David M. Payne

I look at this and wonder if religion isn't the reason that this is going on. Look at the facts.

1. The shooter is skilled, shoots from a distance using a 223 cal (?) weapon, and may have an accomplice. My guess is one shooter and one driver, based on how fast they get away from the scene. As no one is reporting gunshot noise, at least as far as I have heard in the media, it could be a silenced weapon. (Yes, I know you would still hear the crack of the supersonic round, but if you silence the gunshot report itself, that crack is hard to identify, and its hard to pinpoint the direction it came from too.) One shot and they are gone, very smooth and professional. Looks like they have had some military training, or terrorist camp training, or both.

2. The targets are random, different races, sexes and ages; which is what terrorists like to do when they sow their terror, terrorize everyone. The goal, I believe, is to break down society, ours to be specific.

The police say it might be a former military or police member on an insane rampage. I don't think so, the action is pretty well thought out. I think it could be an al-Qaida terror cell doing its thing, striking fear into the hearts of the people around Washington DC. I don't think the fact that it is happening there is a coincidence. Perhaps it's another homegrown religious group who wants in on the action, but I think it will turn out to be Osama bin Laden's boys. One thing for sure, it isn't the EAC (Evil Atheist Conspiracy). We like to sow intellectual awareness in the fallacy of God/religion, not kill people for the joy of it. You need religion for that, see 9/11. I think the police are focusing too much on the crazy lone gunman theory, and not at all as far as I have heard, on the possibility that this is the latest phase of al-Qaida's terror plan. If this is a terrorist operation, it's working pretty well, isn't it? And it isn't over, and won't be until the perpetrators are caught, or more likely, killed in a gun battle. Though if they are really smart, they'll run up their score, and then fade away, only to reappear somewhere else.

What do you think?

David

[ October 24, 2002: Message edited by: David Payne ]</p>

Kosh

Sniping has always struck me as being about terror. 'Nuf said.

So, how much of this will we put up with before we start shipping them back in bulk?

Bree

Oh Christ.

Some of my very best friends happen to be Arabic, but are atheist to the core. Some of my other friends are Islamic, but look white. And then there are the fucked up ones - like me, who looks Asian but actually speaks English .

[ October 07, 2002: Message edited by: Bree ]</p>

Mediancat

Well, given that the vast majority of serial killers and spree killers tend to be white males, I'm betting quite a while.

Or were you thinking of another "them?"

Rob aka Mediancat

Jamie_L

Emphasis mine.

There are so many law enforcement people involved now, I imagine that all possibilities are being considered. As I understand, these guys are following up all kinds of leads that they aren't talking about. The police seem to be of the mind that public speculation is pointless, and may only make public fear worse. They are probably right. The media, on the other hand, seems quite content with pointless speculation.

Jamie

Kosh

Of course, non of that answers the question.

Let me rephrase it. At what point, do you think the *American* public will place their own freedom and safety (which is the governments job to protect) above the rights of the non-citizens which are here?

Mediancat

Ladies and gentlemen, remain calm, we have a thread hijacking in progress . . . let's see what we can do to remedy the situation . . .

Back to the original topic: I don't think this is 9/11-related terrorist activity (it IS terrorist activity of some sort, for certain), but I could be convinced otherwise. Someone, somewhere, is thinking about this possibility . . . the problem is, we have so little evidence that speculation on our parts is simply that: speculation.

You may be right, Mr. Payne, but I hope you're wrong.

Rob aka Mediancat

Jamie_L

My perception is that if this is not religiously motivated, it is still quite explainable.

We have somebody who has decided he wishes to feel powerful by causing fear in the public at large. His goal is to kill people, beyond that he has no agenda. Therefore, target selection is by necessity random. He (or she, I suppose) has no motivation against any particular group. In fact, more fear is spread by showing people that no one is safe. Anyone can be a target.

Probably he picks a somewhat random location. He goes there, sets up, and then picks a target of opportunity.

Political terrorism could be a motivator. It could equally be someone who just wants to prove that he has control over life, death, and fear.

Jamie

braces_for_impact

Political terrorism or religious terrorism perhaps. A regular run-of-the-mill serial killer? I don't think so...I could be wrong, but I don't recall serial killers using guns. They seem to prefer the more 'up close and personal' approach.

I agree in that since it's in the DC area, this may be significant.

abe smith

Ummm. My bias is that Our (Illicit) President & his cohort are anxious to scare the US citizenry blue green & purple (in order to advance the Bush Admin's power & control agenda; and to win the next election: of course!) ; and that Bush & Co will use ANYTHING available to try to frighten us into giving him all the power he'd like to have. He shd read AEsop about the Boy who cried Wolf. --- Hence my advice to my Fellow Americans is Don't give those politicians more power by falling-for their a-terrorist-under-every-bed alarms.