Why the Times Square "Bomber" did it.

The prevailing theory is that he was avenging the deaths of the Pakistani Taliban, etc.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/beast_turned_his_american_dream_IXkttGZBhezt6ownki8lCP

Maybe.

My theory goes like this: Mr. Faisl lived "the American Dream". He got a Student Visa and not only got a bachelor's degree, but an MBA as well. He married, bought a house, and had two children. He enjoyed the popular culture such as fast food and Red Lobster, etc. But he encountered like the rest of us a poor economy and lost his home to foreclosure. I think he went to Pakistan, got connected to an organization looking for a "mule" or an agent who would plant a car bomb per their bidding. And he agreed. Not because of ideology or outrage. That may have been present since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and/or Iraq. But rather, he agreed because he was given a chunk of cash to do it. Just a business deal. Notice that he didn't stay in the car to be blown up in it like a religious martyr. He took the money and ran. He may have in fact been told to die in the explosion but he opted otherwise.

We won't know the details until he gives them or are otherwise obtained.

Did something happen in Pakistan that forced him to suddenly switch sides? By all accounts, he was doing well in the US -- according to the Post article, he quit his lucrative job, abandoned a house full of possessions, and just took off to join the terrorists. I'm wondering if there's a lot he's afraid to tell us. Was someone he loved threatened if he didn't comply? Was he cornered into this act? Why did he -- with a degree in engineering -- construct such an incompetent bomb? Did he intend for it not to blow up? His neighbors describe him as often tinkering with his lawnmower, so one would assume he had some basic mechanical knowledge.

The mystery just deepens.

rational or otherwise.

He's a psychopath. Sane people don't rationalize killing civilians to avenge a government's wrongs. He was also probably vaguely excited to be so powerful, with such powerful enemies, and if it had happened as planned he would finally be "somebody" instead of "nobody". As it is he got his wish. Now he's "somebody", and I would like to suggest we put these kinds of people not in prison but in zoos, behind thick one way mirrored glass walls with a bale of straw to sleep on, a chew toy, and daily feeding and hosings-out of their cages.

Ethically speaking, nobody acts in a vacuum and there is an excuse or rationale behind almost all of our decisions to act or not to act.

He consciously and conscientiously decided to try to injure and/or murder as many civilians in the heart of New York City (symbol of this country) for a reason or reasons.

the nuance of modifying semantics however does nothing to deter my opinion from the fact that one has to be NOT entirely sane to contemplate randomly taking the lives of people to avenge a perceived wrong or slight.

That's caveman atavism at its finest, and THAT is painting caveman in a bad light, considering their rationale was survival in this life, not some mythical afterlife.

No, I think people like this guy (and incidentally a lot of gungeoners) fantasize about having a worthy excuse to JUSTIFY their fantasies of killing another human. That's not sane, whatever the environmental or genetic factors.

Sooner or later any feeble excuse will do as a means to that end.

"Muslim" and "Islam".

Tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock...

his motivations before we condemn him. :sarcasm:

The "bomb" components were just thrown together in a manner that would never had exploded. I think he made a dog's breakfast of it to ensure that it would not explode.

that just does not compute; it was not necessary since he was here legally anyway (? I assume--don't have TV, so have not been following every detail).

did he really have a plan going back years of "blending in," appearing to be a loyal, new citizen, and then--KABOOM! --?

the fact that he did not stay with the car to be blown up is also telling imo. interesting questions raised upthread about coercion and/or bribery in the face of economic hardship, and the sudden transformation, seemingly "out of nowhere." not to mention the incompetency of the bomb-making effort.

he was truly americanized and enjoying it.

you could be right on

He would get a pension. That is his family would be taken care of. Had he made a good getaway he also would be promoted within the terrorist Org.

weather or not it actually exploded... that is to say possibly he did not WANT it to explode only to be recognized as the bomber.
Thus a pension to care for his family.

Just thinking devils advocate here.