[MadIvan]

The "I am God" note indicates that the sniper either thinks he is like God in killing indiscriminately or doing the will of God by killing Americans. This does make sense however. I will post updates as I get them.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[anniegetyourgun]

Yes, but a devout Muslim would have nothing to do with Tarot. I just can't buy this scenario, even though I would prefer to think that we don't have a case of an American killing his fellow Americans.

[NordP]

I posted this a couple of days ago, on another thread...

Hubby is ex-cop and a "words matter" guy. He came up with giving attention to the beginning of the sniper's note: "Dear Policeman."

1) When you learn another language, you always learn the more formal ways of speech, rather than the slangs, first. "Dear" and "Policeman" definitely fall into these more formal references.

Also,

2) "PoliceMAN" - who (especially if the profilers believe that this person(s) are aged 20 - 30 still uses THAT reference... and speaks in the totally non-P.C. "man" reference, rather than "Officer?"

And,

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 think these three points are valuable.

[thedugal]

Guess the Brits didn't get the memo. You aren't allowed to use the "T" word.

[The Raven]

There goes my theory that the sniper is Sen. Dashle.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

TY for your concern and the post.

[AmericanVictory]

As with the anthrax and the Nile fever, it is a terrific asymmetric horror weapon. If it is not a Muslim fanatic, it gives them a good idea. The use of the Tarot card may be a clever ruse to make it look like a Son-of-Sam type nut in order to throw investigators off the scent.

[EnquiringMind]

No kidding! I never did buy the "nut" theory...these killings are too businesslike.

[leadpenny]

. . . could be a terrorist with links to Islamic terror groups

I would be convinced of this theory if other major metro areas were involved.

OTOH, this could be a rogue Cell.

[blondee123]

And, don't forget, "weekends off"! Scary!

[AntiGuv]

Sorry, I don't believe it. The thought crossed my mind, at first, but the idea is just ridiculous at this point. Whoever this is has been sliding in and out of his target areas effortlessly without drawing the slightest attention. The patterns fit perfectly well with an American serial killer and he seems to be drawing something on the map or have some connection to the map. In fact, the only "rational" reason (in his sociopathic mentality) why he would've returned to Fredericksburg is because he needed someone to die in that location (the first victim down there survived). An Al Qaeda terrorist would have no reason whatsoever to go back to the same location like that. Al Qaeda? Nope. Not gonna believe it without real evidence. Too easy. Too absurd.

[areafiftyone]

They are saying this morning that the Pentagon is looking into soldiers who have recently attended sniper school. Because they usually have a partner and alot of the witnesses have said that they saw two people. Could be a disgruntled soldier mad at the government. People who have seen these guys say one is a white male with sandy hair.

[thedugal]

I dont know about the terrorist connection. Certainly could be a crank job, but it could also be a terrorist. One interesting thing, these guys may have just grabbed a deck of tarot and pulled out a scary looking card for effect.

But, if it is terrorist related and the perp has knowledge of tarot then here's something to think about: (note all tarot cards have symbols within symbols, so there's many ways to read them, but this is a quicky analysis)

Death card is symbolized by fish. Fish also symbolizes Christ. The perp is targeting Christians (infidels). Death card's zodiac symbol is scorpio ruled by Mars. Mars is god of war. Also, interesting thing about scorpio that fits. If you put a ring of fire around a scorpion it will tend to commit suicide. Thus the perp feels that he is at war and if cornered will commit suicide.

[Miss Marple]

Thanks for posting this, Ivan. I am curious about the Evening Standard and Mr. Langton, the reporter. Would you consider this a reliable story, as opposed to speculation dressed up in news clothing?

[mhking]

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.

Y'know, it would take an offshore newspaper to state the obvious, glaring fact that our domestic newspapers are loathe to mention out of "political correctness."

[maestro]

Bump!

[joesnuffy]

That or he/them watches too much american tee vee

[putupon]

I think the sniper is just a psycho, probably American. A gas station near me was giving away free coffee w/ gas and a big verbal thank-you on Sat. evening because business had dropped off so badly. This was on the I-64, not I-95 corridor too. The Saudis fund Al Queda with infidel's gas money. If it is the terrorists, then they are getting an unintentended consequence.

[Grover_Cleveland]

Dear MadIvan,

You're a very alert kind of guy :)

Every post of yours I see carries some kind of "alert". How charming.

[Carlucci]

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".

Can anyone confirm this?