Senator Dianne Feinstein is attempting to whip up support for an e451 (a real life version of Fahrenheit 451). Speaking of recent arrests in New York she commented:
I am particularly struck that the alleged bombers made use of online bombmaking guides like the Anarchist Cookbook and Inspire Magazine. These documents are not, in my view, protected by the First Amendment and should be removed from the Internet.
Can you guess where the alleged bombers got their copy of the Anarchist Cookbook?
Christopher Ingraham (Washington Post) in Dianne Feinstein says the Anarchist’s Cookbook should be “removed from the Internet” points to the complaint in this case which says the undercover (UC) agent was the source of the Anarchist Cookbook.
But the details are even better.

Page 9, paragraph 23:
On or about August 17, 2014, SIDDIQUI and the UC went to a public library. SIDDIQUI states to the UC that she remembered the conversation about “science” and that they should consult chemistry books for beginners books at the library. At the library, SIDDIQUI looked up the on-line catalog for chemistry books for beginners, but stated there were a limited number of books about chemistry.
Page 12, paragraph 35 reads in part:
The UC and VELENTZAS the discussed the fact that the UC had downloaded The Anarchist Cookbook.9 VELENTZAS suggested that the UC print out the parts of the book they would need. During the conversation, the UC stated, “We read chemistry books with breakfast. Like, who does that?” VELENTZAS responded, “People who want to make history.”
Page 14, paragraph 44 reads in part:
…VELENTZAS asked whether the UC still had the PDF file—referring to The Anarchist Cookbook. The US responded affirmatively and indicated he/she had printed the relevant portions for the group.
All told the complaint runs twenty-nine (29) pages, double-spaced, so you really should read it for yourself. Even with the assistance from the UC, practicing soldering (I’m not joking), reading chemistry books, viewing YouTube videos, the defendants posed more of a danger to themselves than anyone else.
The author of the Anarchist Cookbook has called for it to go out of print because its underlying premise was flawed (I wrote the Anarchist Cookbook in 1969. Now I see its premise as flawed by William Powell):
…
Over the years, I have come to understand that the basic premise behind the Cookbook is profoundly flawed. The anger that motivated the writing of the Cookbook blinded me to the illogical notion that violence can be used to prevent violence. I had fallen for the same irrational pattern of thought that led to US military involvement in both Vietnam and Iraq. The irony is not lost on me.
…
You do know that Dianne voted to support the invasion of Iraq. Yes? Now that the war is unpopular, she was “mis-led.”
Was Dianne mis-led in August of 2014 when she said?:
Feinstein Statement on Airstrikes Against ISIL
“I strongly support the president’s authorization for airstrikes against ISIL. This is not a typical terrorist organization–it is a terrorist army, operating with military expertise, advancing across Iraq and rapidly consolidating its position.
“ISIL is capturing new Iraqi towns every day, is reported to be in control of Mosul Dam and is engaging in a campaign of ethnic cleansing that appears to be attempted genocide. I believe that once this group solidifies its hold on what it calls the Islamic State, its next target may be Baghdad.
“It has become clear that ISIL is recruiting fighters in Western countries, training them to fight its battles in the Middle East and possibly returning them to European and American cities to attack us in our backyard. We simply cannot allow this to happen.
“It takes an army to defeat an army, and I believe that we either confront ISIL now or we will be forced to deal with an even stronger enemy in the future. Inaction is no longer an option. I support actions by the administration to coordinate efforts with Iraq and other allies to use our military strength and targeting expertise to the fullest extent possible.”
The “moral calculus” of Dianne Feinstein seems to run something like this:
Use of violence by the United States: Great!
Use of violence by others against the United States: No!, No!, No!
Powell gets it right when he says that violence won’t stop violence, so that refutes Diane’s first premise.
Violence against ordinary citizens and local police forces are unjustifiable. They have no more of a voice in acts of foreign violence by the United States than the victims of that violence. Let’s just leave it at that for her second premise.
PS: With regard to the Anarchist Cookbook, yes, you can find it online, or you can order a hard copy, along with similar titles from Delta Press.
A word of warning: DYI explosives are more dangerous to you than any intended target. It is possible to make homemade explosives but why bother? You can buy/steal explosives and professional detonators far more safely than you can follow the DYI route. The smudged diagrams, bad photocopies, etc. give the appearance of forbidden or secret knowledge. Don’t fall for it.
No, I’m not going to tell you where/how to buy such things but will say that anyone who offers bomb making advice, components, vehicles or entire bombs, is likely an undercover agent.
Update: Apologies, I forgot to insert the link to the complaint.