Posted on 11/09/2004 7:48:43 PM PST by FITZ
EL PASO, Tx - An alert officer at the El Paso border crossing contributes to America's war against terrorism. Customs and Border Protection Officials announce the arrest of a man who allegedly planned to help foreign terrorists.
Tens of thousands of vehicles pass through El Paso's borders every day. A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says an officer at the Paso del Norte crossing recalled a description of Mark Robert Walker from a daily briefing.
According to the US Justice Department, Walker was arrested Saturday on a Federal charge of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Authorities say Walker was planning to travel to Somalia to fight for an Islamic group.
They believe he was going to buy and take night vision goggles and bullet-proof vests to a radical terrorists group that has worked with al-Qaeda in the past.
Roger Maier, CBP Spokesman says "there was a lookout on a specific type of vehicle. There were some indicators on that vehicle and the officer was able to key on that and remember that from the information he received earlier and was able to effect the arrest."
Q: What did he do or what was he trying to do?
A: "The complaint also states he was planning to bring bulletproof vests and night vision goggles."
Q: What is he charged with?
A: "Walker was placed into custody at El Paso's port of entry. He's charged with "knowingly providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, or attempts or conspiracies to do so"."
Another McDermott voter. Not surprising.
He wishes he had flown one of the planes into the towers. He hates the U.S. government. What, did he see Michael Moore's movie?
FLED?? Classes must be really tough.
I'll put this in my "1001 Things to Do With a Pell Grant File."
Looks like the moron had $2,100 with him to buy night vision goggles and bulletproof vests- wouldn't buy much:
Man Arrested for Plan to Aid Terrorists
Wednesday November 10, 2004 4:16 AM
By CHRIS ROBERTS
Associated Press Writer via The UK Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4606222,00.html
EL PASO, Texas (AP) - A 19-year-old man accused of planning to supply a Somalian terrorist group with night vision goggles and bullet proof vests was arrested crossing into El Paso from Mexico.
Mark R. Walker, of Rochester, N.Y., is charged with providing support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, said Shana Jones, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Texas.
A message seeking comment from the public defender assigned to Walker's case wasn't immediately returned.
``He's not a major terrorist or a threat to us,'' FBI spokeswoman Andrea Simmons told the El Paso Times for its Wednesday editions. ``In the end, he's probably better off in a U.S. prison than fighting jihad in a foreign country.''
Walker was apprehended Saturday morning by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent at the Paso del Norte Bridge based on an alert describing him and his car.
Walker told federal officials he planned to buy night vision goggles and bullet proof vests with $2,100 in one-hundred-dollar bills he was carrying, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in federal court.
The complaint says Walker told agents he would give the items to fighters with Ittihad al Islamiya and other groups that want an Islamic government in Somalia.
Ittihad al Islamiya has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
Walker's roommate at Wyoming Technical Institute in Laramie, Wyo., told police that Walker was using a computer to communicate with terrorist groups on the Internet, according to the complaint.
After the roommate confronted Walker in October, he allegedly fled and hadn't been in contact with his family since.
Walker was being held without bond in the El Paso County Detention Facility. He was scheduled for a hearing Friday
Seal? With what... ziplock? That's a pretty big baggie.
This is what happens when terrorists hire liberals. I hope they make an example out of this clown. I can't wait to see his parents on TV (I live in King County...Seattle area) crying for their son.
He sounds like a terrorist to me. Why the politically correct nomenclature?
THANK YOU Piasa.
If this Walker wants to fight for some terrorist group in
Somalia...(I imagine for free)has any Army recruiter contacted
him lately?
Why fight for free and eat 2 square meals of Camel pie and
water when he can fight alongside real men, get paid montly
plus hazardes duty, a nice uniform, 3 square meals, dental,
vision and health benefits and if he makes it a career, a life time pension.
I don't get it...I'm at a lost.
It's like given a choice of driving a windowless rusty banged up and AMC with 300k miles or driving a brand new
Cadillac full power. I don't get it.
Uh... the Great Wall was a great example of colossal failures of border control. Better find another example.
Look... basically I agree... I thing we should have control over our borders. But I get pretty tired of people that think we can just "seal" 22,000 miles of border overnight. Piece of cake... just post a Marine every three feet on the border. All we need then is 38.7 million Marines.
Gosh... it's way easier than I thought. Nevermind.
And by the way.... Zot???
Get real, newbie.
ROTFLMAO - absolutely beautiful. Nice shot!
ROTFLMAO - absolutely beautiful. Nice shot!
...err. Sorry. DAMN THIS NEW SYSTEM/
Looks like the moron had $2,100 with him to buy night vision goggles and bulletproof vests- wouldn't buy muchAnd from whom would he buy them? Sure, you can buy night vision goggles and bulletproof vests in Mexico, but try finding a supplier. "Rebel without a clue" might be a fitting title for this lad.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.