President's bodyguards join hunt for sniper

THE hunt for a sniper whose killing spree has been terrifying Washington was stepped up yesterday, with members of the Secret Service who normally protect the President and foreign embassies sent to guard schools and highways. After the roving marksman switched his sights from adults to a 13-year-old boy, who became his eighth victim when he was shot outside his school on Monday, the Washington region awoke yesterday traumatised by fear, increasing the pressure on the police and FBI to make an arrest.

Yesterday, a $160,000 (£102,000) reward was offered for information leading to a conviction, as President Bush described the killings as cowardly and senseless.

All school sports were cancelled, with tens of thousands of pupils locked inside school buildings, having been delivered by parents and escorted inside by security guards. Shops were largely empty and helicopter patrols were increased across the region.

Many people said that the random nature of the attacks had left the American capital more anxious than after last year’s September 11 strikes on the Pentagon and subsequent anthrax mail deaths.

“September 11 opened our eyes to let us know that we’re vulnerable to a terrorist attack, but this random shooting, you can’t describe it,” Donzell Cockrell, a Washington postman, said. “Here, we can’t say what this guy’s purpose is.”

Vast numbers of people in areas where the gunman has struck are now reluctant to leave their homes. Trips to petrol stations are being postponed, thousands are shopping for groceries after dark and teachers at some schools have masked ground-floor windows with paper.

The FBI confirmed last night that its federal agents had greatly increased their role in the manhunt. Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose, in whose area six of the attacks have taken place, said that police had received 1,250 credible leads from 6,025 calls and that a police officer had been stationed at every school in Montgomery and Prince George’s County. What is most unsettling for investigators, who have called on psychological profilers, is that the sniper, who uses a .223 calibre rifle, does not fit any of the usual categories of multiple killers. While many have a grudge to settle and pick a particular group, often leaving clues because they want to get caught, this killer appears to be cool and cautious. He is the rarest form of spree killer: one who does it for fun.

The murderous spree began last Wednesday evening, when a 55-year-old man was killed in Montgomery County. Four people, aged 25 to 54 and from diverse ethnic backgrounds, were killed on Thursday morning in Montgomery.That night, a 72-year-old man was shot closer to central Washington and a 43-year-old woman was wounded near Fredericksburg, 80 miles south in Virginia, on Friday afternoon.

The killer did leave one clue near Monday’s shooting. Police found a bullet casing in woodland about 300ft from the school, from where they believe the sniper fired. The boy, who had parts of his stomach, pancreas and spleen removed, was in a critical but stable condition last night.

"A closed mind is like a parachute that won't open". I think that quote applies to you. But I will keep an open mind and hope I am wrong.

What YOU just spouted off is liberal propaganda, and I've heard the exact same phrases a hundred times. Where did you get your propaganda from? You're proud of that?

I'm quite willing to have an honest "debate" with you. So lets go.

While you try to put the blame (like most mis-informed liberals do) on our OWN country,.. you are wrong.

I think any cognitive person realizes that we have made mistakes in the past (Not a huge surprize considering we are talking about a HUGE planet here!!). I'm sure if we knew then what we knew now we would say it was a mistake to give weapons to some countries, and "if" proven accurate, maybe even the technology for chemical weapons.

Iran Contra? Even if it did happen, I believe it was right for the time and the situation. I think Ollie North was a hero. Hopefully we have learned a lot from Iran Contra.. the most important thing in light of 9/11, is sometimes you have to sleep with some really low life people to protect our interests. Our intelligence agencies had both their arms cut off by Clinton and the Torrecelli Ammendment. Ask an agent of our Government how they felt about it. We are REBUILDING that "intelligence gathering" capabilities of our intelligence communities. They have been destroyed so badly by Clinton and company that it will take quite some time to rebuild the infrastructure needed to gather vitally important information.

Now Americans understand how direly we need that intelligence. Sadly, the Democrats damage to our agencies are already done, but we WILL build them back up. I would wager a lot has been going on that you nor I will ever hear about to do just that. But we in this house, are very thankful for the leadership that "gets it" and is supporting those said agencies and agents.

I think overall we've done a pretty damn good job of protecting our citizens and even world communities. The lives we have GIVEN for others to be free and for us to remain free are extremely valuable. Not to forget the limbs and minds that were given.

I also think Democrats have been extremely detrimental to our nations welfare. They have added new laws and rights that have harmed us as a whole. I have plenty of ammo to enlighten you, should you care to engage. To learn.

Do you think that Saddam Hussein does NOT have ties to al Queda? That he hasn't met with them, or helped them finacially?

Do you know that he has weapons that could easily be given to al Queda and shipped to our own shores, then fired upon us! Weapons that have the capabilities to release chemical/biowarfare over a broad area? (Spraying them over a large area).

It is the epitomy of ignorance to think we are not in danger.

Fortunately, even many Democrats in the Senate and Congress are intelligent enough to realize the threat is grave. No one can say when Hussein would use them.. but they cannot say he won't be able to soon.. or even has plans underway RIGHT now to harm Americans ~or~ our allies in that region.

OIL?? Now that is definetly from DU!! Do you think America can survive without OIL at this time? Is it a "vital" interest to our country? A matter of NATIONAL SECURITY??

For now, on this thread, I'm gonna leave you with the link to another article. I'm axiously waiting for your response. I have about an hour to PLAY!!

FRegards, Vets

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