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.

[bvw]

Fear is an interesting emotion -- it can hit, wham, like a panic in a very bad situation. In such a situation, once it has hit it is very hard the shake off even though safety may require it -- that's why planes have co-pilots among other reasons. Even then with some time, sleep, or determination it can be overcome.

Then there is fear which is self-grown, over a period of time. One that comes by entertaining fears and feared things, or by casting the following of unfolding events under the light of the most fearsome aspects of them.

Either type fear can be resonant in a group, unless assertively countered .

[per loin]

I'm not the dense one here. Moose has specifically stated that info is being withheld from the public for PC reasons. Do you honestly believe that Charles Moose et al should be the ones to decide whether Americans are grown up enough to be trusted with the facts?

[Peach]

Have you ever felt so wishy-washy about something in your whole life? I keep going back and forth on the issue of domestic vs. international terrorism. Whiplash is right!

[Wordsmith]

Oh well, been lurking on these threads nonstop for over a week so I may as well drop in the occassional post. Thanks all of you for your contributions, it's really helped me keep informed. I'm in the process of figuring out how best to make my own small contribution to this war, and may be enlisting shortly in the Army National Guard.

IF these shootings are jihad-related, can we definitively rule out multiple shooters? Does the ballistic evidence merely confirm that the ammunition is the same, or does it confirm that the same weapon is being used?

[wewillnotfail]

Why? Lots of Muslims have been killed by other Muslims.
Palies kill Palies. Hundreds (?) of muslims died on 9/11.
I guess I'm missing your logic in this?

[iceskater]

I keep going back and forth on the issue of domestic vs. international terrorism. Whiplash is right!

I'm glad I'm not the only one! :)

[Peach]

Just re-joined a few minutes ago - where did you hear that the handwriting on the letter didn't match the writing on the tarot card?

[dinasour]

Mussouai - the "20th hijacker" - is "French".

If we profile people of French ancestry, will the Frogs march on Washington.

[Merovingian]

wrong about that North Gate park..they keep saying Connecticuat ave and GRAND PRE road..I still am not sure exactly where that North Gate Park is..it is a county park..mnccp marked on sign..anyone know..is this Grand Pre road the road that the K-Mart is on? Never noticed the name Grand Pre..

[wewillnotfail]

Or, he could just be a loner as most of serial killers are.

[Vol2727]

True, but Moose would use his now famous "inappropriate to answer that question" reply.

But asking a question about his own quote from last Tuesday could possibly get him to explain himself. Doubtfully. Would just love to see his expressions and demeanor at the question. Hell, would love to know why they are protecting ME's when there are millions of Americans that need more protection.

[GirlShortstop]

"another Timothy McVeigh"        that's pretty comical imo... we *know* McVeigh acted *without* M.E. assistance, right?   </sarcasm off>

[livius]

Ashcroft yesterday also announced that they are going to reopen the investigation into the Oklahoma City bombing...

Wow, did he really announce that? I missed it somehow.

Personally, I agree - it was ME terrorism carried out with the aid of "lily whites" - that is, people with no criminal record, nothing that would make them stand out, and no ties to the area. That's my feeling about the sniper attacks, too.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WTOP - Roadblocks put into effect around the region were mostly lifted by 10:20 a.m.

... looks like the shooter got away again.

[yukong]

My understanding is that in each case, they are only getting slug fragments. IF that is the case, it is doubtful that they can get conclusive ballistics evidence that positively connect each shoot to the same weapon. They are careful in their wording that the bullet evidence is the "same type" and that they are "linked". I would guess that it is more a matter of, "they are the same type of ammo". Nothing more. The Ponderosa victim's doctor said the bullet was fragmented into a lot of small pieces. Or that is the report I heard. If that is the case, there is not way they can positively say they came from the same gun.

[Wordsmith]

Or even just an open-ended question about whether there is any suggestion of a link between the two...

The anthrax killer was a serial killer, regardless of who he was. Has there been any other serial killer who has hit victims in the DC area between the anthrax killings and the sniper killings? If not, it seems rational for the media to at least ask if the two might be connected in any way.

[LeftIsSinister]

Shucks, I guess I won't be getting much work done again today.

I had the same kinda night.

It doesn't help that I spent two of those hours stuck on the Beltway behind a road block! I didn't get searched--the road block was just broken up around 9am and everyone drove off. My wife got "let out" of a roadblock across the county (Monkey County MD) at the same time.

[mhking]

Do you honestly believe that Charles Moose et al should be the ones to decide whether Americans are grown up enough to be trusted with the facts?

I honestly believe there are people within the LE community who can't tell their ass from a hole in the ground. I honestly do not feel that they are driving. I'm sure the feds are driving. They aren't in a habit of releasing information that is not germain to the case; and in addition, they aren't in the habit of releasing wrong information that would lead a would-be Barney Fife to grab the wrong guy.

Now, if you're telling me that you feel that, based on everything that has happened, LE should release their entire stable of information -- even though it might endanger others -- then you're not only being dense, but irresponsible to boot.

[Peach]

You don't need my permission to post the link/article, but thanks for asking. I was barely awake at 5:00 a.m. (big yawn) and should have done it myself, but opted to just make mention of it in my first post. Regards

[mhking]

Never noticed the name Grand Pre.

Grand Pre is a small road that runs behind the shopping center between Connecticut and Bel Pre Rd.