Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Wednesday, Oct. 16

Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences | October 16, 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.

[aristeides]

Yes, that's an interesting article, and a disturbing one. Particularly disturbing paragraph:

It's unlikely the administration will authorize National Guardsmen to help with roadblocks and other aspects of the investigation, because that would "tip the hand" that it's terrorism and spook citizens, the ATF official confided.

So, to avoid tipping off the public that it's terrorism, the government is avoiding a tactic that could save lives.

[Skywalk]

Not to jump on your case, but I think it's a HUGE stretch to even suggest gangs or gangmembers. While there is a psychopathic percentage of the criminal underworld, most "inner-city" or gangsters from poorer areas DO have a conscience, and even when they kill don't kill random strangers in THESE KINDS OF NUMBERS. The idea of gunning down kids and mothers and older women would be anathema to most gangbangers. Most of their homicides(contrary to myth about killing strangers for 'initiation') are rival drug gangsters or guys that killed one of their homies or cheated them on some business deal.

[livius]

"...PC attitude of not wanting to call this terrorism may have only extended the activities of this cell costing additional lives."

I think this is very true. It probably provoked them.

Furthermore, it made the police much less effective. After all, if even the police were looking for a "white male" at earlier traffic stops, a whole truckload of ME terrorists (probably waving their weapons) could have sailed right on through.

[packrat01]

Cut down all the trees.

It's for the children, and if it saves just one life...

Is Long Island in a CC state?

[areafiftyone]

That's a thought.

[TomGuy]

I suspected something "international" or more than a typical sniper/serial killer when the Secret Service got involved a couple of weeks ago. The Secret Service just doesn't typically get involved in "regular" crime. Their involvement signaled that this was much more.

Now (yesterday) the Pentagon may also get involved.

And the seeming lack of released information hints that officials know more than they want the general public to know.

Come on, 2 weeks to release a composite of a white van. Heck, any junior high kid who knows computer graphics could have generated a rendition in an hour. And "yeh, we know the partial license plate number, but we don't want to release it"---huh???? Why not? Because some smuck citizen may spot it and report its location?

[areafiftyone]

It was just a theory. WE ARE OPEN TO ALL THEORIES HERE I HOPE!!! But if you read my later post I said I was leaning towards the ME theory.

[Skywalk]

Oh I know, that's why I wanted to say I hope I didn't come across as jumping down your throat.

[KneelBeforeZod]

monday, weds, thurs, friday

[Skywalk]

The first day I suspected AQ. Didn't the first day of shooting start the day AFTER(or before, can't remember) they arrested the Portland cell members? Look around the world from the Philippines to Kashmir to Pakistan to Kuwait to Bali to Yemen, and it seems timed.

And remember last year and the October appearance of the Anthrax attacks. Also remember ALL the "coincidences" that the media and Feds ignored to paint hatfill as a right-winger, when all the stories are about the AQ operatives with red, irritated hands, living near the first incident location, etc.

This CD is on repeat, folks.

[areafiftyone]

I know. DRAT gotta get going for work. I just love this morning thread. Hopefully I can rejoing later when I get to work. Talk to you Freepers later.

[areafiftyone]

rejoing=rejoin

[Route66]

Here's another interesting part of the article:

"Authorities aren't sure anymore that the snipers are escaping shooting scenes on highways. They may be stationed locally and then draw back to nearby hideouts, which may explain how they've managed to slip dragnets."

We've been speculating on that here. There would have to be several strategically located safe houses if this is true.

I would also suspect that they are NOT hiding those numerous vehicles in a residential garage. Also, neighbors are nosey.

I'll bet they have commercial garages they are using...using either real or front businesses. Maybe they are using small industrial parks...places where commercial trucks would never get a second look.

[Movemout]

I am also leaning to the ME sleeper cell theory. AK-74s are not a common long gun in the USA but are common in Arab militaries. It looks like a team of four is at work and multiple person nutcases working together are rare as well. Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Welcome to the future.

[livius]

This CD is on repeat, folks.

Well put. Personally, I'd feel much better if they'd just come out and say it's terrorism and attribute it to its true authors. For one thing, I'd feel that they were approaching the issue of how to combat it a little more effectively.

We all know it's not an epidemic of "disgrumbled" lone white male losers.

Pretending it is will simply result in the loss of more lives. I even think 9/11 would never have happened if they had seriously pursued the glaringly obvious ME connections to the OKC bombing.

[Skywalk]

That Dr. Smith is kinda cute, for an older lady(I say older cuz I'm only 25) Yum!

Why are these morons asking why terrorists aren't taking credit?!! Has anyone taken credit for Bali? For the Kuwait shootings?

HELLO, claiming credit is what the guys in the West Bank do.

[livius]

I have a hazy recollection of somebody from the Middle East being arrested recently, possibly in Europe, attempting to board a plane with one of these weapons disassembled in his luggage. Maybe I'm just imagining it, though, because I can't recall the details. Anyone?

[mewzilla]

You thinking of that Karim Chatty guy in Sweden?

[packrat01]

Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil

CS&D (Chicken Sh poop and Diesel)

[Sacajaweau]

Mon,Wed,Thurs,Fri??

He's only hit on 3 days in any given week.

What's the weather picture in that area??

It may keep him shooting from his truck. Darn shoes leave prints and right now, the only thing we can match precisely to the sniper is the weapon (maybe). Likely he will dump it and switch to a new weapon.

Sac