[the_Watchman]

When I was an undergraduate I took an introductory psychology course. They gave us case studies to demonstrate the "science" of psychology. One such study was about rats placed in a cage. At random intervals the wire grid on the bottom of the cage was given an electrical charge. After repeated doses of this treatment, the rats began to fight with one another. The conclusion proferred was that "incarceration of individuals leads to aggressive behavior". I was struck by the idiocy of the conclusion and swore off psychology! At the time, it occurred to me that the more obvious conclusion was that if you subject an animal to an undeserved, random negative stimulous, they conclude that the "other guy" is the culprit and start to fight over why this terrible thing is happening.

Guess what? This fits the terrorist mold! They supply random, intense negative stimulus from an unknown source and WE start to fight. How better to make a society turn on itself. Especially with our liberal media so willing to spread blame far and wide to hitherto undeserving sources; i.e., whites, serial killers, males, etc.

[Jimmy Valentine]

I am increasingly annoyed at how the media coaxes ever more hysterical statements from so-called expert observers. Calling Montgomery Co. "his own personal shooting gallery" is irresponsible at best.

Regards,

[Solid Oak]

The motive of the shooter seems clear....inflict terror. Whether a member of a terrorist group or a lone terrorist, the shooter is none the less a terrorist - and he is being successful at inflicting terror on the citizens of the D.C. community.

[Steve Van Doorn]

Look at the map. An obvious observation is that he is attacking all around Washington DC but not with in it.

Why would he do that? My first thought is he is rounding up sheep in a way. Wives and family and the people that work and live in Washington DC will stay in the area where he is not shooting at. It could be a prelude to a very large attack on DC.

[Junior]

I don't think this guy is a "thrill killer." He's far too professional in his actions...

[RWG]

But it's stepping over the line - shooting a kid...makes tax paying adults feel really good. The killer is alright as long as victims are adults, but one kid and then he goes over the line. No wonder he isn't caught with idiots like this.

[Dante3]

What is the latest on the boy? I first heard his mother took him to the hospital, then that his guardian was driving him to school. Then that he was a troublemaker, whatever that means.

[sneakypete]

Just wait until the cry of "ban and confiscate all those deadly sniper rifles!" is raised. I wonder if the average deer hunter will wake up then and realize they ARE coming after HIS guns,too? He/she never really gave a damn when the so-called Assault Weapons Ban came about,or when there were proposed bans on "Saturday Night Specials" because they didn't own any themselves,and "they ain't never coming after mah deer rifle!"

[neutrino]

Interesting post.

Perhaps I can be permitted to speculate. Let us suppose - just for a moment - that this murderer is in truth and in fact a terrorist. And that these events constitute a field test of a specific methodology.

We can note several things. First, the existing law enforcement mechanisms in Montgomery county have proven broadly ineffective in stopping the killer. Might we extrapolate that other areas would be equally ineffective?

Second, it seems probable that a great many resources are being committed to this effort. Resources are limited. Therefore a terrorist group might conclude that the liklihood of an individual operative being neutralized would decline rapidly as the number of killers increased. As few as a dozen such terrorists, operating semi-independently around the country, could exhaust the available resources.

Third, the killer - by attacking a child - has caused law enforcement to concentrate resources around schools. With the limitations previously mentioned, this must surely mean that other areas will be less protected. Were the killer to wait a few days, some targets might well be completely unprotected.

Nightmare scenario: At some point, the killer begins to target officials of one sort or another. This could range from politicians (Judges, Prosecutors) to police officers, or even to garbage collectors.

The problem is, even if this killer isn't a terrorist, he may be providing a demonstration of just how effective such tactics could be.

[bvw]

We are at war. A war with terrorists, they have been attacking us for over two decades, and since 9/11 it is undeniable. They have trained their warriors in random terror asassinations, they have used random terror asassinations in other countries. We have become their most direct enemy.

Yet, amazingly, even on FR, few see this DC sniping as most likely to be terrorism.

It is by such wooly-eyed denial of a war, that we will dwaddle to our own defense and our enemies will extract more havoc and horror from us and our children.

This is war. This sniping must be considered, first and most likely, to be terrorism.

[Aquinasfan]

On a positive note, experts noted that the sniper took a greater risk by leaving his getaway car to climb around in the woods. He also may have left behind useful evidence on his grassy knoll - hairs, fibers or other debris.

Important development.

[CobaltBlue]

This map of the shootings shows how close they were to major roads and interstate highways.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/images/shootings_100702.html

He's out there, driving around, on the interstate highways, looking for more victims. Must have ice cubes in his veins.

[MichaelP]

"This person is killing for sport,"

This is purely supposition! The facts are that this crime doesn't fit any previous profile for serial or mass killers. It seems to me to better fit the motive of Al Qaeda....

Mike

[Aquinasfan]

Another thing I can't understand is the one-shot thing. Doesn't seem like that wouldn't correspond to the profile of a thrill killer.

Someone mentioned that the reason for a single shot is to prevent triangulation of the sniping position. But how important is that?

[cynicom]

Thrill killing???? I think not. One gentleman yesterday suggested it was a killer "with a cause". Needless to say no one wanted to discuss that possibility.

[CJ Wolf]

"I guess it's getting to be really, really personal now."

I think this comment was a mistake. The last mistake was reassuring the parents which was listed in the article. I cringed when they were doing that, sunday night. But I am glad someone called them on it now. It was a invite and a dare to the gutless sniper. Moose needs to relise that when he holds these news conferences he is talking directly to the sniper.

[Snowy]

I think the shooters are muslim terrorists. I didn't think that until a child was hit. I can understand targeting adults because many serial killers do. I may be wrong, but I think that children are rarely "just killed". They are usually molested first. Even the most hardened killer thinks killing kids is a bad thing, except for muslim terrorists. Time will tell if I'm right...

[Diamond]

Does anyone think it more probable than not that a sniper possessed of such shooting accuracy necessitates that he is the recipient of some sort of military training? Or is this degree of shooting skill representative of the average hunter? No axe to grind - just asking.

Cordially,

[MissAmericanPie]

"He might have thought: 'I'll take it right to where you said was safe to show you that no one and no location is safe.'"

Gee, that doesn't sound like Muslim terrorist training does it.

[marshmallow]

Deranged killers have sprung up in cities and towns all over this nation. What is curious about this case is that a)there is a random targeting of individuals and b) it just happens to be centered around the nation's capital.

With regard to a) this does not seem to fit with the usual thrill killer psychopath who kills for pleasure. The Dahmers, Bundys and Gacys of this world like to get up close and personal with their victims. There is little personal gratification in such a long distance approach nor is there the opportunity to watch one's victim die. Therefore, one is left to conclude that the motive is not personal but rather just to kill for the unsettling effect it will have on the wider community. In other words, terrorism. The random shooting of a child is consistent with this, as mentioned by a previous poster.

With regard to b), the nation's capital is one of the main targets for terrorists. Some might say the foremost. I believe that it is not simply coincidence that this is occuring in and around DC. Of all the places in this country where a local nut could spring up it just happens to be in this area. Presumably some of those killed will be members of families who work for the US goverment, also.

I vote new Islamic method of operation. Perps either local sympathizers or the imported variety.