Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Monday, Oct. 21, 2002

Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences | October 21, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

Let's keep a live commentary thread going again today. The FBI Tip # is 1-888-324-9800.

[Freedom2specul8]

I was seriously thinking it was al quada...but they wouldn't make demands, nor would that call and talk to cops like this either. *would they?*

[swarthyguy]

Shooting her FBI would be too hot. Her husband was next to her. And she was working on cyber terror and her boss is involved in the investigation. Check aristeides posts; e posted an article from washtimes.com and extrapolated from that.

[Elenya]

Moose's going to blame himself for something that might/is out of his control..

Definitely. Even though he shouldn't IMO.

[texasbluebell]

That's pretty much what was in the other one I found somewhere, from newsday I think it was, which I put someplace, probably on the other thread.

So I wonder if he's really from the former Yugoslavia or not...

Either way, his accent would have been noticeable. The French will be mightily embarrassed if he turns out to be one of theirs.

"RTL radio reported the deserter was of Yugoslav origin, but Bureau could not confirm that, saying that he had to be a French citizen to attend the military school."

[MasonGal]

I know - I keep going back and forth - lone shooter - or terrorist - everyday I seem to think differently. At this point - who knows!!

[cyncooper]

were saying sh/be was saying

[Letitring]

The only threat they have been specific about is "a substantial amount of money." So weird, that is what all the 'spurts are saying, they've never heard of such before. BUT, all the LEO's said in the beginning, this is a new type of criminal. We've never seen this before in this Country. Another reason why they haven't ruled out terrorism.

[swarthyguy]

Sorry garbled transmission.

Shooting her at the FBI would be too hot. And why didn't he pick off her husband, a bigger target at the homedepot.

And her job and her boss.

[ThinkingMan]

I think that Moose knew that the individuals arrested this morning were not related to the shooter. He called that emergency press conference with the message as soon as the arrest was made. Remember the first time they thought they had him (ex-marine, white van) there was another victim within hours of that guy going into custody. By calling the press conf. he probably stopped another shooting today. He let everyone know that the arrested were not the shooter (otherwise, why would he send a message to the shooter after the arrest) so the shooter did not have to strike again to prove he is still free.

[lonevoice]

Slightly off topic self-indulgence here. Just wanted to remark on the fact that this thread has over 1,000 posts and has stayed 100% on topic. It's been so frustrating the past few days trying to follow news and discussion about these shootings. Most of the threads have been hijacked by unrelated debates and flame wars. Kudos and gratitude to everyone who's posted here today.

[cynwoody]

What about the LISTED #?

and What about the stupid phone booth #?

I've been wondering how the sniper expects to solve the communication problem. He's got to know they'll be after him the moment he calls the number he left.

Maybe he plans to make his phone call from a "borrowed" phone line (you know, sneak into a phone closet with a phone and some alligator clip leads). That way he gets to watch when they land on the unsuspecting owner of the line. Often, live phone pairs going to distant phones will appear on panels in apartment building basements, etc.

Of course, even though they won't nail him right off the bat, they'll still know he was present within a fairly small area. And you can bet they'll soon locate the panel and question everyone in sight about who might have gotten to it. But it's still better than calling the number from a cell phone and getting instantly pinpointed by that DoD airplane!

[Letitring]

Bless your heart. If they can't stop him/them before reaching Texas, maybe the Rangers can take him out. I think they are the only group of LEO's not involved, yet.

[Elenya]

I hope after this is all over, that the blanks will be filled in for us.

By then, we'll be in Baghdad, so there might be other things to worry about and nobody might bother to fill us in...

[Letitring]

Yes they do, Hamas, especially, makes demands.

[Merovingian]

see #1200

[swarthyguy]

Disposable cell fones, maybe. Still doesn't explain the public fone at the gas station today. Maybe he was just playing to test their response and observed the whole thing from a fast food joint nearby.

[Letitring]

When bin Laden declared war on us, he demanded we get out of Saudi Arabia.

[Elenya]

I still have my same ole theory

Mero, you're an eternal optimist. And from the bottom of my heart, I wish you're right.

[Merovingian]

now that is an elaborate possibility I would not have thought of!

[Freedom2specul8]

"Powell saying Saddam could stay in power"

You're kidding!!!! And if this sniper thing is related.. you're thinking the sniper is saying the killing will stop if they succumb to those demands.. I figured President Bush is just trying to show his normal willingness to try other avenues first.