Local psychologist believes sniper kills done by terrorists

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

[Mamzelle]

not terror-related

And it may well not be. But Al Qaeda hasn't honored us with their claims of responsibility in other situations, either. This does not make complete sense, given that terror is supposedly a mind game. But perhaps they pursue a whole new mind game.

[casinva]

Question: I heard on the news last night that the van was seen speeking away EAST on Route 50. Wouldn't that be in the direction AWAY from I-66? I have been there often, but not often enough to remember. Also, I found it odd that a get away van would go 50 EAST. That would take them even further into the metropolitian area--right into downtown D.C. if you followed 50 east! (Opps..forgot the question!) Was that 50 EAST--or maybe was it supposed to be 50 WEST--that the van was speeding away on? It would make more sense in my mind that they would jump onto 50 west and get out of the congestion which they would encounter going 50 east. Anyone know?

[angkor]

this home depot was only one mile from I-66

Yes, you're correct. Hadn't thought of that.

Still I believe they're staying off the highways now due to Friday's well-publicized response.

[angkor]

Last night they shut down all the roads right after the shooting,

From what I heard the shooting was at 9:15 and they put up the roadblocks at 9:30. The shooters needed to get off the roads in 15 minutes.

[okie01]

"For this nutjob, 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. I think it is as simple as that."

The self-service gas station is the urban equivalent to the waterhole on the Veldt.

A good place for a predator to station himself...

[toddst]

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. . . .

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 . . . .

You articulate these points very well. I believe this reinforces the belief the shooter(s) have a plan and follow it, regardless of what is reported in the media. We have well disciplined, organized terrorists running this operation IMHO.

[casinva]

Agree with you that the news cycle is slower on the weekends, but I still think there is more to not seeing anything this weekend. The news may be conventionally slower, but the law enforcement was certainly out in fast paced action this past weekend in the D.C. metro area! They were all out and visible--They were not slacking in any means (in what all of us here could see!) I think the police were expecting something this past weekend. While the media cycle is slower, and they might want a time with more coverage, I wonder if not shooting this past weekend--with all the taunting they were given this past Friday, was to show their discipline. In a way, they would have used the media to their benefit STILL. They proved no one was controling what they were doing--They were going to do just what they wanted to do. After this weekend, I more lean towards organized foundations to this stuff. They are NOT controled by media. They are USING the media coverage. They are not contolled by it though. (Just my thoughts here!)

[Kerberos]

"Chief Moose looks at times like he is under a tremendous strain"

I think the Chief, although he may be a great cop, is way out of his league on this one.

Why is this investigation not being handled by Homeland Security. I thought we were making such a big deal out of the need to have a threat indicator going at all times, and a single government department to deal with situations such as these. It seems to me that whatever this is, domestic or international terrorism, this was custom ordered to come under the homeland security department.

[casinva]

Thanks for the compliment on my articulation! I think we see the same things here too!

[Jake0001]

Bin Laden didn't take credit for Sept. 11 except on the tape when among his inner circle that was found in Afghanistan.

This guy is finishing bin Laden's job of wiping out our rights though. Bin Laden has convinced alot of people that our 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th amendment rights are not worth having with his attack. Say bye-bye to our 2nd amendment rights when the politicians get around to responding to this psycho's escapades.

Terrorist or not, this guy is extremely dangerous. I hope he fumbles or the police get lucky soon.

[twntaipan]

The "organized foundations" you mention seem more like the work of a state-intelligence agency than AQ. Might this be an "Iraqi pre-emptive strike?"

[steamroller]

Your points make sense.I noticed the possible "non-English as a first language" sound of the message.There may be three involved.The two in a recognizable van which would be "clean" if stopped and a shooter with a third,unknown vehicle.However,if the police get the suspect van,they would probably be able to connect it to the possible third vehicle/party.Just speculaing here,but that's all we can do right now.

[casinva]

Sorry, out of my league at this point! (Smile) I only go so far as to think about there being a group that is organized and is acting in a disciplined way.

[willyone]

This woman needs to do better research. The Texas Tower shooter had a brain tumor and had no clue what he was doing. Not the same as a healthy person who decides to kill.

[Kerberos]

"This may be true but don't give up on the American people. We are a very resilient people just naive sometimes."

I have not given up, as you point out we tend to be very resilient. However, we do seem, these days at least, to not want to deal with the obvious.

Is this international terrorism? It's hard to say one way or they other, but we should at the very least be willing to consider that as a possibility. However, it seems that LE and the media are going out of their way to explain this in any other terms other than terrorism. I even heard one "profiler" explain this as a couple of teenage kids. If this is teenage kids doing this we should be seriously concerned about the quality of our Homeland Defense and Law Enforcement.

[Deguello]

"Mir Aimal Kansi (a Pakistani) was responsible for the deaths of two CIA..."

If you can find the after action reports, you will find that this was a hit of one CIA target. The drivers of the three other vehicles were shot to box in the target and was a text book hit. He then was on a plane back to the Middle East with in a couple of hours.

[Vinomori]

bump

[Kerberos]

"Say bye-bye to our 2nd amendment rights when the politicians get around to responding to this psycho's escapades."

Or conversely this could be used as a great example as to why we desperately need our second amendment rights. Just depends on who wants to put up the best fight.

" I hope he fumbles or the police get lucky soon."

I'll second that motion.

[DC native]

I wonder if this guy was on a Reverse-Jihad mission, intending to pop a few Muslims and leave Tarot cards at the scene.