Local psychologist believes sniper kills done by terrorists

Knoxnews.com ^ | Oct. 15, 2002 | J.J. Stambaugh

[Trust but Verify]

I'll take your numbers since you seem to be more on top of this than I.

[ComancheCounty]

"There have been two at Michael's craft stores, a kid at school, the woman at HD last night and a man mowing his lawn. There may be more that weren't at gas stations, but these are the ones I recall."

If I remember correctly, there was one on a DC street corner and one in a supermarket parking lot in Montgomery Co.

[Mamzelle]

From the beginning, the efficiency and calculation of the killings suggested a team effort and quasi-military training. Now there is the two-week-long sustained , patient, careful effort, and effort rather lacking in the emotion one would expect from the typical nutcase.

If it's NOT a terrorist, it's once for the textbooks.

Isn't Loudon close, and isn't it a big hotbed of fundamentalist Islamics?

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[fivecatsandadog]

gas stations are one of few places where he will have multiple targets, all largely exposed for a length of time and all relatively stationary.

Agree. Add to that using the ATM, walking the dog, going to the mailbox. They want us to be afraid to leave the house. At that point, they'll begin knocking on doors.

[twntaipan]

the efficiency and calculation of the killings suggested a team

Which would likely require a larger logistical support team.

[Robe]

Forget the proximity of Michael’s Stores, Check out the proximity of area mosques to the shootings!!!!!.

[Trust but Verify]

Yeah, I don't think gas stations are a key to this. It's just anywhere a target would be in the open and almost stationary.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

No kidding. If/when that starts, imagine the feeling of living in a gun control state, knowing the diaper heads could come to your unarmed, helpless door at any moment.

Sarah Brady burn in Hell!

[toddst]

If this is indeed a terrorist cell, then they are very well prepared and well entrenched. . . . . I . . . . believe that this is even more deadly: natives who have been co-opted for the "struggle"...idealogical zealots, with solid, gut level survival instincts, and a familiarity with local terrain to duck and weave as necessary.

I agree totally with your comments. You have summarized exactly what the various law enforcement organizations are up against. If these operatives are confrontect by law enforcement personnel, they will fight to the death IMHO.

[wayoverontheright]

"if it's not a terrorist, it's one for the textbooks"

I agree. At first I was thinking that it could also be an eco-terrorist, but then I realized that this one has killed a THIRTEEN year old. Only a middle eastern terrorist could do that. We're at war on our own soil.

[casinva]

They may be using the news coverage to further their effect, but I do not think they are as "led" by the media reports as some have believed or suggested. Think about how much they were taunted last Friday about not doing anything on the weekends. Why, we had only had one weekend prior to that in which these shootings were happening...How could anyone get a clear picture at that early date that he DID not shoot--NEVER WOULD shoot--anyone on the weekends! Everytime I heard the media and experts reporting last Friday that his pattern was not to hit on the weekends, I expected that we might just see a shooting on the weekend to prove the media wrong. But...Nothing happened on the weekend! If this person (or group as many of us feel it might more likely be) was/were motivated by media reports, we would have seen something happen this past weekend. Those reports apparently did not effect them--I suppose a shooting this weekend did not fit into meeting their needs.

[Northpaw]

I may be the lone voice of dissent here, but I don't think this is terrorist related. If it were, these 'hits' wouldn't be confined to Virginia, given the reported widespread distribution of Islamic terrorist cells. Given their penchant for maximum effect, this just doesn't fit the M.O. of typical Islamic terror.

[twntaipan]

I suppose a shooting this weekend did not fit into meeting their needs.

Because the shootings coincide with the news cycle. Weekends are slow for news--people tend not to watch.

Purpose is maximum news impact; terror is the goal.

[twntaipan]

Objection noted. I respectfully disagree. Terror is asymetrical--it doesn't have to make sense.

[NittanyLion]

If it were, these 'hits' wouldn't be confined to Virginia, given the reported widespread distribution of Islamic terrorist cells.

Unless the idea is to keep Americans uncertain regarding the origin of the attacks. If there were widespread sniper attacks it would be obvious to all that terrorists are the culprits; as it is the media is going to great lengths to avoid even bringing up the possibility.

The way I see it, terror cells could continue to switch modes (anthrax, sniper attacks, etc) but remain on a fairly small scale in order to continue killing Americans without getting caught. The calculation on their part may be that they can't expend operatives on suicide killings.

[Bill Davis FR]

Last night's shooting was so far inside the Beltway, and so far from any obvious high-speed egress route, that it seems the shooters knew they could make it home and be off the streets before a large police response of the type seen last Friday. They have so far proven calculating and observant enough to know how the police might respond, and what is a viable escape route...

this home depot was only one mile from I-66

[NittanyLion]

At first I was thinking that it could also be an eco-terrorist, but then I realized that this one has killed a THIRTEEN year old. Only a middle eastern terrorist could do that.

I wouldn't go as far as that. Americans are clearly capable of brutally murdering children as well. Mind you, I'm not disputing your thesis. Just the assertion that only Middle Eastern terrorists would kill 13 year olds.

[Sender]

How in the unholy hell does this 'van' keep disappearing? After last Friday's shooting they closed down part of the interstate and pulled over a bunch of white vans and still came up with nothing. Last night they shut down all the roads right after the shooting, saying the task force was ready for this, traffic jams until late and night and they still got away without a trace. What do they have...a Bat Cave or something?