US sniper may be linked to Bin Laden (DC SNIPER ALERT)

The Evening Standard ^ | October 14, 2002 | James Langton

[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.

[KsSunflower]

No, I think that serial killers who target children...do simply that, target children and they don't do it with guns. The mix, adults, all races and children, IMHO would definitely weigh in on the side of terrorism.

I am not saying that I am completely sold on the terrorism theory, however, there seems to be more and more information coming out that would suggest that it is certainly a theory that deserves a look.

[fivecatsandadog]

"Dear Policeman: I am God"

The note did not say Dear MR. Policeman, as you posted and did your Google search. However, still a good point. Looking at what you said, it's as if the sniper is presenting an argument to the authorities. Dear Policeman: (you may think you are God, but) **I** Am God.

[Prodigal Son]

and no American would write the message found on the tarot card.

I would. Why not? It sounded perfectly fine to me. I am God. Dear Policeman. Perfectly acceptable grammar.

"What about Dear God, I am a Policeman"?

Dear Policeman, I am God. Dear Editor, I am Anger. Dear Murderous Dictator, I am Retribution. I speak like this. I am American. That's like saying no American would conjugate the verb "to be" - I be, you be, he be, we be, y'all be etc. When you say "No American" would do this- you're talking about 280,000,000 different little snowflakes- each with his/her/its own way of doing things and manner of speaking.

[Joe Driscoll]

Americans are really an in-your-face breed when it comes to anyone curtailing their freedom

Thank You for the kind words.
We try!

[AntiGuv]

Yes. I definitely expect another shooting in Bowie since the boy survived. I dunno if the victim necessarily needs to be another schoolchild, however. He likely chose that difficult a target simply to taunt the police (much like the Tarot card he left there). By the way, all, jihadists don't taunt the police - they just terrorize by killing. Random psychotic nutjob losers get off on taunting the police.

[Shooter 2.5]

There is a "God" setting on most computer games. It's not a "I am God" setting. It's basically an invulnerable mode which also gives you all of the supplies and/or ammo necessary to explore the game without having to worry about being stopped by adversaries.
It's popular with gamers who borrowed the game for a short time and they just want to explore the areas within the game or for gamers who get stuck at a level and can't finish.

[Kenton]

3) I would like to add that perhaps thought should be given to the majority of the shootings happening around "oil" supplies...gas...hmm...now let's see, who has the oil, and who buys the oil.

I'm wondering if the gas station shootings were symbolic, or just because gas stations are located at almost every freeway exit and the escape route is right there.

It would be interesting to see if the other shootings were also very close to freeway access.

[areafiftyone]

I think terrorists would kill alot more chidren than just one. (I shudder to think of that though). This is too trivial for terrorists. They always like to make some kind of statement and usually a big one. And they always claim responsiblity to prove that they are more powerful and distructive than they are. They are a bunch of egomaniacs as we saw by the Taliban's bragging just before they were distroyed and also Bin Laden's tapes bragging about their 9/11 deed. Believe me if the media didn't pick up on the terror aspect all the time we normally wouldn't even think about terrorism we would be calling this exactly what the police are calling it a serial sniper and not terrorists. We have become obsessed with terrorism to the point that everytime something happens we think it has to do with Middle Eastern terrorism. We have to stop and think back to our own violent past and see the similarities. But this is AGAIN just my opinion.

[Elenya]

I heard somewhere that "I am God" is a difficulty setting on a video game, maybe a first-person shooter like "Duke Nuke'm" or "Wolfenstein".

Correct. God is also a very common name for video and online game players. Also the name of the sniper in the Navy Seals movie.

For another "domestic" explanation of the note, see my post #117.

[AntiGuv]

If you really wanna get on the right track here, get off the predictable Al Qaeda kick and start thinking Zodiac Killer. I see much the same deviant psychology at work here. Granted, I'll concede it could be a Jihadist, but I'll be profoundly shocked of that's how this turns out. Most likely he'll just wrap up whatever perverse ritual he's performing here and vanish into the sunset....

[areafiftyone]

If you really wanna get on the right track here, get off the predictable Al Qaeda kick and start thinking Zodiac Killer

Thank you - that is what I have been saying all along. Zodiac killer was terrorizing California and then New York City (might have been a copycat in New York who knows). We never found him and he left alot of victims in his wake. Also he taunted the police to no end.

[aristeides]

but if it is a terrorist, I believe they are creating a "play book" for others to use in the future.

That's a strong reason for stopping him/them fast.

[johnb838]

al Qaeda and it's "small" terror tactics

This makes a lot of sense. In baseball they talk about "Big Ball" in which you try to get a lot of men on base, hit home runs, and score a bunch of runs; and "Little Ball" in which you try to get one guy on base and then bunt, steal... whatever it takes to get the one runner around to score.

AQ likes to keep their tactics fresh. I'm not saying to ignore the possibility that it's a traditional american homegrown psycho. But we've seen so many occasions where something that is obviously islamic supremacist terrorism is literally covered up by US authorities -- like the shooting at the El Al counter, the anthrax, and the Murra Federal building. It is infuriating. It makes one wonder if our covernment has been infiltrated by these creeps. Therefore anytime I hear any official saying "Oh no, no terrorism here... move along now" I tend to disbelieve.

And why are they so glib about saying maybe the perp(s) work on the weekend and no one even mentions the notion that he might take the weekend off for religious reasons.

This is a holy war. Get used to it, you PC atheist freaks.

[ladyinred]

Once again the British papers have to tell us these things! Many of us are speculating that this may be the case, but the media here prefers the angry white man influenced by the NRA senario.

[LurkedLongEnough]

"I am God" is a difficulty setting on a video game

Black & White comes to mind. The product link reads "Be good. Be evil. Be a god."

[ladyinred]

Annie, I respect your opinions totally, but Muslims are not imune to the Tarot cards, in fact, quite the opposite I understand. Middle Easterners are steeped in the mystic beliefs which they flavor their main religions with, just the same as Westerners do.

[areafiftyone]

but the media here prefers the angry white man influenced by the NRA senario.

Not only the media but the politicians have started. UpChuck has already blasted the NRA - Read this article.

CHUCK GOES ‘BALLISTIC' ON THE NRA

This is wrong to blame the Gun Owners or the NRA for some Psycho's killing spree.

[KsSunflower]

You need to read post #115 and while you do, remember it was printed in World Net Daily on 9/04/2002.

If Al Qaeda has been affected by this campaign and if their communication links have been disrupted, this is exactly the kind of attacks that they would be able to undertake. Why not start around DC?? Frankly, I would find these types of tactics, if they continue and begin popping up around the country in one form or another, more "terror"fying than the WTC.

Those of us in the heartland, though deeply saddened and horrified by 9-11, feel rather insulated. Should random acts of terror, such as in DC and listed in post #115, begin popping up in ST. Louis, Chicago, Lincoln, Topeka...the country will know what true terror is...(excuse the poor grammar).

[ladyinred]

You could be right about it being one of our own home grown of course. However, I think one thing that really bothers me is the training film they found that shows this very senario, that is something to consider.

[willyone]

Devout Muslim? You mean like the true believer Atta and his a-hole buddies who got lap dances and visited massage parlors?