her thinking out of the box. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/1280 "2013-04-22T07:57:59Z")
> [@opossum](#): > > I wasn’t really thinking of the Canadians or the Dutch, I think in most countries in the world Dzokhar would have been tortured to death by now. Think China or Cuba or the place they came from. Highly doubtful, considering that [Freedom House [pdf, at p. 4]](http://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/FIW%202013%20Booklet%20-%20for%20Web_0.pdf) ranks 90 of the world’s countries as Free, and 58 as Partly Free; only 47 are ranked as Not Free. That strongly suggests that in a majority of the countries of the world, someone accused of these types of crimes would receive some sort of trial and due process. Respect for the rule of law and democratic institutions has been steadily increasing world-wide. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781.md?page=63) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781.md?page=65)