Posted on 10/22/2002 2:09:43 AM PDT by Peach
Let's keep a live commentary thread gonig again today.
I don't want to start any flame wars with this comment, but it seems quite clear that LE does not view the average citizen as being able or willing to assist. Rather, LE is treating the average American citizen, and the media, as hindrances to their investigation. I beg to differ. LE has already made use of the media to broadcast their messages to the sniper, or the note-writer, or the phone-caller or all of the above.
I submit that the fear level increases as the public is denied information. As the fear level increases, the confusion increases, and as the confusion increases, the fear level increases, and so on. This only serves to empower the sniper, who already thinks of himself as "God."
You're exactly correct. There was a great psychological divide between higher police officials and the public, and in many cases lower level police officers and the public as well. There is a "contempt of citizen" atmosphere in the Chief's Offices around the country, I fear, and that atmosphere leaks out into the rest of the station.
When the police treat the citizens like mushrooms, they should not be surprised at the loss of respect and support they might later experience.
It's bad stuff. Definately made me rethink the issue. For those in the area its implications are horrific.
>Shirley you jest!
Seriously, it's time for lunch and a few pre-trip errands. But I'll be back after awhile.
Everyone keep up the good work. Always like to hear what you're thinking about. :)
Thanks. The info I'm going on is from a Fairfax County police officer - which may mean everything (if all LE in affected jurisdictions are privy to details) or nothing at all. I guess none of us will know everything, and why there are so many contradictions, until this is over. Sending up a prayer that the resolution will be soon.
Moose confirmed the shooting, giving details we already knew. Confirmed the death of the bus driver. Said at this point we have no BOLOs for vehicle or person. Said LE community is looking at this as similar to other shootings. When work is complete, that will be shared.
Now comes the message to the shooter, IMO. Unfortunately, I couldn't get all of it or get it word for word, but this pretty close:
We realize that the person or people have shown a clear willingness to kill people of all ages, races, genders, professions, at different times of the day and different days of the week.
There's that word clear again, which he used in a couple of answers to the questions, such as "I was trying to be clear that we have issued no BOLOs". It was just the expression on his face (fleeting, I admit) that he was pleased to be able to work that into his answer again. Maybe it's just his favorite word, but he uses it at every conference. And when he was admittedly talking to the bad guy(s), both times he told the media to play the message clearly and often. That is not normal English, so I think it's part of their code.
Then followed a "pep" talk, which I couldn't get verbatim because I was still trying to write out the above. My impression was that he believes or knows this is terrorism, but he's not allowed to say it. He said something about our freedoms and protecting the country. Hopefully, others have recorded it.
The Q&A was getting contentious. The press asked several times about reports that children are being specifically threatened and he refused to answer directly. He said he'd tried to real clear again that all people need to be on hightened awareness. He said any threats received were being discussed in the proper forum and that he wouldn't discuss them in a public forum.
Bottom line on this in my impression is that the politicians are in charge and they will cover up anything and everything that they possibly can.
One reporterette made him especially angry. She asked, "Are you in a more dangerous situation now?"
He very angrily looked away from her (like, "How could you even ask me that?") ignored the question completely and called on another reporter. This was not something she had shouted out. He had specifically acknowledged her, then ignored her question.
He said the next briefing will be at noon tomorrow.
Others also gave info about the victim, but you've probably read that by now.
Now I'll catch up with what everyone saw in the conference and try to catch that catnap :)
http://c-span.org/watch/
What happened? I remember one incident, and that was a Sikh who was shot in Arizona, not even an Arab.
For weeks after 11 September 2001, all I heard in the Detroit media was the pounding liberal drumbeat of incessant "Religion of Peace" and "We Mustn't Hold It Against Them." There weren't any incidents; no rednecks from Taylor fired up their pickup trucks and went on rampages through east Dearborn.
For the police to think that Americans would turn on moslem Americans, shows the deep mistrust and contempt within which the liberal police officials hold the citizenry.
Moose stated that "the person" the shooter talked to could not understand... I think a little "relationship" has developed and Moose does not want the press to know this. I don't think they would have your run-of-the-mill dispatcher taking this call. When it came in I'm sure the dispatcher had been told where to direct it the call.
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