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Pyroterrorism is not very effective.

Reader comment on item: Bushfire Jihad

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Jul 5, 2015 at 12:47

The Japanese tried to ignite fires in the western US using balloons during WWII, setting off a fire in Oregon that killed a woman and five children -- out of 9300 devices launced, and 300 making it to North America.

In the short run, bushfires can cause some property damage and loss of life, and require the marshalling of firefighters. As a long-term policy, however, there is little point in it, as the fires are inevitable. Where I live, the local Indians used to burn the land every year in order to make it easier to hunt game and find roots (like camas) that they prized for food. When the white men took over, they continued burning fields to increase their productivity, until this was banned a couple of years ago because of air pollution concerns.

Compared with other forms of terrorism, arson also suffers in effectiveness because most communities are better prepared to meet the threat. Knifing attacks are more effective, in terms of insuring casualties and generating fear.

Submitting....

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Daniel Pipes replies:

Thank you for this information, which is new to me.

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Reader comments (36) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Australian 2019-2020 bushfires [30 words]JohnJan 3, 2020 22:59257025
Ayman Odeh: "we've never harmed nature!" [182 words]MotkeNov 27, 2016 15:26234335
Find Them and Expel Them [78 words]DaveJul 5, 2015 21:46224069
Pyroterrorism is not very effective. [170 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Michael SJul 5, 2015 12:47224065
1I was also wondering [150 words]AlexandrosOct 9, 2012 07:57199622
In cities over the world [50 words]angelFeb 20, 2012 09:40193515
very alarming [19 words]DavidFeb 6, 2012 04:42193125
Goodness. [24 words]Evan MarkJul 29, 2011 15:08187840
What took them so long? [57 words]JimmyDec 17, 2010 08:00181070
brilliant idea [50 words]Manuel MatamorosJul 15, 2009 17:15158890
good idea? [52 words]stanbFeb 6, 2012 18:00158890
1This is no Bush [147 words]yuval Brandstetter MDJul 7, 2009 00:53158554
1whom you are making lies for ? [114 words]ashraf mohamedDec 22, 2010 17:59158554
1Question for Ashraf [220 words]RajeevDec 23, 2010 01:34158554
1bushfire Jihad [120 words]y Brandstetter MDDec 23, 2010 06:43158554
3Charity starts at home [190 words]dhimmi no moreDec 24, 2010 08:41158554
It is a probablity [194 words]Mary ConnorMay 22, 2009 02:02155969
Bizarre conclusions [138 words]yoyo of ausJul 8, 2009 20:33155969
Bizarre Jihad [99 words]Mary ConnorJul 15, 2009 08:43155969
silly [145 words]yoyo of ausJul 16, 2009 21:50155969
An Unlikely Scenario [76 words]Richard HApr 12, 2009 10:53153779
No surprise [19 words]Phil GreendApr 7, 2009 19:43153532
HYPOCRISY! [34 words]awabnaviApr 14, 2009 09:52153532
Questionable "evidence" for bushfire Jihad [312 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
JCMar 31, 2009 02:24153006
tragic event [47 words]Peter WilliamsMar 30, 2009 04:23152966
1Australian fires not terrorism [171 words]Lorna SalzmanMar 29, 2009 17:06152947
1Not terrorism? [146 words]Doug CorriganMar 30, 2009 20:03152947
Probably not [88 words]BronsonMar 31, 2009 06:59152947
Setting fires to escape "refugee" detention centers... [67 words]J.S.Mar 29, 2009 15:36152941
3No more migrants, please! [271 words]wendy hillMar 28, 2009 08:20152881
Wendy, Wendy, Wendy [350 words]SarahJan 18, 2010 16:55152881
Bushfire Jihad in Australia? [31 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
JamesMar 28, 2009 06:26152878
The "politically" correct mentatilty of the world seeks to turn a blind eye to Islamic Terror. [94 words]John DavisMar 27, 2009 13:18152855
Propaganda by Jihadists [174 words]KshatriyaMar 27, 2009 10:04152850
Crackpots [147 words]BronsonMar 27, 2009 04:38152837
The evil of men's hearts [119 words]Rebecca MouldsMar 28, 2009 16:31152837

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