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]

Why is there no federal death penalty for these perps? Isn't there a federal death penalty for murders committed in the cause of terrorism? Isn't there a federal death penalty for killing federal officials?

[mewzilla]

But isn't there a federal death penalty? Why would it be off the table under federal jurisdiction?

[Kip Lange]

He shot from the dark area across the street. Just like he shot from the wooded area across from the gas station last Friday. And from the wooded area across from the school.

I'll admit I don't know everything about today's military, but that sure as heck suggests sniper training of *some sort*, urban ops, the more I think about it.

--KL

[FootBall]

And, speaking of alternation, yesterday's shooting upped the total of women.

The last 7 killings alternated black and white. I tried to flip a coin for 15 minutes and couldn't get more then 4 sequential alterations between head and tails. Odds to high. Beyond coincidence...IMO!

[USNA74]

Going E or W on Rt 50 from that HD parking lot there are lights, but yes . . . 50 does go beneath 7 with no lights. In fact, the first light E of the shopping mall is Patrick Henry (I think), but whatever it is, it's a fairly long light. Relatively fewer lights on 50 (and faster speed) limit than on 7. Either give many options to dive off onto remote surface streets and just park for 7 hours before leaving in the dark of night.

[eno_]

But you could use a drone when the weather doesn't permit using a helicopter, like last Friday.

Only if you don't mind the collateral damage from possibly flying the drone into a house.

[bonfire]

Someone mentioned the proximity of parks to each shooting. I wonder if parks have any significance?

[dinasour]

Isn't one of the loopholes in posse comitatus for terrorism?

From what I understand, listening to other FReepers, it could just mean that the military doesn't have direct arrest powers. They could still investigate, man road blocks, put a bullet through Ackmed's scope.

It's original intent was to get the Yankees out of the South after reconstruction, not to prevent the defense of US soil from foreign invaders or there proxies.

These proxies may very well be American recruits or mercenaries. This wouldn't stop them from being enemy soldiers.

If this isn't just some kid strung out on Ritalin, then this is a War and that changes everything.

[all4one]

Maybe not if they have been lined with lead, tin, etc. Or if they are rotating the storage garages they are using, they would just move the vehicle on the week-ends when the heat has subsided.

[madison10]

I think the United State Supreme Court declared the death penalty to be unconstitutional in Federal cases. True?

[Letitring]

Oh. :) Let's see, the last I heard these things (Predators) were highly classified and not much had been released on them. It's been a year since I've heard anything about them, so maybe more information is available. What I know is the one I saw on television was big, white, low, and easily seen doing lazy eights around cave areas. :) The images are supposed to be crystal clear, sharp, etc. Accurate enough to shoot a missile into a house and kill a specific target, along with some very satisfactory collateral damage.:) I do think we have two flavors to choose from. Armed and unarmed. :)

[dinasour]

they have a "bat cave" - or more than one - where they can park the vehicle within a few minutes of this shooting"

Are there bats in mosques?

[dinasour]

"I think the United State Supreme Court declared the death penalty to be unconstitutional in Federal cases. True?"

Tim McVeigh must be pissed.

[Kip Lange]

Oh, you betcah we got two flavors. :-)

Armed Predators Deployed in Iraq

[4Freedom]

"...I'd highly suspect that we're dealing with an AQ type terrorist ring."

Al Qaida has made a training video that that approves of exactly this kind of an operation.

Here's two tactics of many mentioned on the tape.

- Using pickup trucks with shooters concealed in the bed of the trucks;

- use of tunnels, storm drains and sewers for infiltration during urban raids.

New al Qaida training tape shows another side of terror

Another Freeper posted an article dated 5/23/02 about the warnings made to our FBI by a key al Qaida figure, Abu Zadayah. He specifically mentioned shopping centers as targets.

I don't know how anyone can dismiss the strong possibility that this is a terrorist operation in light of everything we've learned since 9/11.

[C-Note]

The perp wouldn't see the drone. They are small and fly high. Now, if he had a radar unit on his van ... {:)

[livius]

"A "Bat Cave" in any metro area could easily be those Rental Storage garages ..."

Excellent point! They are frequently located around shopping malls and highways, too. Certainly having a scattering of large storage units to go to ground in could explain how they disappear so fast.

Hope somebody's checking large storage units near these scenes.

[GirlNextDoor]

It's possible that this isn't over. It's conceivable that this is the pilot ...

(shudder)
One reason I wouldn't mind this turning out to be homegrown.
What a thing to have to say.:-(

[dark_lord]

One more speculation. Does the DC area have the "light changer" devices on the traffic signals? The ones used by emergency and rescue vehicles to change the light to green so they get continuous green lights?

There has been some trouble in other areas of the country where some geeks have either built their own "black box" or got their hands on one - just so they can have convenience in their commute. Well - couldn't these guys have one of those? It sure would make getaways a lot easier - no being hung up on long red lights if they can turn them green at need.

[valleygal]

Just beginning the thread...prayers for you and your family,
xsmommy.