Vandalism and response

[Conan The Librarian]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/07/lawmakers-push-to-protect-electric-grid-after-report-on-attack/

[spruce]

I remember hearing about this when it happened, but there weren't many details.  The media downplayed the coverage and it was made to look like an act of vandalism.
 
The details emerging now indicates it was a well planned coordinated attack, not just a few vandals shooting up some transformers. 

[Conan The Librarian]

It's hard to tell. It's being characterized as a well coordinated attack. But I can think of a couple of guys who as malicious teenagers did things just like this. They eventually got caught, much to our relief, but their specialty was construction sites. They would shoot up heavy equipment and do hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage and shut down progress while repairs were made. Turns out they were just stupid kids that had learned to focus their stupidity rather than just spread it around at random like most kids.

[ironglow]

It could may be stupid kids..but it could be a practice run for terrorists to one day hit a couple hundred similar places at once, across the country.  All the more reason for the public to be well armed and alerted..
  Stupid kids should be treated as such..repayment and time to be served in an appropriate facility.  If it is adults and sabotage, they should be charged with attempted murder, since people sometimes die as a result of power outages.  If somebody does die..they should be charged with murder, just as one who kills while committing a robbery.

[SHOOTALL]

It is unfortunate that when something works and achieves a goal others take notice even if it is a bad goal. Years ago when the first assault weapons ban was being forced on the American citizens I noted to friends how a single person with criminal intent could be more devastating with a shotgun in a crowded area than either rifle or pistol. We are now seeing this take place , first one now several. The copy cat is a real threat . Terrorist would be no different , if they see something work they would try it. So either sniper attack on infrastructure or what ever should be a concern. I have read that the goal of terrorist is to cause disruption of normal life . They hope if the citizens endure enough disruption they will side with the terrorist.