Middle-Eastern men buying phones in Jackson, MS

Vanity | 2/1/07 | struggle

[struggle]

One of the students mentioned to her friend that there were bunches of Middle-Eastern guys buying phones in the Radio Shack at Metrocenter, Jackson, MS.

About 13 men or so bought the tracphones and her clerk friend also said that many of them came in buying phones in the afternoon as well.

I contacted the FBI in Jackson already.

[2ndClassCitizen]

I really do not know. The only salt I see is what I throw on my driveway before it snows.

Your Carthage allusion reminds of the hard time Hannibal was given in asking for funding to really fight the Romans. He was scoffed at, Carthage was salted, the men were killed, their women were taken.

I only mentioned the razing of these buildings because it seems ironic to me.

Those buildings were the first two in that half mile strip to be torn down, it seemed funny. Within the last six months about four other sites have been razed including a McDonalds. It's probably just capitalistic renewal.

I just can not entirely rule out that it was just a lack of business or someone made them a better offer.

[2ndClassCitizen]

I really do not have an opinion about what the buying of these phones means.

Anything that seems strange is fair game for the authorities as far as I am concerned.

I stereotype. Stereotyping is one way in which the human mind works. I just try to keep a sense of humor and not take anything absolutely seriously one way or the other. It's called flexibility.

We are at war. It's not a kids game, friends of mine are actively engaged in killing many people. I hope they kill a bunch of the little middle eastern appearing islamofascist pigs right while I am writing these words to you.

[struggle]

>>>What you appear to advocate is that EVERY middle-eastern looking person who earns any money should be investigated by the FBI to see if they have links to terrorist organisations.

>>>Is that your idea ?


How can I answer when you already have assumed what their motives are?

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Gee and here I thought we were talking about YOU.

[RS]

"How can I answer when you already have assumed what their motives are?"

? You've speculated that the reason they have bought these phones is to make money to send to terorrist organisations, using that as a rational to have the FBI investigate this.

Perhaps you could explain how you come to that, and why people making money by any other means should not be under the same suspicion ?

[Rb ver. 2.0]

"One of the students mentioned to her friend "

Who heard it from her brother's best friend's cousin who heard it from his girlfriend's sister's boyfriend who works at the food court at the mall down from Radio Shack.

[CobaltBlue]

I agree that what happened to those motels is strange. I live just around the Beltway in Fairfax, yet had no idea that they had become tourist attractions for all the wrong reasons.

It is, of course, possible that terrorists are going to Jackson MS to buy cell phones to ship overseas to Iraq to blow up IEDs. But if I were a terrorist, I would not call so much attention to myself, I'd buy them one by one.

Maybe that's just me.

[ClearBlueSky]

Nothing the government does, or gives, is 'free'. It costs taxpayer $$. It just seems to me that- if wasting government $$ is your main concern re. these suspicions- you could be crusading against government paying hundreds of dollars for toilet seats, and wrenches and other common items that are bought in massive numbers. I think that waste far outweighs the hourly wages of FBI agents.
If a government employee deems it necessary to investigate ANY call by a concerned citizen re. the safety of this country then that is what he is being paid to do and it is not a 'waste'.
In fact, an FBI agent said so recently, when a concerned citizen called about a suspicious man. He said to report anything worrisome and let THEM decide what is important.

I do believe that people being suspicious of Middle Eastern types( despite the fact that they ARE the face of the enemy now)bothers you far more than any $$ that might be wasted, and I find that interesting.

[ClearBlueSky]

Since you are from Mississippi, do you recall hearing that there was a known Al Quaida camp in your state? The report said that even though the authorities knew it was there, nothing could be done unless/until something happened . It was on the news last year sometimes, if I remember correctly. Any info on this?
If that's true ANY and ALL activities by Middle Eastern types bears watching very closely, and I commend anyone who cares enough about our safety to report to the authorities.
Sometimes it isn't paranoia.
Sometimes they really ARE out to get you.

[Palladin]

Let me know when someone "gets killed" as a result of an FR post.

That would be a first.

Talk about panic-mongers....your opponents on this thread are the poster children.

Killed by a post on FR! What a way to go.

But I might die laughing at some of these folks.

[Palladin]

Thaks, miss marmelstein, for caring.

[Palladin]

That was "thanks". I need a new "n" key.

[BradtotheBone]

It's bad for Tracfone when they do this, but it's not illegal and the only way it could have anything to do with terrorism is if they use the profit to fund it.

Or used them as detonators...

[Velveeta]

Well done, Struggle!

"Cases like this have the FBI on high alert.

Last February, the agency sent out a bulletin warning local law enforcement of links between the pre-paid cell phones and terrorist activity. The phones' digital frequency has been used to detonate car bombs overseas."
http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=18400

[2ndClassCitizen]

Agreed.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Or used them as detonators...

Using a cell phone as a detonator is a real bad idea. They've run out of cell phone numbers and are recycling them. I get two or three calls for the previous owner of my number a month, and I've had it for two years.

You wouldn't want to get a wrong number while you were arming a bomb with a cell phone.

[Blue Jays]

Hi ContemptOfCourt-

"...Its a shame that Free Republic doesn't have those little smilies...cause I could use a "roll eyes" one right about here..."

---

It's sad that some Americans are growing frightened because some dudes who appear to be of middle eastern background purchased cellphones. These devices are completely ubiquitous and there are billions upon billions upon billions of these devices in circulation around the globe. To those who are so concerned, how do they propose we should change our behaviors to meet this "threat" where it resides? I personally think the responses about the falafel, batteries, microwave ovens, televisions, and other consumer electronics is hilarious!

As far as the *roll eyes* graphic is concerned, ask and ye shall receive:

~ Blue Jays ~

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

"...Do you know the damage he could cause with that much Diesel? He thought he was slick, trying to pump it into the gas tank of his Ford Excursion, but he wasn't gonna get one over on me..."

---

Don't worry, he won't get too far with the gasoline tank of his truck filled with diesel fuel as you mentioned. In fact, I would be impressed if he made it out of the parking lot at all.

~ Blue Jays ~

[BritExPatInFla]

I guess I should have included the [/Sarcasm] tag. (Excursions run on Diesel)

[Republican Party Reptile]

There is a line between vigilance and paranoia, and between paranoia and outright delusion and hysteria. Somewhere along the way some of the more fervent FReepers went from being vigilant of people doing suspicious activites to consider a group of any "Middle Eastern looking men" doing anything suspicious, pretty soon we'll be warned to be suspicious of any swarthy looking man with darker complexions - who knows, they must be Middle Eastern, and by definition terrorist, if not Middle Eastern, Latino maybe? Must be illegals ...