Dorner Dark Thirty

The wrinkle here with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s claim that his department “did not intentionally burn down that cabin” is that police voices were heard on Tuesday, in more than one instance, yelling about plans to “burn the motherfucker out.” — from Burning Down a Building With a Fugitive In It: Always Illegal, Sometimes Practical (Gawker)

Pyrotechnic tear gas?

As we discussed the other day in response to the viral “I’m Not Chris Dorner” photo, the suspension of due process, the forsaking of trial by jury, eliminating the distinction between “criminal” and “evil,” and just burning people to a crisp without the opportunity to give up has become standard operating procedure overseas. If there is anything to be gleaned from the photos from Big Bear, with the smoldered foundation and the military vehicles, it’s that the scene could as well be a photo of a drone strike.

And the authorities are surprised by the sympathy for Dorner as extra-judicial killing comes home.

In terms of visual (and moral) dislocation, I thought this one was interesting too. San Bernardino or Afghanistan?

(photo 1: John Valenzuela/The Sun via AP. caption: In this aerial photo, law enforcement authorities investigate the burn-out cabin Wednesday, Feb.13, 2013 where accused quadruple-murder suspect Christopher Dorner was believed to have died after barricading himself inside, during a Tuesday stand-off with police in the Angeles Oaks area of Big Bear, Calif. San Bernardino Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah MacKay was killed and another wounded during the shootout with Dorner. photo 2: Will Lester / The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin / Pool. caption: A San Bernardino County Sheriff SWAT team returns to the command post at Bear Mountain near Big Bear Lake, Calif. after searching for Christopher Jordan Dorner on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.)