Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Tuesday, Oct. 15

Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences | October 15, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

To avoid multiple vanity threads regarding any news from press conferences, let's keep a live commentary thread going again today.

Note: This is the graphics-free thread. Graphics can be found under the thread titled "Beltway Sniper Shootings-Graphics Only"

[aristeides]

With her job, I suppose it's possible she was working on Columbus Day. I wonder if she was. If she was, it's possible she was wearing her badge.

[sissyjane]

I think it's a muslim terrorist,but I still don't think the FBI employee was selected for her job. I did hear about the nuclear device.

Unfortunately the government is learning as they go along.We've not been in this position before.No wonder the President looks so hagard lately.I wouldn't want to have the weighty decisions he has.

[Kip Lange]

However, by that reasoning, you'd think that their MO for this would be: STEAL a *bunch* of white vans from, say, rental agencies, and then attack aggresively over about a week or so, no? Suicidally, even? Bali and the French tanker didn't have this much (the sniping's) finesse to them, not at all, and those are most definitely al Qaeda (IMHO).

[aristeides]

How back in October they actually thought there may have been a nuclear device in NYC?

Christopher Hitchens has written about how, back then, friends of his in the government tipped him off that they thought there was a nuclear device in D.C., and advised him to get out of town a certain weekend.

[freeperfromnj]

one thing occurs to me about the one gun

That's a good point. The Jihad traiing manual mentions that they are very strict about accounting for weapons and ammunition -- right down to the number of bullets they are permitted to use.

[Kip Lange]

As long as we are speculating on everything, why would these shooters have the ladder rack on the roof? Any theories you all would care to float?

First time I've seen anyone raise that, fascinating and salient point. Shooters? Any ideas? I don't know much about sniper spotting/shooting from a van, but there's gotta be someone around who does.

[dinasour]

No wonder the President looks so hagard lately

He wasn't in DC, was he? I wonder who else is out of town.

[aristeides]

I too doubt if she was singled out as FBI. But if she was working terrorist threats as an analyst, she might have been singled out because of knowledge that she had, or because of suggestions she was making on the job that the terrorists did not like.

[Skywalk]

Don't you know GirlNExtDoor, that you are engaging in gross speculation, and therefore John H K will have to descend from on high to deliver retribution in the form of a scathing critique of you and everyone who believes what you believe about anything related to "terrorism." I write it as such, because nothing that happens in America besides 9/11 is terrorism.

He represents the Truth here on FR, dontcha know?

</sarcasm>

[Sender]

My original "Bat Cave" idea was stationary, but that could not explain how they could disappear in multiple locations. You may be onto something. When the cops are looking for white vans, no one said anything about checking in the back of big rigs. Very possible.

[mhking]

Assuming the Chevy AstroVan isn't just grasping at straws as well.

A white Chevy Astro and a white Ford Econoline look an awful lot alike; are we truly sure that we should be focusing on the Astro?

[freeperfromnj]

It's sad that our children and grandchildren have to grow up in such an atmosphere here in our own country.

[areafiftyone]

A white Chevy Astro and a white Ford Econoline look an awful lot alike

YOU PROFILER YOU!!! ;-)

[madison10]

Maybe the LEO was the wrong color.

[Kip Lange]

I also heard they were pulling over another make of car aggresively that was neither white nor a van. I will not mention it for obvious reasons. But there IS other stuff the authorities are going on, which is hopeful.

[GirlNextDoor]

LOL!

K, thanks. I've been duly warned. ;-)
Line 'em up!

Darn it! Think he'll notice I only posted an excerpt and link?

[WillVoteForFood]

My dumb question for the day. Lets say that authorities are unable to capture the perp anytime soon and fatalities continue to occur at the rate we are seeing now. How difficult or even plausible would it be to erect barriers in front of high traffic storefronts or locations where people are vulnerable by having to spend at least some time outside of their car standing still? I'm not talking something to necessarily stop a bullet from penetrating, but rather something to take store patrons out of the line of sight.

[browardchad]

On another note, why do you suppose the sniper didn't take out the LEO working the traffic accident last friday instead of the gas station patron? Respect for Law Enforcement????? (Made it seem less like terrorism to me at the time)

Maybe the sniper would rather humiliate LE than kill them. I think he/she/it/they has succeeded at that thus far.

[Kip Lange]

It's sad that our children and grandchildren have to grow up in such an atmosphere here in our own country.

Speaking as 27-year-old who has to live through it -- thanks, and yeah, it's gonna be worse on the kids. :-(

[Peach]

Miss Marple - That's a very good thought about why the shooters are only using one gun. It's what seems to trip these murderers up every time - greed/money/deposit/one way tickets, etc. Let's hope it trips them up this time. It makes more sense to me that they use one gun because they don't have a big budget and it's all they have. More sense than they want the police to know the same shooter did it. If that was the case, they could leave a signature at each shoot. You missed your calling - you should have been a detective. Actually, you are a detective!