I THINK THE SNIPERS ARE AL QAEDA

Various Cable Networks ^ | 11 October 2002 | Myself

[LSUfan]

I'm watching this sniper coverage on the cable networks and everyone is so sure that this is a nut of some sort: a gun nut, a military nut, a serial killer, etc.

But we have evidence to indicate that there is more than one. Two nuts? The President of the Marine Scout Sniper Assoc was just on MSNBC and said that he is sure that the shooter isn't alone because he doubts that anyone could stalk, lay-up, take the shot, egress and just drive off in his minivan.

So now they have all the wonderful psychological profilers on...including some 300 lb private detective...and they are all talking about this like these guys are deranged or disturbed. They all refer to "spree" killers and "serial" killers.

Excuse me, but I'd like to see the list of serial killing TEAMS in American history! And I'd like to learn more about the spree killers who take 10 shots, get 10 kills, including one within 50 yards of a state trooper in plain sight and then vanish without a trace.

These guys have training, motivation, and resources and they are operating as a team. The fact that they shot with the cop right there tells me they were totally confident. I believe they plan these like operations, script them, rehearse them, conduct recons and then execute them LIKE OPERATIONS.

Who does that sound like to you?

Why isn't the media even thinking about the Islamic terrorism angle?

Also: this sniper was taking a big chance with daylight attacks in an urban environment, including one with a cop in plain sight. That (to me) implies that he has area security and avenues of egress and methods of egress covered. That's a lot easier to do in a daylight urban scenario if you have a team, as opposed to a lone gunman.

The fact that these attacks occurred just as the tanker was blown up in Yemen also makes me suspicious. Not to mention the 1 year anniversary of Enduring Freedom.

Just talked to a close friend who is with a DC think tank and is also a retired Col. of Marines. He is tuned in to law enforcement in the DC area as well as he is also a director of a company that sells computer equipment designed for tactical and security use. He has personal and professional contacts with law enforcement in the DC area. Also, his wife was two blocks away from one of the shootings when it happened, and in fact when he heard that a woman in her 30s had been killed in that particular spot while vacuuming her vehicle, he was extremely worried, because that fit her description. He couldn't reach her by phone for a good 15 minutes.

In general: it should be remembered that the month of October was the month in which Sheikh Omar Abdel al-Rahman, OBL's favorite mullah, and a top OBL lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri, were convicted in connection with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Also, October was the month in which we started our assault on the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

These aren't some bad militia boys who got into some bad moonshine...these guys aren't shooting up the countryside. They're likely conducting recon, setting up their shots and bugging out to live to do it again. My friend tells me that terrorism is definitely on everyone's lips and minds and that the Feds have involved in this out the ying yang from the get go...BATF, FBI...even Secret Service because of the proximity to DC.

My buddy points out that Al Qaeda said specifically that it would target schools, so this might be the start of something.

GET THIS:

Two of the shots were HEAD SHOTS at a moving target at 150 meters. While a tourso shot at 150 meters is not a terribly hard shot for someone with training, a HEAD SHOT at 150 meters on a moving target would be a virtually impossible shot for a nut with no training. Next time you go to the gun show, take a look at the guy to your left and the guy to your right. Chances are, unless they grew up hunting or were in the military, you'd be pretty safe if they took a shot at you at 150yds while you were moving. Hint: Marines qualify out to the 500 yard line with the M16A2. That is what training will do. I qualified expert and am still an avid shooter today. I shoot a heavy barrel AR15A2 in 5.56mm and a National Match M1A in 7.62 NATO. I am NOT at all confident that I could get a head shot on a moving target at 150 meters. In fact...I would not even try. I would shoot center of mass. What all this indicates is a very highly trained shooter with good gear and most likely a spotter.

And GET THIS as well:

My buddy tells me that the FBI al Qaeda profilers have been predicting some sort of random attack as a contrast to 9-11. Something that sends the message: "no one anywhere is safe from us." al Qaeda has specifically said that they have the right to kill hundreds of thousands of "American children." This fits in with the critique of the al Qaeda training video that came out not long ago.

Here is another coincidence (?): In his Oct 4th column, Bill Gertz of the Washington Times said: "U.S. intelligence agencies received reports this week indicating Islamic terrorists have targeted American schools for attack, intelligence officials said. The reports indicate that the targeting includes plans to attack all levels of educational institutions in the United States, ranging from elementary schools to colleges and universities, said officials familiar with the reports." One of the victims was a 13 year old schoolboy.

Now REALLY GET THIS:

In the public release, law enforecemnt has not mentioned any race or ethnicity of the perps. But the unclassified bulletin that is being circulated by the Feds describes says that one of the local deputies got a description of two "Hispanics" but the feds think the guy just profiled them as Hispanics from law enforcement experience and that the two could easily be Middle Eastern. My buddy did not know if the deputy saw the perps himself or took a description from witnesses. The original vehicle was described as a white delivery van and today the suspect vehicle was a white Chevy Astro Van (but if these guys are pros like everyone thinks, neither vehicle will be showing up again).

A few more interesting insights from my friend:

The killer (or killers) must have felt secure in his surroundings. Most of the killings happened on or near busy main avenues during rush hour.

To say nothing of the fact that the region is crawling with law enforcement of every kind, being so close to the nation's capital.

Obviously it's someone who has murdered before or has been trained and conditioned to kill people. My buddy doubts many first-time killers, to say nothing of social outcasts or sickos, would have the nerve to kill with a single shot, then drive to another location within a half-hour, then kill again with another single shot.

Notably, all the areas of the killings are highly integrated racially. Had the killings been two miles west or south, they would have been in practically all-white or all-black neighborhoods, respectively, so a non-white/non-black killer (i.e., Middle Eastern) would not have been noticed in the areas in question.

Finally, the coincidental timing of these two incidents is another reason to suspect al Qaeda terrorism. Blow up a ship at the same time they're plinking away at innocent civilians...

If they haven't already done so, the cops and Feds need to bring in some guys from the Scout-Sniper School in Quantico to analyze this thing. Most law enforcement snipers don't think like the guys who did these horrible acts. And street cops certainly do not. The best way to get a sniper is with another sniper. The Marine snipers are the best in the world.

[ladyinred]

Are we sure they haven't claimed responsiblilty? Could they perhaps have, but the authorities don't want it out in the public?

[cookcounty]

The muslim roots of tarot cards:

From "the Skeptic's Dictionary" (www.skepdic.com):

"""The oldest playing cards date back to tenth century China, but the four suits of tarot and modern playing cards probably originated with a fourteenth century Muslim deck .[Decker] According to de Givry, in the modern 52-card deck of ordinary playing cards, sticks or wands = clubs (and announce news); swords = spades (and presage unhappiness and death); cups = hearts (and presage happiness); coins = diamonds (and presage money). According to Decker, the Muslim sticks represented polo sticks. As Europeans were not yet familiar with polo, they changed the suit of sticks to that of wands, cudgels or batons."""

With Islamic interest in the spirit world and elaborate curses, one should not assume that a muslim wouldn't leave a tarot card.

[dokmad]

I THINK THE SNIPERS ARE AL QAEDA

Various Cable Networks ^ | 11 October 2002 | Myself

I think you are right on the money! If this starts up all over the country, we have a problem!

[GWfan]

bump for later

[blueriver]

Also, al Qaeda involvement would support the notion that a state of war exists between America and Islamic extremists -- and the fact that war is currently being fought in our own backyard.

If this was al Queda I would expect shootings to occur in other towns across the country. Regardless of whether this is or is not a terrorist activity it should serve as a wake up call that America is still very vulnerable. It would not take much effort for a terrorist group to bring this country to its knees. Meanwhile our government officials keep the welcome mat firmly placed at all of our doors and claim they are fighting the war on terrorism.

[redangus]

Not the same guy. Left the card, left a shell casing, did not shoot from vehicle.

[Copernicus]

If it weren't for the fact that a shell casing was found, I wouldn't be suprised if the weapon being used was a single shot TC Contender type pistol equipped with a telescopic sight

This event seems to proceed on two tracks:

The first is business as usual with the bureaucracy-use the shootings to advance the gun control agenda.

Initially, newspapers were filled with stories about weapons most familiar to ATF/FBI types.

Then there was the front page picture of the angry white male with insinuations about KKK/militia connections. Curiously, for the first time in my memory that story was retracted almost as quickly as it was printed.

Following that the ATF/FBI types tried to incite panic by displays of possible rifle cases just as the hunting season began in many areas.

I believe the tarot card and cartridge brass to be in the same category. Virtually nothing links that "evidence" to the shootings except for the word of a few LEO's who continue to demonstrate a tin ear when confronted with real evidence.

If you can't find Lee Harvey Oswald, they have to create him even if it is necessary to begin with prototypical tarot card evidence.

Keeping with the well established tradition of sitting on real evidence, the FBI/ATF have refused to discuss or release any video footage or accurately describe reconstructions of the shootings such as angle of fire.

They used this approach with the Unabomber for 20 years and the Oklahoma City Bombing Security Camera Videos and have been equally inept with the Anthrax investigation.

In short, the terrorists achieve their objective by demonstrating the Federal Government to be clinically insane.

Stay tuned.

Best regards,

[ninenot]

Gee. You must have heard all the FBI/CNN/CBS/ABC/NBC/FOX psych-types. That's exactly their take, minus the tattoos.

[Tycobb]

These were good thoughts. If this was or is the work of Al Qaeda, then why in only one area of the U.S. Why don't we hear of more shootings in other cities. That would cause more wide spread panic.

[justsomedude]

The reports indicate that the targeting includes plans to attack all levels of educational institutions in the United States, ranging from elementary schools to colleges and universities

This is a bit of stretch, considering how sympathetic most campuses are with our enemies.

Seperately, it is probably not unkown that sending in a sniper to take care of Saddam and other key players is a viable option. For our enemies to use the tactic on us sounds very 'osama-ish.'

[foreverfree]

bump

[DoctorMichael]

........In his Oct 4th column, Bill Gertz of the Washington Times said: "U.S. intelligence agencies received reports this week indicating Islamic terrorists have targeted American schools for attack, intelligence officials said. The reports indicate that the targeting includes plans to attack all levels of educational institutions in the United States, ranging from elementary schools to colleges and universities, said officials familiar with the reports."

I too read this in the morning Wash Times over a week ago and I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I tend to trust Gertz's reporting; he has the best contacts both in defense and amongst the intelligence establishment. This was a real HEADS UP.

I also thought of this report after the shooting started and began CC'ing again here at the Univ. of VA 100 miles south of DC.

[Lurker]

Of course, someone who was really clever would dump a spent .223 round they picked up at a range as a red herring.

That would send the Feds off on a wild goose chase now wouldn't it...

L

[browardchad]

Muslims, Tarot, and statements of "I am God."

Thank you for the insight. Very interesting.

[dixiegrrl]

I did a search with the words tarot and muslim and this is what i have found so far "The oldest playing cards date back to tenth century China, but the four suits of tarot and modern playing cards probably originated with a fourteenth century Muslim deck."

[kancel]

>>True, $20 will get you enough gas to move, but you still need to stay someplace and eat<<


Not true- before I had kids to be concerned about. I could nap all night at the rest stop and drink a few cups of free coffee in the morning. Buy a hamburger at mcDs once a day and I was set.I know it probably sounds weird but I use to love travelling this way.

[exhaustedmomma]

The muslim roots of tarot cards:

Insightful info!! Makes more since than anything I have seen so far about this tarot card business... especially the curse part.

[Urbane_Guerilla]

other Killer Teams: Leopold and Loeb, The Hillside Stranglers, Bill and Hillary.

[Lokibob]

Your life sounds like mine. However, if I was a sniper on the move, the last thing I'd do is sleep in a rest area. Can't tell you how many times the highway patrol has knocked on the window of my truck, "just checking that I was OK".

I can and have traveled across the U.S. (and recently) for less than $100 for a 7 day trip. That doesn't include gas and the stupid stop for the sign I saw that said "CASINO, NEXT EXIT".

I call it "camping easy", sandwiches, soda pop, and ice in the cooler. Fortunately, I'm single and don't have the pressure of needing a motel for the night.

If you gas up in the evening, ask the attendent if it would be all right to park around the back. 9 times out of 10, he will say yep, and he knows where the local (mcdonalds/bar/restraunt/casino(LOL)/hot spot) is.

Nuff of this, but I'll just tell you that I'm a senior citizen, and still "camp easy".