Posted on 10/22/2002 6:08:08 AM PDT by genefromjersey
Reports from CNN, Washington Post,etc. indicate police have received an extortionate demand : "Pay me, or I'll kill again."
In my opinion, this demand is the work of a "third party",who is exploiting the sniper hysteria, and hopes to get a big payday out of it.
This sort of thing has happened many times in the past, and I'm sure the police are well aware of it; however, another thought has occurred.
The two men arrested may have been paid to make themselves conspicuous in a recently purchased vehicle-selected for its resemblance to the "sniper van".They lingered at a pay phone for what seems an unusual amount of time, in what could have been a deliberate attempt to attract the attention of service station personnel. It is not unusual for "undocumented persons" to take short-term jobs in order to raise cash. In some areas, they wait for offers at specific street corners, etc.
It will be interesting to see how this matter finally pans out; but I hope they get the sniper, AND the extortionist - if they are, indeed separate people !
I still like the idea of ME/AQ terrorist cell. What more contempt could they show for the US than to throw red herrings around based on bad old TV shows.
The killings are done by someone with contempt for all people or all Americans.
The selection of targets is consistent with terrorists. The approach is novel. But then the WTC massacre was also VERY unique.
It doesn't take much intelligence to set up these red herrings. (Note: the voice contact was done through scramblers which would hide an accent; the notes are all reported as being in broken english, (perhaps a red herring in thermselves perhaps)).
Random targets on Americans. No contact with the victims (sexual, emotuional or otherwise). Reference to an avenging God. Washington DC.
They've shut down freeways for hours; shut down schools and terrorized Americans going about their business. So far they've been much more effective than a single blomb blast in a bus station.
If the terrorist in a local cell did not have access to explosives what better way could they wreak havoc?
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