[Dirk McQuickly]

Will someone explain why we're negotiating with this sick #*&!#? He's obviously not going to be stopping by Mailboxes, Etc. to pick up a cashier's check for $10 million. I think they need to call his bluff and draw him (them) into the open. At this point, what's the difference? By placating him, we set a vicious, ugly precedent whereby any tinhorn terrorist can extort his way to riches. The minute any kind of money hits a Swiss bank account, this guy will vanish and these murders will unsolved. They have to call his bluff, hold up a collective middle finger, and tell him to give it his best shot.

It's their only chance at this point. It's an ugly predicament, and one I pray involves no more victims (especially not children). But if we give in to his demands, no one's children will be safe ever again.

That said, I find it curious that there's no description of the caller. No talk of whether or not there was an accent. I'm betting there's an angry Palestinian (or Palestinians) on the loose (funded by Saddam, of course)...

[NittanyLion]

I'd like to see Moose take the $10 million the sniper's demanding and put it up as a reward for his head. It's obvious the money's a ploy, and will do nothing to actually stop the shootings.

[RckyRaCoCo]

"May I make a suggestion?"

[GOPJ]

It's great the police hung up on the creep even if it was by accident. Giving him the royal treatment is nuts. He's a common killer. People are dying anyway so there's no reason not to stand up to him.

Here's my message to the killer: " Before I would give you a dime, I would shoot myself."

[drgnwrks]

ALthough I must gibve them credit where credit is due, for doing all that they can under the intense scrutiny...

I also must say that most times, they could not find their A$$ with a topo map, a flashlight, a friend, even if playing find the butt shaped pinata, in a room full of drag queens.

[Darksheare]

We're negotiating with him because we're a sick pasty white nation without the guts to grit our teeth and sacrifice hostages so that we don't let the creeps go.
When a terrorist has a hostage, rule one: Hostage is expendable.
That's just the way it is. And teh way it has to be. It's called 'hardball', and America hasn't the guts for it. (Thank you Democrats!) And yes, before anyone asks, I would prefer to be dead in a hostage situation than to have them negotiate with the scumbags. We have to make it so that going after civilian workers, women, and children and taking hostages is a fatal tactical blunder.
But, thanks to the 60's flower power crowd and the tree huggers and PETA, we care more about endangered frogs and teh terrorists feelings than we actually care about eradicating the scumbags. It seems that America wants to hold hands with the scumbags and sing 'kumbaya.' Like that will work.

[Mamzelle]

They're negotiating in hopes he'll drop some clues. They've got a three-page letter now, and keep letting out hints of what's in it. SCAN the thing and put it on the INTERNET. It's a longshot, but there are a lot of linguists who might catch a clue.

[steve-b]

Will someone explain why we're negotiating with this sick #*&!#?

Because it's SOP to keep the perp talking as long and as often as possible in order to increase the chance that he'll slip up and reveal a useful clue.

[dagnabit]

Madeline Twogoodes address is at Mailboxes etc.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I think they need to call his bluff and draw him (them) into the open...

And then put him in the crosshairs and pull the trigger. Poetic justice.