Posted on 10/15/2002 11:03:55 PM PDT by scripter
WASHINGTON Several witnesses to the Beltway sniper shootings over the past two weeks have described suspects resembling Middle-Eastern men, but authorities have played down the Islamic terrorism angle to avoid mass "panic" in the area, an ATF official told WorldNetDaily.
"That angle is actually being looked at, and the FBI has the lead on it," said the official, who is working with the sniper-murders task force based in Maryland's Montgomery County, where the first five shootings took place.
"None of this has been overlooked. There's an awful lot that they're not allowing out," he said. "But the issue really is, as it was with the nuclear (terrorism) stuff, that they do not want public panic."
The Bush administration fears parents might pull their children from schools if police speculate about a terrorist connection, he says. And federal employees might skip work, effectively shutting down the government.
Also, tourists would likely cancel travel plans, dealing another blow to the area's already soft economy, says the official, who wished to go unnamed.
That said, the task force won't likely release a composite sketch of suspects alternately described by witnesses, law-enforcement lookouts and police-scanner chatter as "Hispanic," "Middle-Eastern," "olive-skinned" and "dark-skinned" until all other suspects are ruled out.
Two white males apprehended separately in the manhunt, based on tips, have been questioned and released. While they were in custody or under watch, the shootings continued. Police say the men, both from Maryland, are not suspects.
Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose, who is leading the multi-jurisdictional investigation, Tuesday said the task force has at least a "partial" description of suspects who he suggested are minorities.
But he elected not to release the information, explaining it might "paint some group."
Since Oct. 2, the sniper or snipers have cut down 11 people in Washington and five surrounding counties with single shots to the head or torso. Nine have died. All were shot with a rifle or rifles that chamber a .223 round, such as an AR-15 or hunting rifle.
Prince Georges Police Department Detective Paula Pascarella, who is part of the task force, told WorldNetDaily on Friday that authorities are investigating the possibility of teams of snipers using more than one .223-caliber rifle and traveling in more than one white vehicle.
Moose told reporters at Tuesday's press conference that there are "numerous vehicles they could be using."
The task force has released composite graphics of a white box truck witnesses described leaving the scene of one or more of the Maryland shootings. On Tuesday, it released composite graphics of two models of white cargo vans with roof racks that witnesses reported seeing fleeing the last two shootings in Virginia.
Federal authorities interviewed by WorldNetDaily say the sniper shootings are more sophisticated than first thought, and have the earmarks of an al-Qaida operation.
"These shootings are in line with cheap, low-level terrorism designed to disrupt commerce and law enforcement, and to lower morale," the ATF official summed up.
Al-Qaida training videos recovered by U.S. forces in Afghanistan demonstrate small-scale attacks such as drive-by shootings and assassinations, as WorldNetDaily first reported. The al-Qaida cell recently busted in Oregon was uncovered after local police spotted operatives shooting targets with assault rifles.
Other developments:
"There have been more shootings outside Montgomery County than inside his jurisdiction," said an FBI veteran. "Yet he's still in charge."
He called Moose's performance so far "disquieting."
Now we should stop mucking up this thread-I apologize for calling you that dreaded name.
But the government of the U.S.A. may only have become involved very recently as recent witness accounts gave information that lent credence to the theory that it might be a terrorist or a terrorist cell, so we may see a big shift coming up here in what the public is told.
I heard on another thread that President Bush is going to address the nation tomorrow, uh, actually tonight. Is it possible there is a connection?
Finally, are you against using the spy plane in the investigation as a violation of our posse comitatus rights and our right to be free from jackbooted federal policemen? Some FReepers think this is a big issue.
The public's "natural" reaction to what you described is the result of our government's decades long "disastrous" experiment with high levels of 3rd world immigration. I would have immediately halted immigration from all middle east nations after 9/11, sealed our borders and deported every single illegal alien, particularly those from the middle east as fast as I could. And I'd spell out the REAL STORY to the American People because I have faith that Americans "in the Know" are stronger and more effective in dealing with the enemy than Americans "in the Dark".
If you think this is extreme, just look at what (the Pinko) FDR did after Pearl Harbor. In many ways, America was a much healthier country back then. Now, we seem paralyzed every which way by political correctness and have lost our sense of survival. Nothing good will come out of this.
The real story though, is that incidents like the DC/MD/VA Shooter is an embarrassing reality to the open borders, unlimited immigration crowd that Bush, his dad and Clinton represent.
I thought you weren't arguing about this....
War, schmore. Is it merely PR semantics that bother you?
Don't answer. We don't want to argue here about that.
I have a reality flash for you. The Democrat Senate and the media would never let you do it.
No killers?... Moose's case.
FBI finds the killers? FBI marches to the rescue.
I'n not as sure as you are. I expect the usual suspects would begin crying foul. The legion of soccer moms would wish we could just "talk to them to work this out," (while rigging PTA elections, of course - I don't care for the so-called 'soccer moms').
Americans clearly don't have what it takes to fight this, as it stands now. Indeed, the only conclusion I can draw is that things have to get much worse, before they will get better.
I have a reality flash for you...there is NO DIFFERENCE between the Bush and Democrats when it comes to immigration.
Correct. There was a semi-admission in the bin Laden tape released in December, but never an outright admission and never a boasting credit-taking statement.
Not to you because you want to boot EVERYONE out, but I can see differences.
Sorry, I'm fading...I was finishing my taxes today and I'm exhausted. Ping me on an immigration thread sometime.
I think you are right. We have been steeped in PC/liberal bull$hit for a few geberations now ... many of us are gutless, pacifistic, socialists who want nothing more than a big TV and a comfy bed.
But, there are many of us who know that our lives are what they are because many before us have paid the price, and we will always have to pay that price. We can stand up, and we can fight back. I am not afraid of Al Queda and the muslim fanatics. In a face to face match we will kick their asses. When the bring their BS down to Georgia, they are in for a surprise. And it will get ugly fast for anyone that doesn't stand up and declare in no uncertain terms which side they are on.
There are plenty of former farm boys such as myself that are ready to do whatever it takes to support this country. But that will only happen if the government is stratght with us and stops this PC horseshit right now. If they do not, we will probably not have a chance to fight because they will get chem/bio/nukes in here, and we will all die before we can get a bead on their turbaned heads.
Not everyone. Just the illegals as The LAW compels us to do but yes I do advocate next to zero rates of immigration from 3rd world nations. An "intelligent" immigration policy would want a moderate rate of educated, skilled immigrants from 1st world nations. NO?
Ping me on an immigration thread sometime.
Will do.
If there is a next time, try shutting down all cell phones in a wide area (except for law enforcement) ASAP after a shot rings out.
The sniper(s) and accomplice(s) are probably communicating during their getaway.
By the way, what's FEMA up to?
That makes sense. The shootings are still being treated like state crimes, with federal assistance. Once solid confirmation is made that this is terrorist-related, Bush will have all the room he needs to make this fully a federal (even DOD) case.
It'll be interesting to see how the talk will go concerning using the DOD to deal with an enemy force which has already fully infiltrated. If we have to depend on the alphabet soup guys, we're doomed.
But lying to us just increases the chance that folks will turn vigilante, believing that the govt will not even tell them the truth, much less protect them.
That's going to be the big debate, but probably from the left this time. IIRC, the Posse Comitatus act deals with using Army troops for crimes and civil insurrections, but does not mention foreign forces waging war against U.S. citizens from within.
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