Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002 [Another Shooting?]

Fox News, CNN, Press Releases | October 22, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Releases

[Peach]

Let's keep a live commentary thread gonig again today.

[Letitring]

I hope I freepmailed that, but...

[cyncooper]

Moose keep referring to these people although he did not intend to. It slipped. But I guarantee you it is (these people).

I am way behind in reading this thread but wanted to address this point. Sorry if someone else has pointed this out.

The fact is that Moose has for quite some time said "person or people". Today he used this phrase and was asked by a reporter "why the change". Moose pointed out that he *has* been using that phrase and he was "sorry" the reporter had missed his usage in the past.

Good for Moose and you are incorrect to say he "did not intend to" use the word "people".

[valleygal]

My kids use www.altavista.com for translations. :)

[FootBall]

Alternating White <-> Black shooting pattern....
# 6-14 shootings....

Below is the pattern I notice which has been broken on the 13th shooting. I guess the guy felt he need to break the pattern to throw off authorities. In my mind it obvious what he is doing.

I think the terrorist sniper is out to destroy what America is about. The consumer, Freedom of movement without looking over shoulder. He is using the race pattern/symbolism below to make his point.

Alternating White <-> Black shooting pattern....
# 6-14 shootings....

14 Black Male (bus driver)
13 White Male (black/white Pattern Broke after 7 shootings)
12 White Female (per news conference)
11 Black Male
10 White Male
09 Black Boy
08 White Woman (I think this was a woman at Michaels)
07 Black Man
06 White Woman

1-5 Shootings was Meant to generate Media and Police attention.

The only clearly Non-Black/Non-White people that got a shot. An Indian male had United states flags clearly marking his car. The Latino Woman was sitting outside a United States Post office.

I'm thinking the Sniper is shooting people equally who
are mostly associated to Historical America...White and Black race.

I'm thinking this could be Terrorist related.

[Peach]

NewsMax says the letter wasn't opened immediately because LEO's wanted to test it for forensics. By the time they opened it, the timeline had passed for communication. The letter also mentioned extreme violence and a DC television reporter says the "genie is out of the bottle".

[Dog]

We don't need those comments on this thread...

Your baiting people doesn't belong here...

[ClancyJ]

We can and must take care of both threats now.

We have been warned that there could be more attacks. All terrorists, criminals, thugs, maniacs, madmen attack when being taken out. Yet - if you don't take them out they don't stop their attacks - you just live with their demands, their wish to kill you at will.

[Yaelle]

I agree with you about Chief Moose. I'd like to see any of us live under the stress he has on him, the pressures from all sides. The poor man doesn't look like he has slept in weeks. Let's pray for him and give him our support.

[yukong]

I don't disagree in that some people maybe are taking this too lightly. But the fact remains that the LEAs could have gotten a point across without giving in to this guys demands. What will that stop. And bringing in the National Guard? I would resist this also at this point. If we knew who we were looking for and needed them to help find him, OK, but to bring in the Nat. Guard is akin to declaring martial law. Are you for that? Do you think that will stop this? Are we going to lock down the whole beltway area? If so, he will move to Baltimore. Or Philadelphia. I'm sorry. I just believe that we are empowering this cat. Playing into his hands. Bad thing.

[aristeides]

Chris Core now discussing use of National Guard on WMAL.

[valleygal]

Shouldn't that be "Turn off our computers and get a life!? LOL

[slimer]

LOL! I was thinking about starting an on-line FR anonymous group but hey, we're already there! Or, start a support group in your area - make sure that the place where you're going to meet has a T1 line and bring your laptop.

[MTCJK]

It was like he was blaming television for the actions of a ruthless murderer. Sound familiar?

I think your reporting of the media being responsible for alot of the snipers actions has a great big grain of truth behind it. These pompous prognosticators make me sick, and they are well represented on every channel, including FOX

[TexKat]

Moose seemed a little more relaxed on that last news conference. Probably because he was able to inform the public of the truth about the children.

[Neenah]

I think it is time for SOMEONE to come out and talk to the American people. Someone who can take control, calm the people, speak in strong terms, and put confidence in those around the area that are living this NOW.

For Moose to come out , read a short statement out of what he said was much longer, but would only reveal this part....I think was a mistake!

He may be a good man, but with life and death hanging in the balance for everyone in that part of the country....PLEASE, FOR GOD SAKE, GET SOMEONE IN THERE TO TAKE COMMAND !!

I am sick of the PC crowd too. This man does NOT exude strength...face it...and SOMEONE, TAKE CONTROL OF THIS SITUATION ...AS SOON AS POSSIBLE !!!

[Spirited]

"This is terrorism on the cheap."

The effect is catastrophic here in the DC area, indeed. The tourist industry here is in grave trouble, along with the security ridden airline industry. Restaurants are deeply affected as are hair styling establishments and not many are using much gasoline to go anywhere. Hotel rooms are going empty, sales in stores are down as is transporation and so on.

I would think that this will affect our economy enormously. It is more efective than single bombs which kill a bunch of people and do nothing more in affecting normal life cycles in the area.

If "do unto others" is true perhaps we are reaping where we have sown.

[StayAt HomeMother]

Additionally, the election is 2 weeks away. Imagine very few people going to the polls. Imagine the chaos that would cause inside our government (remember Florida 2000). Here in Fairfax County, schools are closed on election day and most voting takes place at the schools. I have spent my share of hours standing outside handing out literature and sample ballots for Bush, et al. We have two weeks. Do you think we can get an emergency change to the election roles so that we can hand out out materials INSIDE the school? The Virginia Attorney General is a Republican; the Governor is from the other side. Advice please: Should we start working this issue, or be optimistic that this will all be over by then? (My kids haven't had recess in what, three weeks? This is already the new normality for them.)

[slimer]

Chilling!!! - and a very possible senario. We will never be the same as before 9/11 and I will never forget that day.

[Dog]

Chris Core now discussing use of National Guard on WMAL.

If this should happen......the sniper will move to another area.....PA...DE...NJ... my 2 cents.

[poppyseed]

Chris Core is still insisting that the VA counties closed their schools because the parents in the counties insisted. I think this must mean that VA law enforcement people leaked the text of the threat to children to people in their localities. And I suspect that the fact that the text of the threat was common knowledge in VA explains why Moose and the sniper investigation decided to make the text of the threat public nationwide.

I think you're right about VA LE leaking the info, and for once, I don't think those leaks were undue or improper. I spoke with a woman at work today whose sister had spoken with a Fairfax Co. police officer last night. The officer told the sister that the letter contained a specific threat to children, but that LE didn't want that info released to the public via the media - for whatever reason. So the cops were trying to get the word out to parents informally. I had questioned the validity of this until Moose read the postscript.

I think the word was getting out even before Moose's statement - there are usually kids all over my neighborhood when I come home from work, even since the shootings began. Today the neighborhood is empty.