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"

[JameRetief]

In virtually all of the rest of the world, dates are written with the day first, then the month, as in "11 September" or 11/9/2001. Writing the month first is an American idiosyncrasy.

I doubt that someone raised in an non-American culture would think of that symbolism

Normally I would agree, but since September 11 it is no longer just the "date" of 9/11, it is the event known as "9-11". Anyone that would be sending a message would realize that based upon our date system used to name the "event", our date system is reversed and would account for that. Culture differences or not, it doesn't take a genius to figure out our different date system, especially if they have been in the US for any length of time.

The behaviour of the "sniper" has shown that he/they are smart enough to plan the attacks well enough to be able to escape with minimal attention. Additionally, if the "sniper" is an American sympathizer of Al Qaeda, he would likely understand the symbolism quite well.

It could just be a coincidence (and probably is), but I would rather look at it as a possibility than ignore it.

[JameRetief]

Has anyone determined the exact time of the shot? All that I have seen so far is "about 9:15". If the shot was fired at 9:11, wouldn't that be something to consider as a possible message? 9:11 referencing the WTC attacks?

And what about ALL the shots that were NOT at 9:11?

Apparently you didn't bother reading the rest of my post:

Which makes me think about the other times of attacks. Do any of those correlate to terrorist attacks? Like the time of the planes hitting the WTC/Pentagon? Or times/days when embassies have been hit?

Maybe the killer isn't being as random as we think. His victim might be random, but the times of the shootings might be specific to send a message.

I was obviously asking if any of the other times correlate with other dates or times of terrorist attacks. How did you miss that?

[Quilla]

RU Kidding? You don't think that it is a swarthy type selling the weapon? Now that DOES sound a bit anthroporacist (new word), i.e. giving credit for scruples where there are probably none.

Nope, I wasn't kidding, I just hadn't thought of that angle - that the swarthy types are selling the weapons here. I salute you for pointing that out.

Now as for the new word - I looked it up on Atomica (online resident dictionary/thesaurus) and received this response: Atomica found no match for anthroporacist. Your search - anthroporacist - did not match any documents. No pages were found containing "anthroporacist". I'd love to learn a new word today, care to share a definition?

[mondonico]

It seems to me that DC Suburbanites aren't all that symbolic of American power to a ME Terrorist.

Perhaps. But they might enjoy the fact that the latest shooting is about 4 miles from Colin Powell's residence.

[mondonico]

Anyway, I was just refuting the assertion that the lack of a claim for credit suggests no terrorist involvement. Al Qaeda doesn't claim credit.

[AmericanInTokyo]

It should also be pointed out that these shootings are affecting the families who work at a MYRIAD of US government offices. The shooting itself is about four miles from the CIA. It is near the old DCA (defense communications agency), and the Pentagon. This is not some coincidence that this ring of terror is being targeted at the residential areas for most of the people (with the exception of Capitol Hill) who work in the US federal government infrastructure, including the areas near homes/schools/gas stations/shopping centers used by families of or of US Senators, Congressmen, FBI agents, members of the supreme court, Pentagon workers, White House workers, Hill staffers, etc.

I would expect already that foreign media see this and can interpret this from a distance. However, domestically, the element of this being terrorism is still, for many in the liberal press, and officialdom, the 800 pound gorilla in the corner nobody wants to talk about.

I am sure police scanners and alert Freepers will alert us to the contrary of what we are getting in briefings and news coverage.

[johnb838]

No pages were found containing "anthroporacist".

Yuk Yuk. You must understand it is a new word because I just made it up. As to a definition, how about "Attribution of ones own motivation, characteristics, or behavior to members of another cultural or ethnic group without evidence that those attributes exist". Have a good day!

[mondonico]

It should also be pointed out that these shootings are affecting the families who work at a MYRIAD of US government offices.

Check this out: (Ignored) Al-Qaida Training Tape Shows: Break-ins, DRIVE-BYS, Killing Police.

[mondonico]

Yuk Yuk. You must understand it is a new word because I just made it up. As to a definition, how about "Attribution of ones own motivation, characteristics, or behavior to members of another cultural or ethnic group without evidence that those attributes exist". Have a good day!

Cf. "ethnocentric"

[bonfire]

Cover or an escape on foot, to a bike or to be picked up by another vehicle.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I know. I know. I KNOW! I myself (and others) posted this almost two weeks ago.

I was not the only one on FR screaming about al Qaedas urban terrorism training including sniping 'soft targets' and then high class escape and evasion, which is what we are seeing here.

Glad the word is FINALLY getting out. At least here on FR and within the common sense mindshare of the US public. (Our national media and our leaders are another thing!).

[AmericanInTokyo]

[Mitchell]

John H K fancies himself the "voice of reason" on FR, yet is mysteriously absent when holes start to appear in his "theory."

So he probably won't respond to you, but I'm pretty confident he knows that 9/11 was the result of MidEast terrorists.

I also thought he knew that 9/11 was carried out by Middle Eastern terrorists, but it's disturbing that he's unwilling to come out and say so. I originally had thought that he just made a mistake on the dates and wasn't intending to include 9/11 in his statement, but I'm starting to wonder.

If he wants to retain his credibility on FR, he should clarify his views on this.

[ReadMyMind]

And the sniper was seen using an AK-74 which is also not a common American white male weapon.

Where did you get that info? I haven't seen anyone say the weapon is an AK-74 until now.

[spycatcher]

AK-74 info linked above

[travelin_man]

You have a pretty low threshold for the word fearless
don't you?

[Kip Lange]

Jumping in the thread kinda late today :p.

My 2 cents for the hour...this $10 million reeks as a ploy. I mean, man, it just STINKS. Like this guy(s), whatever, would not know this is traceable. Reeks of delaying tactics -- as do these "communications". So the only questio I have regarding the $10 mil is: Police misinformation, or true? :-) I'd feel a lot better if it was the former.

WHEN are the perps going to make a mistake?!?! It's *gotta* happen.

Also, the libertarian voice that I try to temper with reason is screaming bloody murder at me about dragging people out of white vans randomly at gunpoint...just glad I'm not down there, and hope for the best for everyone who is.

--KL

P.S. Breaking -- new developments -- Tacoma? # of search warrants being served around the COUNTRY