An aircraft has hit the Pirelli Tire building in Milan. It's been characterized as a terrorist attack. Apparently it was a Piper with explosives on board. Unless they're simply mistaking the fuel tank exploding for a deliberate one.

That's too bad. Italy was already on our side. I didn't want this to occur anywhere, but it if it had happened in Paris or Brussels, it might have had a more salutory effect on some of the idiotic attitudes there.

Fox is now saying that there is a report that the pilot sent an SOS, so it's still a confused situation.

[Update at 9:35AM PDT]

Now they're saying that it's looking less like terrorism, because of the multiple SOS signals. It's still bizarre though, that it would accidentally hit the tallest building in Milan, and probably the closest thing to a symbol of capitalism they have there. Of course, the timing is not optimal to maximize casualties (early evening in Italy, when many have presumably gone home). It may indeed be just a weird accident.

Even though it seems to be an accident, maybe it'll still be a wake-up call for the Euroweenies.

Even if it were actually terrorism, it seems unlikely. They'd just say that they hadn't been placating Arafat and pressuring Israel to commit suicide enough, and redouble their efforts.

I think it a little premature to make speculations on this incident. The name of the pilot has not even been released, was he Arab? Were there indeed explosives aboard? The SOS could have been a decoy to prevent him from possibly being shot down. (don't know how tight Italian airspace is) So many unanswered questions. If it were a terrorist attack one good thing did come of it.... one less suicide fanatic to worry about. Thanks for letting me ramble.

I'd back off from those "too bad it hit Italy; they were already on our side" remarks. It sounds a little too much like Michael Moore's "Why attack NYC? They didn't vote for Bush" comments after 9/11 for my tastes.

I'm not saying they're entirely equivalent, but there's a parallel there I'm a bit uncomfortable with.

I'm not saying it in the sense that they (or anyone) deserves it. Just that if it had happened there it might have had a better effect on the public opinion.

I suspect Michael Moore would offer a similar explanation for his own comments. The big difference is he would insult his accuser, and point to any reason his accuser would have to be biased against him. Also I still see that his statements were more morally repugnant.

No, Michael Moore said that the Red Country *deserved* to be bombed in a way that New York didn't because the people there voted for Bush.

Hi John McG & Rand:

Just look at where the plane hit that building and try to pretend it was an accident. The report from Carabibieri HQ was complete denial BS.

Engine failure... Yeah! That's it!

Prepothteoruthhh!
-Dan

I recall reading about the loneliest tree in the world in the Guiness book of world records. It was a desert palm located in the Sahara desert with no other tree for hundreds of miles.

It was hit by a truck a few years ago.

So, as unbelievable as this plane hitting the tallest building in Milan by accident may sound, there is an even more outlandish precedent.

There is also what George Will calls the "Ohio 1895" principle, supporting the idea that weird coincidences do happen. In 1895 there were only two automobiles in the entire State of Ohio. They collided with each other.