Posted on 10/14/2002 2:44:20 AM PDT by MadIvan
Intelligence experts in Washington are increasingly concerned that the gunman known as the "psycho-sniper" could be a terrorist with links to Islamic terror groups.
From the evidence gathered so far, which includes a handwritten note by the gunman, investigators think English may not be his first language.
The shootings, which have left eight dead in fewer than 12 days, coincided with a warning that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network is planning new attacks. The FBI warned last Wednesday that supporters of Bin Laden were "targeting key sectors of the US economy" and has long suspected that a number of "sleeper" cells are still active.
The latest victim, on Friday morning, was father-of-six Kenneth Bridges, gunned down at a petrol station in Fredericksburg.
Investigators are troubled by the gunman's behaviour, in particular his habit of selecting targets at random. Recent reports suggest he may have a female accomplice and drives a large white van.
You make a good point, but it's possible that security here in the States has been just too hot for AQ to try to take on, so they go for something simple like picking off one citizen at a time, thereby terrorizing the entire D.C. area.
Michelle Malkin is on FNC right now saying that the AQ training tapes has this type of scenario covered.
Another thing that I want to address, even though you didn't say it, is that lots of "experts" on TV are saying that it can't be AQ because they haven't taken credit for the sniper attacks. They base that on the premise that terrorists always take credit for their work. They never did take credit for 9/11, so that blows that theory.
I don't know if it's Al Qaeda or a domestic nutjob. I'm keeping an open mind about who it could be. I hope that it's not Al Qaeda, because if it is, if the perp is apprehended, there will be more people waiting in the wings to pick up where he left off.
I was very deeply touched by the Guardian Angels standing on the road outside of some gas stations encouraging travelers to stop, that they would pump their gas. One of them was interviewed and he was a young Hispanic man. I find it really amazing that Americans, anyone, would step up to help out strangers and thumb their noses at someone who could kill them so easily. Americans are really an in-your-face breed when it comes to anyone curtailing their freedom, aren't they? Brings tears... and an enormous amount of pride and gratitude that I am numbered among them.
Not until they get a chance, anyway.
Hank
As I understand it, the "Death" card was chosen. I don't know if there is a specific religious prohibition in using Tarot cards to send messages. I would suggest the prohibition exists on using the Tarot cards to predict the future.
Regards, Ivan
Well, I hope this guy, if a Moose Limb, has checked with the Inman on the internet to be sure its all right to use a Tarot card!Wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of allah now would he!
Big Bump, even tho there's a few FReepers who will argue the "Christian target" theory.
Yes. And based on two words (Dear Policeman) at that!
I don't know. I've heard a lot of people saying no native English speaker would speak in this manner- but I frequently do. Every time I write a letter, in fact. I wrote a columnist the other day (he was deserving a nasty gram) and that's just how I started it- "Dear Butthole Writer"... Also used frequently- "Dear Congressman" and "Dear Editor".
Also, I am a native English speaker and I didn't know it was bad to call a policeman a policeman. Have Americans quit using the words actor and actress as well? (just curious). Odd that.
The way I see it, the guy didn't want to write a holiday postcard on his Tarot thingy. He was brief and to the point. I can well imagine he feels like God when he is deciding whether or not to take somebody out of this existence or not. The victim doesn't even know. The killer sits distant, deciding in an instant who gets to continue living and who will die. From his perspective it must be an incredibly powerful feeling. I have heard people in my life use that expression "I am God" or "I am a God" in relation to totatlly innocuous things- like running the table in a pool game. I find the message sinister in this case- given the circumstances, but there is just not enough there to assume it is a foreigner. The guy talks like I do and I'm an American.
On the other hand, the anthrax letter- "We have this anthrax"- it did sound a bit stilted and would point to a foreigner- but not necessarily so- it could've been a personal joke among the conspirators or an expression one of the perps heard elsewhere and decided to use. At any rate- I think before we just cross "home grown nut" off the list (and potentially let the real perp run free as a result) we need to be really certain.
- Using pickup trucks with shooters concealed in the bed of the trucks;
- using motorcycles as a shooting platform for drive-bys and assassinations;
- executions of prisoners;
- ambushes of law-enforcement officers;
- residential assassinations;
- assassination on a golf course using a rocket-propelled grenade and rifle fire;
- drive-up kidnapping of target walking on a street;
- use of tunnels, storm drains and sewers for infiltration during urban raids;
- rappelling from rooftops of buildings to make entry on upper floors;
- use of motorcycles for grenade attacks; and
- raids on buildings with large numbers of occupants - perhaps schools or office buildings.
No hostages will be released. Their ritual executions will be recorded on video tape. (Sounds like the Pearl execution to me.)
Another scenario they mention is getting a home owner to open their door and then emptying their pistol into them.
Not exactly 'World Trade Center' operations, but they're all in the al Qaida playbook.
>If it is an Islamic terrorist, it's not his religion that's motivating him to do this.
IMO, these terrorists are motivated more by Arab nationalism.
-----------------------------
Check out the Google result for "Dear Mr. Policeman" + "I am God":
The whole page is quite interesting, but go to the 2 highlighted parts, both further down the thread. I think the perps are too smart to leave the police a message with stuff they wrote on the internet, so I'd assume the perps have been lurking on that site and got the idea for their message from the posts . They could be trying to set them up too...
Excerpts:
**SNIP**
I've said all along "Dear Mr. Policeman: I know where you live, where your wife shops and where your kids go to school. Have a nice day!" ......
Do ya'll remember Detective Mark Fuhrman during the OJ Simpson trial? (He's the one who lied about saying the "N" word)...Remember what he said? "Out there I AM God!".... ALL cops think alike. Those who don't, quit.....
**SNIP**
The first letter is the letter that started the whole thing.
-----------------------------
Once again, it doesn't rule out ME, but the message AS IT WAS LEAKED TO US is NOT why we should suspect they're foreigners...
Didn't they also say, after 9/11, that devout muslims would not go to strip clubs too? Didn't they say that witnesses saw them in strip clubs?
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.