ADVERTISING KAMIKAZE STYLE

Left academic blogger Tim Dunlop can't quite figure the latest Bali bombings:

I don't know about you, but this attack feels particularly senseless, if you can meaningfully talk about degrees of senselessness when it comes to this sort of action. I mean, it is simply impossible to imagine that this will help with anyone's agenda.

The attacks are easy to understand if one assumes the goal is to kill non-Muslims and destroy the local tourist industry. But, commenter Chris Sheil also can't see this:

Yes Tim, I've been puzzling over this. It seems outside the frame of terrorism in general, as what hand of what government is attempting to be forced in what direction through this? Beats me. In the absence of any plausible explanation, I'm thus inclined to think it internal terrorist inc advertising - a capacity demonstration aimed at impressing the higher-ups, to gain more funding, etc.

Next thing we know the suicide bombers will be raising money by selling advertising space on their backpacks. And people say Madison Avenue is sick...