The DC Sniper Nest: None Dare Call it Terrorism

This will be one of those articles our enemies will try to pick apart in order to make the accusation that the author actually condones what is happening around the nation's capital. It's expected, since it's one of the few ways the left knows how to deal with such a dilemma. Fact is: There have been at least 11 shootings, with 5 confirmed fatalities so far in the Washington DC area. Since despite all the police chest pounding, they probably won't find a suspect by the time this is article is published, there will probably be more.

In our new War on Terrorism, none dare call it that. So let's call it what it really is - war, and deal with it on those terms.

This of course, will make the spin meisters even more upset, since nothing - absolutely nothing since September 11, 2001 will be called terrorism. Not the American Airlines flight over New York City a year ago, not the string of oil refinery explosions, unexplained train derailments, not the nutcases attacking Greyhound bus drivers, and heaven forbid - that Anthrax thing was an anomaly, just like the West Nile Virus and the new cases of malaria popping up in the same area of the shooting. Just individual crazed lunatics mind you, not terrorism.

If it hasn't dawned on you that this is an actual war in progress on our own soil (don't worry - it's not terrorism unless we tell you), take a look at the affect one lone sniper has had on the social infrastructure of the DC suburbs:

MARYLAND: Anne Arundel County Schools: . All schools locked . After-school activities canceled . After-school childcare will be provided . No evening high school classes . Indoor recess and activities

Baltimore City Schools: . No afternoon pre-kindergarten . No outdoor after-school athletic events; indoor events will be held

Calvert County Schools: . Students being kept inside schools . No after-school activities

Charles County Schools: . Heightened security . Students kept indoors . After-school activities canceled . Tuesday field trips canceled

Howard County Schools: . Modified lockdown status . No afternoon kindergarten or special education . No outdoor recess or activities

Montgomery County Schools: . Code Blue status . No afternoon pre-k or kindergarten . Extra security in schools . All field trips canceled . Indoor recess and lunch . All after-school activities canceled

Prince George's County Schools: . Code Blue status . All outdoor activities canceled . Indoor recess and lunch . No outdoor after-school activities . No afternoon pre-kindergarten . All school doors monitored by security . Increased police presence in schools

DISTRICT: D.C. Schools: . No outdoor lunch or recess . No outdoor after-school activities . All field trips canceled

Archdiocese of Washington Schools: . No outdoor lunch or recess . No afternoon kindergarten or activities . Aftercare will be provided

VIRGINIA: Alexandria City Schools: . No outdoor recess or physical education classes . After-school activities canceled . Increased police presence for dismissals

Arlington County Schools: . All outdoor after-school activities canceled . Indoor after-school activities will be held

Falls Church City Schools: . Outdoor activities canceled . Police officers at each school

Loudoun County Schools: . Heightened state of alert . Outdoor activities at each principal's discretion

Manassas City Schools: . Limited lockdown status . No outdoor recess or activities

Prince William County Schools: . No outdoor after-school activities Monday or Tuesday

Not bad for eleven rounds. Anyone want to take a guess how many of these students are children of federal employees? Now, let your brain spin. Here's a federal government planning for war, importing and exporting no goods on its western flank, and with a market in a steady freefall, and yet to even submit a budget this fiscal year. But none of that will be on their minds when they wake up - only: who's next?

Just like September 11 - brilliant war tactics. Then again, as any sniper can tell you, psychological terror is a bi-product of this time-tested, lethal art. The only thing America has going for it right now is that there is only one. Surely the profilers are trying to figure out some way of saying this lone gunman is some nut - some crazy white guy that gets a monthly high from reading Soldier of Fortune, probably hates the New World Order, and is of course, a believer in the Second Amendment, Turner Diaries, etc.. This profile (soon to come, I'm sure) will give some antigun nuts a second wind, attempting to get more gun legislation passed.

Lest we forget that the state of Maryland already has some of the most draconian gun laws in the nation. And no gun law will slow down this sniper. In fact, only the opposite is true.

We're dealing with a professional, someone who is becoming pretty good at one shot - one kill. This person is not firing several shots at random, and is deadly accurate. Our shooter knows how to take the shot, then relocate. Some amateur could not be this skilled working behind enemy lines, if you will and, knowing there is a dragnet out there, still hit his mark at least 10 times. According to authorities, there is no common pattern with the victims that are being chosen. So if we said the only thing the victims do have in common is that none are Muslim, that would be a stretch, wouldn't it?

If what many people fear turns out to be the case ("sniper jihad"), catching this critter may be difficult, and a few more may have to die to get a bead on this SOB. Not being a sniper expert, I'd say it will take all we have inside us if and when the next round is fired. But I recall something about hitting the ground, and get a good look in the direction where you heard the sound. If it were a war zone, the next line would be lay down cover fire, and fire teams should keep their 'field of fire' in mind, but we don't want to turn the Washington Suburbs into Washington, DC, now would we?

Our little sniper is operating in an enemy environment, but he is also operating in a relatively 'safe' environment. You see, the fact that we really are at war is a concept too many people haven't taken seriously yet, especially in east coast, antigun bastions such as suburban DC. Hence, only time will tell when suddenly concealed carry laws are lifted (or simply not enforced), so that the soldiers in this new war (the citizens), may have the means of neuturalizing such threats upon discovery.

Go ahead. Call me extreme. But attending all those funerals will get old real fast. Legislators can pass all the laws they want, but no police chief or sheriff wants to spend the rest of is time in office counting innocent bodies. I'd suggest the local police make a few inquires to the Pentagon on how to deal with this problem, not the FBI or ATF. No, I'm not calling for military intervention, but gathering background information on someone that clearly has a military background.

To put it bluntly, we've have a region of the country on the verge of societal shut down. The pundits prefer calling this a lone nut than dealing with the obvious.

This person is not a 'right-wing' lunatic. This person is not a terrorist. This is a solider - waging war on our own soil.

They have narrowed it to .223 from the slugs and one found shell casing, which may not have been from the shooter, either it was found trash or a possible planted false clue. As you said, it could be 22-250 etc. from way out.

I think it could be a folding stock rifle or carbine version of an M-4.

The cops don't really even know if it was fired from inside a van, which could have a bench set up to fire through a small aperture for sound suppression. From a bench in a van, the sniper could be firing a 28" bull barrel 22-250!

Or, like in my novel, it could be a chick using a Contender getting away on a motorcycle while the police are all looking for men in trucks with AR-15s.

Which agency do you work for? You gotta be kidding me. The thing a terrorist fears most is, like Reid or Padilla, failing his mission. Which an armed citizen can cause. Nope, dying won't faze him, but fear of failure will...

As to your first post, it sure sounds just like our marvelous "protectors" to tell us not to worry, everything's OK, just stand around and bleat like good little sheep. Sorry, studly, you can't have it both ways. Either the bad guys are here and doing their thing (like the several THOUSAND several even lamestream bubbas have said) or they are not here, not a threat and all of the war fever Dubya is whipping up is diversion and barbra streisand... which is it, Mr. Gooberment agent?

Some other freepers pointed out on another thread hoe much of a bogus argument this is. The author here refutes himself too by calling the perp a "Soldier". A handgun under the shirt of a person near a victim is going to do no good stopping an "invisible" sniper a couple hundred yards away.

What makes you think the gal or guy with the handgun can only be near the victim? While all these shootings have taken place in moderately open areas, they have also been in quite built up, urbanized areas. Guys with handguns took K-98 Mauser's away from (slightly dead) "Soldiers" in slug grey greatcoats back in the 40s. Evem if they don't kill or even wound the sniper, they might mark his vehicle or cause him to make a mistake, or merely delay his egress long enough for the authorities to show up.Surely being unarmed targets is not a viable option either.

Although you do have a point that taking a handgun to a rifle fight is not real smart. However rifles are not allowed in polite company in those parts either. Even a deer hunter with a shotgun loaded with slugs (sabots preferred) could certainly put a crimp in these guys plans.

As far as "long range" goes, the ranges reported, or maybe only speculated, are not all that long for serious or even not so very serious rifle shooters.

"Soldiers don't kill women and children."

Sorry to disappoint you, but there are clearly cases where children and women have been targeted/killed.

I will offer some examples, and you must decide for yourself if you would have done the same.

1. Children - 10 to 14- armed and sent toward your concealed positions, firing weapons to draw your fire and thus identify your positions....for their heavy weapons platoon. Killed silently - once close enough..

2. Young women (mostly), carrying back packs of C4 and scrap iron -- with the trigger wire taped to their wrist - such that as she approaches your position - all she must do is raise her arm in surrender and trigger the explosion in your midst. Killed at a distance.

3. Weapons cache discovered in an earthen rice field dike. Ambush set in place for several days - to await the "owners" to return... Party included men, women and children..... Area illuminated - enemy STARTED firing.... All killed in place.

Semper Fi

"If the killer is NOT shooting from high ground or a perch... he could not get such deadly shots, without people hearing or seeing something.

Not necessarily true..

Any stable fireing position, with clear field of fire, freedom from observation and a ready escape path would do just fine.. Sound suppression is important only to avoid detection.... The victim will never hear the first shot - if it kills him. Round is travelling faster than the speed of sound...

The bastard could be firing from a port in the rear of the van, or parking and walking into the tree line and lie in the prone position with weapon hidden until a target presents itself........etc., etc..... THOUSANDS of suitable firing positions open to this sonofabitch - since he has NO FEAR that he will be chased by armed men...

He simply shoots, and moves away.. Knowing if he moves smartly and in a controlled manner -- that there will be no troops chasing his ass down... Minimal stress on the lunatic shooter in a case like this.... Free Shot.... Shooting fish in the barrel.
Semper Fi

I would worry a lot more about terrorists if they somehow develope the ability to think logically.

The 9-11 guys did a pretty good job of planning, coordination and that was with 19 guys, with two or three it would be easier. Also it's probably easier to find a logical thinker that wants to stay alive, or least wants a chance to, rather than an Islamakazi type. Although I suspect the planning was not done by many, if any, of the 19, they were at least able to follow the plan.

What is it you suggest that we do surrender? That we apologize for all the wrongs that they think we have done them? Maybe if we pay reparations to them? Maybe we give them Israel?

Should we junk what's left of our constiution and everybody in the country convert and go by the laws of Islam? That's their ultimate goal. You can't appease fanatics. They tried it with Hilter.

Not enough goats and virtually no camals.

I disagree, plenty of goats, even in the city of San Antonio for example. I see them all the time on the route from my apartment to one of my favorite Mexican food places. They are even on the menu, although not a that partiular eatery. I suspect there are more camels per capita in Texas than in Maryland, DC, or Virginia. Still not very many though, but parts of Texas are be well suited to them.

The problem with Texas is too many guns in too many hands. It would make the work of the sniper somewhat problematic after the first incident. Sure Whitman killed more people from the UT tower, but that was a one time thing and even he was pinned down by students and good old boys (sometimes the same persons) and was forced to take less deliberate shots after not very long at all. The fact that he had good cover, not just concealment, and what amounted to firing ports, helped him alot too. I just saw a picture over the weekend of him shooting through one of the drain holes, you can see quite clearly that the smoke from the shot is coming from the drain, not from over the top of the wall.

These shots are nothing special for anyone with the least bit of training, especially if the weapon is scoped. What is special is the cold-bloodedness, the set up in areas where no one is around, but targets are in range, and the effective escape and evasion techniques

Very, good points of observation. The shot is easy part. Excellent.

Thank you all for your input. To address each point. Yes, I am antebellum in outlook. I consider Sherman a war criminal and Dresden an atrocity. The rape of Nanking is indefensible and rape and murder are unjust even in war.

Yes, I realize that women and children have been killed in every war. However, most of the examples given would be justified due to the combatant status of the women and children during each action. But, this is not the same as going in and indescriminately murdering every woman and child in sight. Such actions are not defensible under any doctrine of war. Soldiers acting in such a manner would forfeit any rights under the Geneva Convention (as well as civil and military law).

One post addressed the uniform--part of being a soldier. Soldiers wear uniforms and represent their respective sides. Without a uniform, you are not a soldier. If you dispute this point, then you are advocating the release of all the illegal combatants at Gitmo. And you are granting soldier status to traitors, saboteurs and spies.

The fact that all soldiers are not good does not negate the fact that good soldiers maintain their humanity during conflict. America's armed forces have proven true in conflict after conflict. The is the essence of soldiering.

I will never forget that I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

BTW: I'm also curious but why all the talk of .223 from everyone? Did they find a shell casing?

They have both bullets and one shell casing, the latter may be a red herring, but it might not be. They were saying .223 even before they got the shell casing. Even if it's not a .223 Remington, it's something on that order, and the exact cartridge doesn't really matter much, does it. I suspect it is .223, just because they and their ammunition are alot more available.

I have also heard that the authorities have found casings at some shooting sites. The real guys with Marine Corps level training don't leave their left overs. This perp has some skills and obvious abilities, he's made shots out to at least 150 yards or better, but I'm not convinced he's a real pro, too sloppy. He doesn't really care if he goes down or not. But he is accomplishing what he has set out to do. Scare the devil out of folks. Defenitely a terrorist mind set, if not the real thing.
My gut tells me it's a diversionary tactic, to take focus off the bouncing ball, and to show us how vulnerable we are. Still and all, I think it's time to tell us the people, that we have got to have our eyes and ears wide open. These guys are beatable and they bleed and die like the rest of us. Let's begin to inform and mobilize our neighborhood watch and crime stoppers' programs. Americans love catching and hunting bad guys, so let's start hunting and catching them. In our current situation you can't miss some of the most obvious potential bad guys, They don't look American, don't act American, and like it or not the real hostile ones probably fit a "Profile" that most of us can figure out for ourselves. If it walks like a Duck and Quacks like a Duck, it's Probably a Duck!
Goody, Goody, I'll probably get flamed for this one!

140 yards... on foot in a schoolyard... this is the first actual DISTANCE I have heard reported... and you are right about this... at 150 yards, NO PERCH is needed.

however, with all the kids before school or after being dropped off, it would be heard... unless he had suppression. Therefore I am assuming from this point on, he or she does use suppression.

There is apparently a driver too. A team. NOT just a crazed loner type, serial killer, but a killer who apparently plans and coordinates attacks with a collaborator.

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