Posted on 09/13/2004 4:18:36 AM PDT by TrebleRebel
CHARLES GIBSON, ABC NEWS
But first, we have an extraordinary update. As you know, we have an occasional series that we call "Take 2" in which we bring you up to date on stories that we've talked about previously.
graphics: take 2
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) And this one involves a young National Guardsman who tried to pass military secrets to al Qaeda, or someone he thought was al Qaeda. And it also involves the Montana mom who uncovered him. Last Thursday, a military jury convicted Specialist Ryan Anderson of attempted treason and sentenced him to life in prison. But the story of the woman who set the trap for him is even more astonishing.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Voice Over) Shannen Rossmiller looks like other moms in tiny Conrad, Montana. But when she goes on-line, she poses as a Muslim extremist, posting messages on radical websites to lure real terrorists into exposing themselves. She told a BBC reporter that 9/11 spurred her to action.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER, TRAPPED TRAITOR ON-LINE
I wanted to do something. You know, you sit back here in Montana and you're watching things happen.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Voice Over) Posing as an Algerian extremist, she exchanged e-mails with Amir Abdul Rashid, better known as 26 year-old Ryan Anderson, a troubled Muslim convert and a member of the National Guard based in Fort Lewis, Washington. In e-mails, Anderson, part of a tank crew, promised to reveal US military vulnerabilities to Shannen who e- mailed with him.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
He was willing to definitely give up troop locations, troop strengths, weaknesses.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Voice Over) Shannen contacted US authorities. Posing as al Qaeda members, they met with Anderson who revealed design flaws he knew firsthand.
graphics: test from e-mails
CHARLES GIBSON
(Voice Over) "The easiest way to destroy a tank," he told them, "is to place a large mine in the road and pave over it." Shannen was the star witness at Anderson's court-martial and is still patrolling the Internet looking to unmask terrorists.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) And Shannen Rossmiller is joining us this morning here in our studios in New York. Nice to have you with us.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Thank you.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) I, you said after 9/11 you wanted to do something. But where did you get the idea to troll the Internet to try to entice or entrap potential terrorists?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
It was just a process that really evolved. It started with curiosity and wanting to understand why what happened on September 11th happened. And it just evolved into curiosity and from there I decided to see if I could pass off as a -Islamic extremist.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) But, but I wouldn't even know how to start. I mean, how do you find them?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Well, you got to know where to look and that takes some time, you know, to find out where some of these places are.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) You didn't know when you started.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
I, no. I did not know, no, no.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Okay. So, you began to find some websites that, that are frequented by extremists?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Yes. Internet forums, usually.
graphics: terror detective
graphics: mom battles terrorists
CHARLES GIBSON
(Voice Over) Now, do you contact somebody that you see on this web-site or do you post some kind of message hoping they'll contact you?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Both, really. It, it depends on what I believe that person might have as far as information, whether or not I would contact them first or post something and hope -that they would contact me based on what I had posted.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) And in this case, in the Anderson case, did he contact you or you contacted him?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
No, I contacted him.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Okay. So, being in a small town in Montana is a long way from being in the Middle East where you posed you, as somebody from?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Absolutely, yes.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Okay. So, how do you keep them from tripping you up?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Lots of ways. I basically figured, you know, that if I was going to pass myself off, I needed to look as though I would be coming from that part of the world.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Right.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
So, different software is available to be able to configure your computer and what not, your address, to, you know, appear as though it would be coming from Pakistan or Yemen or anywhere, really.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) But what if he says I know that town in Pakistan? Where's the local market? Where's the local mosque? Where's the, do you know that stuff?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Yeah, I do, actually. Yeah. I have those details in line for each identity that I create, so I know that if I'm called on it that I will have those answers.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Do you communicate in English or Arabic?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Mostly Arabic. But usually ...
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Did you speak Arabic before this started?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
No, I don't speak. I can read.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) So, so, you, you can communicate in Arabic if you need to.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Correct, yes.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Wow. And, and I understand also that you do this at 4:00 AM in the morning so that it looks like it's midday in the Middle East.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Yeah, sometimes. I'm an early riser and I don't need a lot of sleep, so it just kind of works out that that's convenient, a convenient time from that part of the world to where I'm located.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) So, so he thought you were whom?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
He thought I was an Algerian. And, actually, I had indicated I was in Germany.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) And, and, and did you set up a meeting with him or, 'cause I know eventually agents from Homeland Security went and actually met him, but did you set up a meeting in the United States with him?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
There was a process leading up to that. Once that was coordinated, then that would ultimately be what they wanted to do was have an in- person meeting to, you know, see if his intentions were what they appeared to be through the e-mail exchanges that I had with him.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) I must, I'm just fascinated. Now, you're a small-town judge in Montana, right?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Yes.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Came up with this idea. What do the local folks, do many people know what you do?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
I think they've heard a little bit about it over the last couple of months, but it's not an easy process to explain, let alone really understand. But, I, I mean, I answer the questions when they're asked so, so they can try and understand what I'm doing.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Are we blowing your cover here by putting you on TV?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
No.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) No. And you're still doing it?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Oh, yes. Absolutely. Mm hmm.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) And are other people contacting you that you think might be potential terrorists?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
That's the goal. And that's the whole process, to, you know, exchange information back and forth to see if, you know, they have something that might be valuable information. And if that's the case, then, of course, then I, you know, take it further with them.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) It's an extraordinary story. An extraordinary story. Do you know of anybody else who does anything like this? I mean, did the Homeland Security people say, boy, you're, you're different?
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Well, I don't think they knew what to make of me. But I'm not really familiar with any other individuals that actually communicate ...
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Right.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
... with, you know, persons of interest, but ...
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) A lot of people scroll through those websites, but they don't get involved.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
They do. And they do, and they try and analyze some of the public source information that's available, but you, you don't glean a lot from that. Where you're going to get the information is contact them.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Well, it gives new meaning to here comes the judge.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Oh, boy.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) That's you. Shannen Rossmiller, nice job. Thanks very much.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Thank you very much.
CHARLES GIBSON
(Off Camera) Appreciate your being with us.
SHANNEN ROSSMILLER
Thank you.
Mrs Galt?
Revealing her name and location could prove to be highly prejudicial to her health.
No joke, is Gibson nuts?
Must be phony name and location.
How this could NOT be "blowing her cover", I can't imagine.
Too bad the FBI didn't think about that before they showed footage of her walking into the facility, or before they gave her clearance to go public with her story.
I hope this woman has all her affairs in order.
If a-Qaeda doesn't find her, the DNC will.
Way to go Gibson, you useful idiot. You just outed a terrorist tracker.
Ive read about a housemom who's helped Indian,Israeli,Russian & American intelligence agencies(who pay her) in cracking terrorists by making them open up in chatrooms(poor scumbags need a bit of entertainment!!!)-could this be her??
What makes you people think that Shannen is in inherent danger? Spec. Anderson made no friends in Al-Qaeda. The contact he thought he made was only with my wife. He certainly has no friends in the US military, as they were the ones he was trying to kill. Why would Al-Qaeda risk exposing themselves to harm her? What makes you think she is any more danger than anybody that has served in Iraq or Afghanistan?
15 minutes of fame? Kiss My Ass! We didn't ask for this exposure. When this got handed over to the military from the FBI, they made it public, not us. Shannen has actually made it safer for us by appearing on shows like GMA, and the Today show.
I answer to stuff like this all the time, and people just look at the surface of the story instead of digging deeper and getting the real 'jist' of it. That is a shortcut to thinking, and I'm questioning myself for dignifing it with a response. Sheesh!
Excuse me??? didn't get the point of your reply as I said nothing about Shannen,FBI etc!!!!
Right you are. My reply was directed at 'TrebleRebel', not at you. I didn't realize when you hit 'post reply' it replies to the last guy who posted.
PS I love the Sukhoi. You must be an RCer?
WOW. What a remarkable story. I take my hat off to her- particularly since she's learned enough Arabic to communicate effectively.
HOOAH!
Although, I suppose evil Moos would stick out like a sore thumb in a small town, so you've got that going for you.
I think most of us here are more than willing to take down terrorists one way or another - it's awfully good to see someone actually doing it.
Well it's ok!!!If you want to reply to a post that interests u/drives u crazy,just hit the "post reply" on that post.Well im not a racer or anything,just a patriotic Indian who chose his idname after the frontline fighter bomber of the Indian Airforce,the SU-30MKI(Russian built + a fair share of Indian,Israeli & even French systems)!!!
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Su-30b.html
Was that you they were talking about on the news the other day. About Nigerian scams?
I have no idea. This is the first I'm hearing of that.
It was the hourly (ABC?) radio news. Was repeated a few times. Some guy was bragging how he scammed Nigerian scammers into sending him stupid photos of themselves. Promising them his money if they posed doing such and such. Which he would then try to embarrass them with by posting on his website. I believe he was in San Antonio TX.
Wasnt me.
bump
Are you positive?
I believe you should have directed your response to publius6961, not me. If you will scroll up, you'll see that he/she made that statement. I was concerned that your wife's cover was blown by the FBI.
***scratching head***
Is that a trick question? :-)
I sure didnt call any radio station, and I'm not in Texas.
Was the guy claiming to be "lowbridge" of FreeRepublic?
Amazing story and that she taught herself to read Arabic is nothing short of incredible.
This is a classic American story of putting one's mind to something and making it work. Bravo!
Who among all the rest of us wouldn't love to do something like what she took the time to do. All this and she is a Mother, a wife, an attorney and a judge. Wow.
Wasnt me.
Baiting the hook?
Check her out, you can see her on Good Morning America:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/SciTech/Cyberspies_Terrorists_040910-1.html
Yeah, I've been married to her for 10 years and couldn't be prouder of her.
Oh, by the way, you can also see her on the Today show.
http://designerimages.net/Video/7-Seas/Shannen/Today%20Show%209-3-04/
And the company's website: www.7-seas.net
A big thank you to Shannen and to you and your family in support of a new American hero!
Thank you for the links, Randy. :)
Thank you for the link, Lonnie!
Welcome to FreeRepublic.com .....
Wow, thanks for the warm welcome and nice comments, guys. I found this site by googling my wife's name this morning. Guess I'll stick around here for a while.
Thanks for the ping, bd
Welcome to Free Republic Randy!
A "right up your alley" ping.
You'll LOVE this.
Wow, thanks for the warm welcome and nice comments, guys. I found this site by googling my wife's name this morning. Guess I'll stick around here for a while.You bet. We can always use more good folks here.
________________
______________________________________________
Sept. 10, 2004 — A small-town mother of three helped put away a man accused of attempting to aid al Qaeda, and she says she's just getting started.
Shannen Rossmiller says she first came into contact with a man who identified himself as "Amir Abdul Rashid" on a Muslim extremist Web site. Rossmiller, who was posing as an Algerian Islamist, began a dialogue with Rashid — who turned out to be Army National Guard Spc. Ryan Anderson, a Muslim convert who was due to be deployed to Iraq.
Rossmiller, 33, says Anderson, a tank driver with the 81st Armor Brigade at Fort Lewis, Wash., offered to reveal U.S. military vulnerabilities.
A part-time municipal judge in Conrad, Mont., Rossmiller is a member of the anti-terror Internet group "7 Seas." The global citizens' intelligence network, formed by people from Singapore, Canada, Australia and the United States, has no official link to any law enforcement organization. But members say their tips are helping agencies in the fight against terror.
Rossmiller alerted the FBI to her contacts with "Rashid." When U.S. authorities posing as al Qaeda members got in touch with Anderson online, they said he was happy to provide information about how to destroy U.S. weapons and kill Americans.
Anderson, 27, was found guilty in a court-martial of five counts of attempted treason and related charges. He was sentenced Friday to life in prison.
Amateur Cyber Sleuths With a Cause
Members of 7 Seas came together with one goal in mind — to bring down possible terrorists of the world before they have the chance to strike.
Spurred to action by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the cyber sleuths often pose as a Muslim extremists, posting messages on radical Web sites to lure real terrorists into exposing themselves.
Rossmiller goes to great lengths to create her fake online identities. She says she researches everything she would need to know about the area where she is pretending to be from, and she can even read Arabic.
Thrilled and honored to be pinged, bd,
and to hear about your amazing wife, Randy.
Welcome to the Perpetual Pajama Party!
Anderson, 27, was found guilty in a court-martial of five counts of attempted treason and related charges. He was sentenced Friday to life in prison.
>>>
Shoot this particular POS, then purge the U.S. military and finally America of diseased Muhammadans...
Glad to ping anytime. Just so pleased that Randy Rossmiller showed up!
Her service stands as proud testament to the fact that the War on Terrorism requires warriors of all shapes, sizes, skills and sex. All can give some, Some must give all.
"Stay safe, stay well, stay armed. Yorktown."
RIP Harpseal
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.