Posted on 02/12/2006 7:20:41 PM PST by Cornpone
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Federal investigators have accused a Pennsylvania man of trying to conspire with al-Qaeda to blow up major U.S. oil and gas pipelines and wreck the economy, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Sunday.
The FBI says Michael Curtis Reynolds, 47, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. attempted to provide material aid to al-Qaeda to disrupt the federal government, to change its foreign policy, and to turn the public against the war in Iraq, the newspaper said.
The allegations were disclosed in a federal transcript obtained by the Inquirer on Friday.
Reynolds has not been formally charged with terrorist offences but has been held in a Pennsylvania jail since December 5 on the unrelated charge of possessing a hand grenade, the paper said.
Reynolds, who is unemployed, was drawn into an FBI sting operation in Idaho two months ago in which he meet with a purported al-Qaeda operative who was really a Montana judge who monitors extremist Muslim Web sites looking for potential terrorist activity, according to the report.
At that meeting, Reynolds expected to receive $40,000 to finance a plot to blow up sections of the Transcontinental Pipeline which carries natural gas from the U.S. Gulf Coast to New York City via Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The alleged plot also included a plan to detonate propane trucks along the Alaska Pipeline, and to blow up oil refineries in New Jersey and Wyoming.
The newspaper quoted John Gurganus, a federal prosecutor, as saying Reynolds hoped to "disrupt government function", provoke opposition to the war in Iraq, drive up fuel prices, and "lend to the efforts by al-Qaeda to terrorise this nation."
Reynolds was arrested on the hand grenade charge in December. He told federal agents he was not a terrorist but a patriot trying to trap al-Qaeda operatives, the newspaper said. FBI agents obtained search warrants for his computers and e-mail accounts, which contained information on the alleged plot.
Reynolds, who has lived in many parts of the United States, has a string of bad debts and criminal convictions, including one for attempted arson, according to the Inquirer.
Ok, a piggy costume. After all, it's YOUR all expense paid (fantasy) trip. LOL
Genius,
The point lost on the pointy-headed is that Oklahoma was a a hidden story.
That is, unlike the general perception that only southern white folks populated Oklahoma City, it was notable that a massive influx of Iraqis, including those who served in Saddam's army, were allowed to settle uniquely in this particular town after the Gulf War.
Terrorism came to America and Oklahoma shortly after this significant event.
Is it enough that planning meetings of America's enemies was within eyesight of the ill-fated Murrah building?
Combined with all other information, it should not be ignored.
Unless you have an ulterior motive, of course.
O ho! This is getting fun! Now I'M part of the conspiracy too. Hey look-- there's a terrorist under your bed! Boo!
You seem like the kind of guy who thinks the complete lack of evidence for your wild accusations only proves how widespread and devious the conspiracy really is.
-ccm
The evidence is as ample as the lard between your ears, you're ignoring it because you are a communist and welcome the destruction of America.
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