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Mom Hunts Down Terrorists Online
ABC News ^ | 9/9/2004

Posted on 09/13/2004 4:18:36 AM PDT by TrebleRebel

CHARLES GIBSON, ABC NEWS

But first, we have an extraordinary update. As you know, we have an occasional series that we call "Take 2" in which we bring you up to date on stories that we've talked about previously.

graphics: take 2

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) And this one involves a young National Guardsman who tried to pass military secrets to al Qaeda, or someone he thought was al Qaeda. And it also involves the Montana mom who uncovered him. Last Thursday, a military jury convicted Specialist Ryan Anderson of attempted treason and sentenced him to life in prison. But the story of the woman who set the trap for him is even more astonishing.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Voice Over) Shannen Rossmiller looks like other moms in tiny Conrad, Montana. But when she goes on-line, she poses as a Muslim extremist, posting messages on radical websites to lure real terrorists into exposing themselves. She told a BBC reporter that 9/11 spurred her to action.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER, TRAPPED TRAITOR ON-LINE

I wanted to do something. You know, you sit back here in Montana and you're watching things happen.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Voice Over) Posing as an Algerian extremist, she exchanged e-mails with Amir Abdul Rashid, better known as 26 year-old Ryan Anderson, a troubled Muslim convert and a member of the National Guard based in Fort Lewis, Washington. In e-mails, Anderson, part of a tank crew, promised to reveal US military vulnerabilities to Shannen who e- mailed with him.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

He was willing to definitely give up troop locations, troop strengths, weaknesses.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Voice Over) Shannen contacted US authorities. Posing as al Qaeda members, they met with Anderson who revealed design flaws he knew firsthand.

graphics: test from e-mails

CHARLES GIBSON

(Voice Over) "The easiest way to destroy a tank," he told them, "is to place a large mine in the road and pave over it." Shannen was the star witness at Anderson's court-martial and is still patrolling the Internet looking to unmask terrorists.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) And Shannen Rossmiller is joining us this morning here in our studios in New York. Nice to have you with us.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Thank you.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) I, you said after 9/11 you wanted to do something. But where did you get the idea to troll the Internet to try to entice or entrap potential terrorists?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

It was just a process that really evolved. It started with curiosity and wanting to understand why what happened on September 11th happened. And it just evolved into curiosity and from there I decided to see if I could pass off as a -Islamic extremist.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) But, but I wouldn't even know how to start. I mean, how do you find them?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Well, you got to know where to look and that takes some time, you know, to find out where some of these places are.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) You didn't know when you started.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

I, no. I did not know, no, no.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Okay. So, you began to find some websites that, that are frequented by extremists?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Yes. Internet forums, usually.

graphics: terror detective

graphics: mom battles terrorists

CHARLES GIBSON

(Voice Over) Now, do you contact somebody that you see on this web-site or do you post some kind of message hoping they'll contact you?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Both, really. It, it depends on what I believe that person might have as far as information, whether or not I would contact them first or post something and hope -that they would contact me based on what I had posted.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) And in this case, in the Anderson case, did he contact you or you contacted him?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

No, I contacted him.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Okay. So, being in a small town in Montana is a long way from being in the Middle East where you posed you, as somebody from?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Absolutely, yes.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Okay. So, how do you keep them from tripping you up?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Lots of ways. I basically figured, you know, that if I was going to pass myself off, I needed to look as though I would be coming from that part of the world.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Right.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

So, different software is available to be able to configure your computer and what not, your address, to, you know, appear as though it would be coming from Pakistan or Yemen or anywhere, really.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) But what if he says I know that town in Pakistan? Where's the local market? Where's the local mosque? Where's the, do you know that stuff?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Yeah, I do, actually. Yeah. I have those details in line for each identity that I create, so I know that if I'm called on it that I will have those answers.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Do you communicate in English or Arabic?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Mostly Arabic. But usually ...

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Did you speak Arabic before this started?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

No, I don't speak. I can read.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) So, so, you, you can communicate in Arabic if you need to.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Correct, yes.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Wow. And, and I understand also that you do this at 4:00 AM in the morning so that it looks like it's midday in the Middle East.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Yeah, sometimes. I'm an early riser and I don't need a lot of sleep, so it just kind of works out that that's convenient, a convenient time from that part of the world to where I'm located.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) So, so he thought you were whom?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

He thought I was an Algerian. And, actually, I had indicated I was in Germany.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) And, and, and did you set up a meeting with him or, 'cause I know eventually agents from Homeland Security went and actually met him, but did you set up a meeting in the United States with him?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

There was a process leading up to that. Once that was coordinated, then that would ultimately be what they wanted to do was have an in- person meeting to, you know, see if his intentions were what they appeared to be through the e-mail exchanges that I had with him.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) I must, I'm just fascinated. Now, you're a small-town judge in Montana, right?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Yes.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Came up with this idea. What do the local folks, do many people know what you do?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

I think they've heard a little bit about it over the last couple of months, but it's not an easy process to explain, let alone really understand. But, I, I mean, I answer the questions when they're asked so, so they can try and understand what I'm doing.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Are we blowing your cover here by putting you on TV?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

No.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) No. And you're still doing it?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Oh, yes. Absolutely. Mm hmm.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) And are other people contacting you that you think might be potential terrorists?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

That's the goal. And that's the whole process, to, you know, exchange information back and forth to see if, you know, they have something that might be valuable information. And if that's the case, then, of course, then I, you know, take it further with them.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) It's an extraordinary story. An extraordinary story. Do you know of anybody else who does anything like this? I mean, did the Homeland Security people say, boy, you're, you're different?

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Well, I don't think they knew what to make of me. But I'm not really familiar with any other individuals that actually communicate ...

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Right.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

... with, you know, persons of interest, but ...

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) A lot of people scroll through those websites, but they don't get involved.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

They do. And they do, and they try and analyze some of the public source information that's available, but you, you don't glean a lot from that. Where you're going to get the information is contact them.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Well, it gives new meaning to here comes the judge.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Oh, boy.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) That's you. Shannen Rossmiller, nice job. Thanks very much.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Thank you very much.

CHARLES GIBSON

(Off Camera) Appreciate your being with us.

SHANNEN ROSSMILLER

Thank you.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Montana; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: counterterrorism; homelandsecurity; rossmillers; ryananderson
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1 posted on 09/13/2004 4:18:36 AM PDT by TrebleRebel
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To: TrebleRebel

Mrs Galt?


2 posted on 09/13/2004 4:27:54 AM PDT by nuconvert (Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.)
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To: TrebleRebel

Revealing her name and location could prove to be highly prejudicial to her health.


3 posted on 09/13/2004 4:36:01 AM PDT by BnBlFlag (Deo Vindice/Semper Fidelis)
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To: BnBlFlag
Revealing her name and location could prove to be highly prejudicial to her health.

No joke, is Gibson nuts?

4 posted on 09/13/2004 4:56:11 AM PDT by Kenton ("Life is tough, and it's really tough when you're stupid" - Damon Runyon)
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To: Kenton

Must be phony name and location.


5 posted on 09/13/2004 5:04:02 AM PDT by nuconvert (Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.)
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To: Kenton
I just did a Yahoo search for her name, and I got her home address and home phone number in about 5 seconds. I wonder if Al Qaeda sympathizers could figure out how to do that?

How this could NOT be "blowing her cover", I can't imagine.

6 posted on 09/13/2004 5:04:37 AM PDT by Kenton ("Life is tough, and it's really tough when you're stupid" - Damon Runyon)
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To: TrebleRebel
I don't know what's dumber; Her talking about it or some bright-eyed moron putting it on national television.
Must be the lure of the 15 minutes of fame...
7 posted on 09/13/2004 5:06:55 AM PDT by Publius6961 (I don't do diplomacy either)
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To: Publius6961

Too bad the FBI didn't think about that before they showed footage of her walking into the facility, or before they gave her clearance to go public with her story.


8 posted on 09/13/2004 5:13:11 AM PDT by TrebleRebel
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To: TrebleRebel

I hope this woman has all her affairs in order.

If a-Qaeda doesn't find her, the DNC will.

Way to go Gibson, you useful idiot. You just outed a terrorist tracker.


9 posted on 09/13/2004 5:27:38 AM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)
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To: TrebleRebel

Ive read about a housemom who's helped Indian,Israeli,Russian & American intelligence agencies(who pay her) in cracking terrorists by making them open up in chatrooms(poor scumbags need a bit of entertainment!!!)-could this be her??


10 posted on 09/13/2004 5:57:11 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki

What makes you people think that Shannen is in inherent danger? Spec. Anderson made no friends in Al-Qaeda. The contact he thought he made was only with my wife. He certainly has no friends in the US military, as they were the ones he was trying to kill. Why would Al-Qaeda risk exposing themselves to harm her? What makes you think she is any more danger than anybody that has served in Iraq or Afghanistan?

15 minutes of fame? Kiss My Ass! We didn't ask for this exposure. When this got handed over to the military from the FBI, they made it public, not us. Shannen has actually made it safer for us by appearing on shows like GMA, and the Today show.

I answer to stuff like this all the time, and people just look at the surface of the story instead of digging deeper and getting the real 'jist' of it. That is a shortcut to thinking, and I'm questioning myself for dignifing it with a response. Sheesh!


11 posted on 10/03/2004 10:40:00 AM PDT by Randy Rossmiller
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To: Randy Rossmiller

Excuse me??? didn't get the point of your reply as I said nothing about Shannen,FBI etc!!!!


12 posted on 10/03/2004 10:43:56 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Right you are. My reply was directed at 'TrebleRebel', not at you. I didn't realize when you hit 'post reply' it replies to the last guy who posted.

PS I love the Sukhoi. You must be an RCer?


13 posted on 10/03/2004 10:53:26 AM PDT by Randy Rossmiller
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To: TrebleRebel

WOW. What a remarkable story. I take my hat off to her- particularly since she's learned enough Arabic to communicate effectively.

HOOAH!


14 posted on 10/03/2004 10:54:17 AM PDT by SE Mom
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To: Randy Rossmiller
Well, I'm impressed with your wife and with you for pursuing this "avocation". Hope you stay safe, but wish you could have remained anonymous.

Although, I suppose evil Moos would stick out like a sore thumb in a small town, so you've got that going for you.

I think most of us here are more than willing to take down terrorists one way or another - it's awfully good to see someone actually doing it.

15 posted on 10/03/2004 11:03:01 AM PDT by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: Randy Rossmiller

Well it's ok!!!If you want to reply to a post that interests u/drives u crazy,just hit the "post reply" on that post.Well im not a racer or anything,just a patriotic Indian who chose his idname after the frontline fighter bomber of the Indian Airforce,the SU-30MKI(Russian built + a fair share of Indian,Israeli & even French systems)!!!


http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Su-30b.html


16 posted on 10/03/2004 11:04:30 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
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To: Randy Rossmiller
Have your wife send the terrorists to me. I'll humiliate them to death.


17 posted on 10/03/2004 11:55:36 AM PDT by lowbridge (I wouldn't want to be a liberals caps lock key on election day)
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To: lowbridge

Was that you they were talking about on the news the other day. About Nigerian scams?


18 posted on 10/03/2004 12:00:41 PM PDT by dennisw (Gd is against Amelek for all generations.)
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To: dennisw

I have no idea. This is the first I'm hearing of that.


19 posted on 10/03/2004 12:06:42 PM PDT by lowbridge (I wouldn't want to be a liberals caps lock key on election day)
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To: lowbridge

It was the hourly (ABC?) radio news. Was repeated a few times. Some guy was bragging how he scammed Nigerian scammers into sending him stupid photos of themselves. Promising them his money if they posed doing such and such. Which he would then try to embarrass them with by posting on his website. I believe he was in San Antonio TX.


20 posted on 10/03/2004 12:13:34 PM PDT by dennisw (Gd is against Amelek for all generations.)
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