Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Wed., Oct. 23,2002

Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences | October 23, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

Let's keep a live commentary thread going again today. The FBI Tip Line #1-888-324-9800.

All seems quiet since yesterday's news the shooter may target children specifically. It was released on various news outlets the shooter's 3-page letter to police was in broken English and threatened extreme violence. Police announced an electronic transfer of $10m as requested by the shooter was not possible but other options for transfer remain open. No one seriously believes police will actually give the shooter $$, but police are trying to keep a dialogue open with the shooter in an effort to capture this monster.

[OReilly]

This is not the first time I have put out this BS...

[TexKat]

After turning the 2 Mexicans over to the INS I highly doubt any illegal will come forward now.

The perp/s are not American.

[Miss Marple]

If someone finds themself in a situation as a result of information directly related to this case??????

I am having trouble figuring this one out.

[TrustME]

THE VERY SAME DAY THEY ANNOUNCE THE SNIPER WANTS TEN MILLION...THEY ALSO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY ARE RELEASING SOME DETAINEES FROM GUINTAINMO DETENTION CENTER.....RATHER ODD I THINK.......BUT maybe JUST A COINCEDENCE

[Dog]

immigrant communties.....which one is he talking to ??

[dinasour]

Moose:
No Comment in 100 words or more.

Multi-linqual tip line.

National Guard? I don't know.

Can we see handwriting? No in 100 words or more.

If immigrant tipsters safe what about the two mexicans? Said call anyway in 100 works or more.

[Fixit]

You beat me to it.

Immigrants may come forward, legal ones, that is.

After the treatment of the illegals down in VA I have to think that the task force may have burned a bridge (or two) to possible witnesses, especially given the size of the illegal poplation in and around D.C..

[Darlin']

They must have some internal polls that show some weaknesses. Lets hope so.

[TexKat]

OK...all this emphasis on immigration status is now making me think that this may be a foreigner

Right on.

[WillVoteForFood]

Very interesting to read the opposing schools of thought with regard to the type of threat this sniper is. From my reading of things, and I've probably read most of the articles and seen most of the quotes being referred to in posts here at FR, I've seen nothing definitive one way or the other that precludes either domestic or international terrorism.

Much has been made of the type of phrases being used by the killer in various phone calls, letters, etc. If the phrases being referred to are ones like "just shut up and listen," "hear me out," "I am God" and "I'm in charge", none of those point one way or another to a domestic vs ME terrorist.

The phrase most used to discount ME terror is the use of "I am God", with the reason being that no Muslim extremist would ever utter such blasphemy. A huge assumption is being made in this case. Muslim extremists would seem to not be the type to go out an booze up and indulge in strip clubs, yet we know the 911 terrorists did exactly that. Not exactly the actions of a devout Muslim. In so doing, what this says to me is that these terrorists see Islam as nothing more than a tool to move the masses and recruit followers. Calling themselves Muslims, using "Allah be praised" in every other sentence, is simply a means to an end. Posts here have stated that Muslims only use the word Allah when referring to God, yet I have known many Muslims who use God interchangeably with Allah and seem not trouble with doing that. Assuming that Muslim extremists are actually devout makes an assumption seemingly not supported by the evidence at hand.

As for the other phrases we have seen, what about them makes them likely to have been stated by a domestic terrorist v an international terrorist? Its only been a few weeks since an accused Al Qaeda cell was arrested in Buffalo, primarily made up of Americans. Also, we have been told time and time again that these sleeper cells, such as the ones who attacked the WTC would have been here for a while, melding into society. The phrasing pointed out above would not be out of line for someone who has been here for months or years.

Finally, the ransom. We've seen it posted here numerous times that the use of ransom is out of character with ME terror. That flies in the face of facts as well. Abu Sayeef is notorious for kidnappings and ransom to raise funds for other terror activities. No question the angle of a domestic account is strange, but I've not yet seen that in print. Not discounting the folks who have posted that info, but I've not seen it.

Bottom line. Nothing reported leads me to believe either domestic or international terror can be discounted.

[Miss Marple]

This issue has been discussed multiple times on this thread. The Gitmo prisoner release has been in the works since summer. It has to do with people who were Taliban but NOT Al Qaeda, and who have no information to give the military. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SNIPER!

[stlnative]

The media brought this up due to the 2 illegals that were picked up at the phone booth and are now being shipped back. I doubt it has anything to do with that they think the sniper is a foreigner.

[Dog]

Moose brought it up first ....not the media...I heard him.

[wewillnotfail]

my dear girl, I really think you need to go to bed (grin)

[areafiftyone]

Thanks for being the voice of reason about the Gitmo guys. I believe that maybe the person who may have seen something was foreign but I don't think the sniper is. The foreign guy may have called in some important info that he saw and maybe they think it is important enough to ask him to come in and speak to them. If this guy won't come in it is probably because he is illegal and is worried about what happened the other day at the phone booth.

[OReilly]

My Parents wanted me to be respectful to everyone, even you.

But Chief, the sniper is a killer?

Well Sir, I've answered your question.

[Vol2727]

Anyone know if there are a lot of immigrants in the area of the yesterday's shooting? Just wondering why Moose is bringing this up. If lots of immigrants there, it's understandable. If not, then why bring it up?

[Darlin']

Hehehe. Whiplash. Me, too. Except from what he said, how he said it, I got the impression he was talking to someone who might have witnessed the shooting yesterday. Maybe called the tipline but then got scared and hung up, maybe stayed on the phone just long enough for them to determine the person didn't speak English well.

[dinasour]

Pressitute: Are you making up BS when you say we are making progress.

Rocket J. Squirrel: Not but we're not going to tell you what.

Pressitute: Are your people on the tip line idiots.

Rocket J. Squirrel: No.

Moose: I try to be very polite to the sniper.

Pressitute: But they're killers.

Pressitute: Are you going to release more info, like the quote from the threat.

Moose: No, Maybe. in 500 words are more.

[libertysdaughter]

IMO this is how the person "disappears" and maybe why the officers did not find the note right away. I think the person is in uniform--rescue, police OR a newsperson. He may have posted the message AFTER the officers were on the premises.