Shooting Spree in Montgomery County MD

This is why I support Farm Aid with such vigor. Too many traditionally American farms are now owned by foreigners. We can't allow our country to be sold out beneath us.

Maybe, I've misread something here, but wasn't this guy (the adult) an American? If so, how can supporting Farm Aid help? (Not that I think supporting Farm Aid is a bad idea)

Rest of story here - http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=104&sid=14499

Rest of story here - http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=104&sid=9957

Rest of story here - http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=14519&nid=104

Well, for me it explains the name change (to Muhammad). I heard that last night and cringed a bit.

Some of Farrakhan's literature and speeches (and those in his hierarchy) are pretty outrageous. Inflammatory is the word that comes to mind.

I turn on my TV this morning and read "police believe snipers have been caught."

It's a very good morning.

John Allen Muhammad is shown in this 1995 booking mug released by the Pierce County, Wash., Sheriff's Department. (AP Photo/Pierce County Sheriff's Office)

From a breaking news email:

"ABCNEWS has confirmed police found a .223-caliber rifle in a car where two men arrested in connection with the sniper killings were sleeping."

They say that this John Muhammad lived in Louisiana at one time. I wonder how long ago. In a thread at the politics forum http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?&threadid=19453 it's mentioned that there have been sniper shootings over the past several months there.

I dunno, kind of weird.

"We're positive it's these guys"

http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=104&sid=9957

Muhammad was designated as an "expert marksman" apparently the highest rank of shooter, by the US Army. Per Fox news.

Apparenly not ncessarily sniper quality. But top 20% or so. per Fox expert, who described it as signifying an above average shot.

I had an "expert marksman" badge that I won in Army basic training. It's not that hard to do.

It's a little simplistic to call the militia groups "racist" -- that element certainly exists in the movement (though I think it tends to be exaggerated), but their main issue is the belief that they are the last line of defense against a massive one-world government conspiracy. Race is not really the issue. Among the white racists themselves, there's a great deal of sympathy toward Arabs, since they both view Jews as their greatest enemies. Kind of an "enemy of my enemy is my friend" thing.

Indeed.

They are Al-Qaeda sympathizer - whether there is a formal link or not is not relevant they are still terrorists.

What is an "Al-Qaeda sympathizer?" Hell, I could say I'm a "IRA sympathizer" because I feel bad about the way Catholics are treated in Northern Ireland*. Does that make me a terrorist?

Whether or not there is a formal like between Muhammad and Malvo and Al Qaeda might not be relevant to you. It is to me.




*disclaimer -- I do not sympathize with the IRA. However, I do not like the way Catholics are treated in Northern Ireland.

I just heard on the evening news that the rifle found in the car was a ballistics match to the bullets used in the shootings.

http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/ for what sort of weapon they would've had.

This guy is appearing more and more like your typical psychopath, nothing special about him--nothing. The kid must have been one freakin' pissed off teenager and in awe of the older guy.

Of course some outstanding police work has occurred throughout this case, but I think the killers wanted to get caught and did.

I'm so happy for people there. I can just imagine the relief of parents and the words--they caught them, and they can't hurt anyone anymore--must be such a release to a lot of kids (and adults).

I hope everyone there gets a long deserved good night's sleep.

An Al-Qaeda sympathizer would be someone who agrees with the goals and tactics of Al-Qaeda, but is not personally involved with Al-Qaeda. Such a person might engage in terrorist acts on his own without any assistance or direction from a larger organization and would rightly be categorized a terrorist. Someone doesn't need to be part of a big international conspiracy to be a terrorist.

Great to hear about the sniper(s) being caught. Wonderful news as even people over here in CA were getting extremely frustrated with it. Just one worry, I'm praying there are no copycats out there, such as the school shootings a couple years back.

He and his "progidy" terrorized the DC Metro area. Trust me, I know what it's like to look around nervously for a white van while I'm filling up my gas tank. But the idea that this lunatic has anything to do with anyone but himself is beyond the pale. He had one kid in thrall of him - and it looks like Malvo is not his step son after all. He thought of himself as "God" (Dear Mister Policeman, I am God), but turned out to be just another spree killer. Sorry, but I will never consider this guy a terrorist in the sense of someone with some sort of political agenda. He's just another nut case.

Last night at 10pm pst, 1am est while the posts were flying here in this thread, the man who reported to 911 that blue chevy caprice was in fact calling 911.

That's incredible.

Yeah, I was talking in general terms. What I said might not apply to these guys. Looks to me like they just wanted to kill people, but I'll let the investigators see if they can find any other motive.