- In the deadly serious reign of terror in the Beltway
area, there is a subplot battle of wits involved and most of the media
and law enforcement appear to have entered the fray unarmed.
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- Although some are beginning to think otherwise, law enforcement
seems wed to the theory that this is a lone psychopath with only a fair
expertise in marksmanship and knack for planning his hits. Cable television
has an endless parade of experts and "former" FBI profilers who
spout their psychobabble of theories as to why the shooter has turned against
society.
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- However most admit to the "possibility" of
two scenarios. The first, and favorite, is the lone nut theory (possibly
with a partner). The second is the "unthinkable" idea of organized
terrorism plotted by a government or foreign or domestic group (take your
pick between Al Queda or the local militia). The latter is almost universally
rejected because no one has taken credit for the killings. And that's what
terrorists do, right?
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- The philosopher George Santana said, "Those who
do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it," We need go
back in history no further than to Lenin and Hitler for the techniques
and motives for terrorism.
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- Lenin maintained that terrorism, in order to strike fear
into an entire population, must be random. If there is a perception that
only a certain group or groups are targeted, the rest of the public will
still feel safe. The object of this kind of terrorism is to goad (or provide
a rationale) for the government to institute repressive measures in the
name of providing "security." As the terrorism continues it also
buttresses the perception that the government is incapable of protecting
the public. As the repression escalates, the public becomes increasingly
resentful opening the door for the "white knight" or opposition
to provide the solution.
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- Hitler followed this prescription by organizing "street
gangs" to commit random violence as he ran for election on a platform
of restoring "law and order." As soon as Hitler gained office
he had the constitution changed to give him the power he needed to stop
the violence. He got the power and the "random" violence stopped,
although the "gangs" were incorporated into the dreaded SS storm
troopers who continued the terror against selected targets and scapegoats.
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- After each killing we are told, by law enforcement and
the media, that the killings are "linked" on the basis of forensic
ballistic evidence. This evokes the image, seen on television and in the
movies, of an "expert" peering into a microscope comparing "grooves"
on bullets and finding they are identical. If you listen carefully, that's
not what they are saying at all. The only thing they have determined is
that the same caliber bullet (.223) has been used in each killing. There
are some thirty weapons that can chamber a .223 cartridge and even more
if a sabot round is being used.
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- What, you say, is a "sabot" round. In this
case it would be a .223 bullet wrapped in a plastic cover called a "sabot"
and encased in thirty caliber casing. A thirty caliber weapon would fire
the cartridge and a .223 bullet (slug) would hit the target. The police
have "found" one cartridge casing they say they believe was used
to fire the shot that wounded the young boy at the school. This is the
same crime where the Tarot card was found.
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- I have only heard one expert (on Fox Cable) point out
that the casing was found right beside the Tarot card. Since the perpetrator
obviously wanted the Tarot card to be found, it is only logical he wanted
the casing to also be found. That expert who seems to be one of the few
exercising common sense and not taking everything at face value was Mark
Furman, the former L.A. detective of O.J. fame. He was also responsible
for the reopening of the murder case in Connecticut with his book "Murder
in Greenwich" that resulted in the conviction of the Kennedy relative
for the murder. If the .223 casing was planted, should it be used to conclusively
say that the murder weapon is of .22 caliber?
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- Remember the white block truck returned to a rental company
in which a cartridge casing was found? It was first reported as a .308
caliber and on that basis the authorities dismissed its relevance. Today,
the announcement was made that it was a .223 caliber afterall. Is it now
relevant, apparently not. But it does spike speculation of a sabot round.
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- Then there is the instance of the person who was temporarily
taken into custody and then released. Found in his car were a .22 "assault"
rifle, Tarot cards and a sniper manual. No connection say the authorities
and no more is heard of him. Did he not fit the preconceived "profile?"
Why was he not at least charged with possession of an illegal weapon?
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- Now we are being treated to the spectacle of the police
being forced to use the television media to "communicate" with
someone they believe to be the sniper. Unless the messages police have
delivered on TV are coded responses to the terrorist, they contradict themselves.
First they say they have received a message and are formulating a response.
Then they come back and say they don't understand the original message
and need clarification before they can respond. All this is doing is creating
the perception that the police are either being manipulated by the shooter
or are incompetent. Neither perception is calculated to instill public
confidence in the authorities.
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- We all hope the shooter is a "lone nut" and
will soon be snared by law enforcement. However this writer leans more
to the scenario of organized terrorism with the objective of creating nationwide
fear and a crackdown by government . We have already seen an intervention
by the military in a clear violation of the Posse Comitatus Act but most
people shrug it off as necessary.
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- If, God forbid, sniper incidents should spread around
the country, that would create more terror. However, that is unlikely as
it would make it clear that it is organized. It is much more likely that
another terrorist act of 9/11 magnitude will occur.
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- Let us all pray that is not allowed to happen.
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- Permission is granted to reproduce this article in its
entirety.
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- The author is a free lance writer based in Romulus, Michigan.
He is a former newspaper editor and investigative reporter, a retired customs
administrator and accountant, and a student of history and the U.S. Constitution.
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