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"

[freeperfromnj]

There is also the Redhouse muslim community in rural Virginia that was widely reported on. Wonder if they checked it out

[Dog]

Ok ....Fox had a report and MSNBC has the same report ..it seems a witness saw the guy ....get out of the van ....stand still take the shot....calmly get back in the van and flee.

Fox reported that the shooter might even been as close as 30 feet from the victim..

He left a scent for the dog to track...

[areafiftyone]

Why do they ALWAYS assume an American is behind it - e.g. Richard Jewel, the antrhax attacks, now this ex-marine?

One reason only. They are working this case as a serial killer/sniper and not as a terrorist case. Until they get any info otherwise they won't assume it is linked to terrorism. But that is my opinion why they are doing that.

[Kip Lange]

My God, people, you play into all the stereotypes liberals have about you. More likely than not this is NOT a Muslim. Was the Son of Sam a Muslim, too? Is a fanatic Muslim going to go around dropping Tarot cards, and then NOT take credit for the killings?

Follow the thread all the way through...most of us are fully aware of that; I myself keep calling for an open mind. It's just that the international terrorism thing is too sexy an angle to NOT consider. Of COURSE it's all speculation. There is NO evidence at the moment that we have pointing in either direction, although hopefully that will change very soon. But we're not reporters, are we? *We're* not required to check our facts, we just want to jaw about the thing. :-)

And won't you feel silly if it IS international terrorism and you didn't consider the option? Leave everything open right now...

--KL

[texasbluebell]

Thanks for clarifying the head shot issue.

[tomkat]

desperately fighting the urge to post some relevant buggy grafix ...

reporting from amish country,
tk

[Garak]

How many times have you heard of a tactic like this being used in America? I know of NONE. This is a typical mulsim extremist tactic. This tactic is demonstrated on teh Al Qaeda training tapes they have. What more do you need? Why do people like you ignore the obvious? Someone in this very thread was commenting about how he helped one time bring a sniper in Louisiana to justice. The idea of using a gun to kill someone long range then fleeing the scene isn't something terribly groundbreaking. What's more "obvious" is that this person is a sociopath. The only piece of evidence we have points AWAY from it being a Muslim. Would a Muslim use a pagan tarot card (or if he's clueless guy just off the boat, know what one is?). Would he proclaim "I AM GOD"? No. Of course not. Let's try to appeal to the better angels of our nature instead of finding an excuse to burn mosques down.

[Kip Lange]

evad, all: I appreciate the correction on my false assumption it was the only head shot (thought maybe I was onto something interesting :p)

[NittanyLion]

Ok ....Fox had a report and MSNBC has the same report ..it seems a witness saw the guy ....get out of the van ....stand still take the shot....calmly get back in the van and flee. Fox reported that the shooter might even been as close as 30 feet from the victim.. He left a scent for the dog to track...

If true, who did the bloodhounds track 5 miles to the Beltway?

[Sacajaweau]

Only if on foot...

[evad]

You would think they would know by now that not all groups claim responsibility...

Especially Al Qaeda. Remember that they never took responsibility for the WTC attacks, in fact they specifically said they had nothing to do with it.

I don't know that Al Qaeda has EVER taken responsibility/credit for their dastardly deeds like the cases with Hamas, etc.. Someone correct me if I'm in error.

[Garak]

No, Al Qaeda has clearly taken credit for 9/11 and Bali. If these killings were going on in Yemen you might have a better case for saying it was Al Qaeda.

[Dog]

Not sure..

[exmarine]

Wait till the swarthy middle eastern fanatics -- who die for Allah in the belief that they will go to that big whorehouse in the sky and get a 72-virgin reward -- begin to make bigger explosions (nuclear) and spreading virulent bugs; wait till tens of thousands (or more!) Americans are dying. Then, I want to hear the liberals talk about tolerance and their "islam is peace" mantra, so we can tar and feather these idiots and ride them out on a rail. The one blessing out of this is that liberalism will die once and for all!

[Garak]

I didn't mean to direct the comment to you per se xsmommy.

[texasbluebell]

It occurred within the last few days. I believe newlyweds who were both FBI??/ agents.

That was in Australia. wasn't it, where they were on a sightseeing tour, and she didn't get on the plane, too crowded? I remember seeing that just yesterday I think.

[William McKinley]

Find any statement from Al Qaeda taking credit for either of them please. I think you are mistaken.

[texson66]

the bumper sticker probably said,"Read the koran"

[Garak]

Must have something to do with all the Muslims saying they are going to kill us, and then trying to. The Amish haven't been blowing up resorts lately. Strawman. We have no evidence that's eliminated the Martians from this killing spree, either.