Times Square bombing suspect's life had unraveled (AP blames Bush for terrorism act)

Associated Press ^ | May 5, 2010 | John Christoffersen

[Zakeet]

Not long ago, Faisal Shahzad had a pretty enviable life: He became an American citizen after emigrating from Pakistan, where he came from a wealthy family. He earned an MBA. He had a well-educated wife and two kids and owned a house in a middle-class Connecticut suburb.

In the past couple of years, though, his life seemed to unravel: He left a job at a global marketing firm he'd held for three years, lost his home to foreclosure and moved into an apartment in an impoverished neighborhood in Bridgeport. And last weekend, authorities say, he drove an SUV loaded with explosives into Times Square intent on blowing it up.

The bomb didn't go off, and Shahzad was arrested on a plane in New York as he tried to leave the country. He was in custody Tuesday and couldn't be reached for comment. Authorities say he is cooperating and has admitted getting explosives training in his native Pakistan.

Shahzad's behavior sometimes seemed odd to his neighbors, and he surprised a real estate broker he hardly knew with his outspokenness about President George W. Bush and the Iraq war.

"He mentioned that he didn't like Bush policies in Iraq," said Igor Djuric, who represented Shahzad in 2004 when he was buying a home.

Djuric said he couldn't remember the exact words Shahzad used about Bush but "something to the effect of he doesn't know what he's doing and it's the wrong thing that he's doing."

[Snip]

Shahzad, 30, is the son of a former top Pakistani air force officer, according to Kifyat Ali, a cousin of Shahzad's father. He came to the United States in late 1998 on a student visa, according to an official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity ...

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"He mentioned that he didn't like Bush policies in Iraq,"

Okay, everyone all together now. It's Bush's fault!!!

Has anyone noticed that it talks of the wife and kids, then it seems they are out of the picture once they leave their home. Did she and the kids move back to Pakistan? Did they live with him in the apartment. Where are they now? Let's hear what she has to say. I'm sure she'll blame Bush for his radicalization also...

[kittymyrib]

Hmmmmm....well-educated with two degrees, came from a wealthy Middle-Eastern family, Muslim...sounds very familiar. Must have been afraid to fly an airplane into a skyscraper, so he had to settle for an old Pathfinder loaded with propane.

Meanwhile, he can pay for his ticket with $700 cash, have no luggage, and get aboard an Emirates flight, while grannies are standing in their stocking feet being patted down by feckless TSA slugs to keep America safe. It’s only by God’s grace that we have survived our pathetic government with its terminal PC disease.

[thesharkboy]

Drove an SUV loaded with explosives to NY -- Needs a caveat. Only the authorities said he did. It might not be true.

CYA on a possible libel suit.

[nuconvert]

I still don’t understand the situation with his wife. They said he was trying to reconcile with his wife in Pakistan. Did she move back there? Then there was a report that some of the people arrested were affiliated with her or could possibly include her and his family members.
Any more on this?

[IYAS9YAS]

In the past couple of years, though, his life seemed to unravel: He left a job at a global marketing firm he'd held for three years, lost his home to foreclosure and moved into an apartment in an impoverished neighborhood in Bridgeport. And last weekend, authorities say, he drove an SUV loaded with explosives into Times Square intent on blowing it up.

Funny. I heard on an ABC New Radio report this morning that upon becoming a citizen he stopped paying his mortgage on purpose - this was according to those who knew him.

[dead]

Shahzad earned $22,650 income as an account analyst in 2001.

Dude, don't buy a house for ten times your annual salary.

[nuconvert]

I’d also like to know how he got to be a U.S. citizen so fast. I know some Brits who own a house here who have been waiting 12 yrs already.

[altura]

well played. Can’t wait to see what the dear old Dallas Morning News has to say.

[School of Rational Thought]

The terrorist held the same political view as the NYT, Bob Becthal and Chris Matthews. So what is new?

[stylin19a]

ah...refreshing...someone who remembers history.
kennedy whacked US immigration three times and damn near got a 4th in.

[Jaidyn]

In the past couple of years, though, his life seemed to unravel: He left a job at a global marketing firm he'd held for three years, lost his home to foreclosure and moved into an apartment in an impoverished neighborhood in Bridgeport. And last weekend, authorities say, he drove an SUV loaded with explosives into Times Square intent on blowing it up.

He left his job because he had "more important issues" than actually working for pay. He lost his home for the same reason. Killing Americans was more important to him than raising a good family, and being a productive citizen. People like him would rather waller in the gutter, and live in a 3d world coungry, than live alongside anyone who is not a Muslim.

[MinuteGal]

THAT is the most important question on this thread.

Leni

[Constitutions Grandchild]

In 2001, the man made just over $21,000 (according to the article). He bought a house for $273,000. Assuming he received at least a cost of living raise once or twice in the subsequent years, he might have gotten to $26,000 a year. Even if his wife worked outside the home, they had “children” — plural. He then quit his job and the house was foreclosed upon. For all of this, he's angry at GW. If this individual were capable of intelligent thought, which it sounds like he is too delusional to be capable of, he might want to take a look at the government enforced regulations to lend money to people who have absolutely no chance of making it work.

He got a second-rate education and didn't appear to have the intelligence to make up the difference. Then, because he's distraught because his incompetency has landed him in a situation where he is no longer master of his universe, he goes to Pakistan, tries to learn to become a terrorist with about as much success as he had with his “education” in the universities he attended, and he muffs his one-way ticket to paradise, not to mention his one-way ticket to Dubai.

I dunno’, but he is what he is — a loser — he's not even an amiable dunce. Sheesh! Problem is, we don't have folks running the show in government who are any brighter. What can I say — we've dumbed down our progeny so intensely, they can't function.

[elpadre]

Does the AP imply that the Times Square terrorist and Obama are alike? - two peas in a pod?

They both blame President Bush for everything.

[Hacklehead]

“Question “Journalists” why he leave his job? Think HIS actions might have more to do with it then Bush?”

Sounds like he left voluntarily, probably to pursue “other interests”. He life didn’t “unravel” by chance, he unraveled it.
The story says he made comments about Bush doing the wrong thing in Irag. I wonder if anyone ever heard him say the Islamists did the wrong thing on 9/11?

[Paladin2]

"while grannies are standing in their stocking feet being patted down by feckless TSA slugs to keep America safe"

I always make sure my butt is facing Mecca when the gov't "of the People" reminds me to drive next time.

[lwd]

Maybe he thought that obama was going to bail him out of his mortgage. He wouldn’t be alone thinking that either.

[Paladin2]

"Times Square terrorist"

---->

Terrorist Square Times.

[Beowulf9]

“Actually, it’s Ted Kennedy’s fault for revising the immigration requirements and allowing these people into the country in the first place.”

Finally someone said it! That is it 100%

[KC_for_Freedom]

Unsaid in all the articles is that this guy did not want to “earn” his heavenly reward, am I wrong in thinking that this is the a new type of terror attack where the terrorist walked away and tried to get away?

I have always felt that this kind of terrorism would be their next move, because like the Washington DC sniper, one group can cause untold amounts of terror (until they are caught) whereas a single suicide bomber has to be replaced each time.

It sounds like this guy’s plan was more hatred motivated than religion motivated.