Posted on 10/23/2002 5:50:28 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
It's beginning to look more and more like the continuing sniper attacks are the work of one man. But, sometimes, things aren't really what they seem. Just what is the full story here?
There was a brief moment of relief on Monday, when law enforcement officials swooped down on a white van stopped at a gas station in Ashland, Virginia, and placed two men into custody -- hoping against hope that they may have some connection to the continuing sniper slayings in the Washington, D-C, suburbs of Maryland and Virginia. But, as the men's van was impounded, and they endured agressive interrogation, it became clear they had nothing to do with the slayings. At least, to this point. Then, Tuesday morning, as if to poke fun at authorities that they're looking in the wrong place, the sniper strikes again. This time, near the original scene of the shootings that began more than two weeks ago in Montgomery County, Maryland. The victim -- a 35-year old commuter bus driver, who leaves behind a wife and two kids. Conrad Johnson became the 10th person to die from the sniper's rage.
Needless to say, authorities are extremely frustrated at the sniper's ability to commit his heinous acts, and escape virtually without detection....which could lead to the possibility he may not be acting alone. In fact, there may be more than one sniper. In fact, it could just be, that the war against terrorism has come back around to bite us in the backside once again. In fact, there's not telling how elaborate a "sniper conspiracy" could be. And, if such a conspiracy exists, we may begin hearing about sniper shootings in other cities very soon. Apparently, the "conspiracy," if it exists, has obviously been very successful. Again, we may not be dealing with one individual. It's becoming more apparent to me that a person who can seemingly move about, unimpeded, commit his crimes, and then vanish in thin air, must have accomplices, or, extremely good luck.
It's really not too far-fetched to believe this all has something to do with terrorists. I mean, sure, these acts of killing people at random amounts to terrorism, but I'm talking about the "big picture." The worldwide terrorist network of Al-Qaeda, and it's many cells, who instruct their followers in the fine art of assassinations, suicide bombings, and, learning to fly jetliners into tall buildings with deadly accuracy. Whether these latest sniper shootings are the result of the "big picture" terrorist or not, it certainly does lend itself to that scenario.
Just recently, our troops were fired upon in Kuwait in sniper-like fashion -- while, at the same time, American civilians, here, were targeted. Again, either this "American sniper" is extremely intelligent and resourceful in carrying out his plans, or, there's a rat's nest in "cahoots" out there, somewhere.
Now, my opinion's about the terrorist connection could turn out to be all "hooey." We may find out that the shooter has no connection to any terrorist network, and is just one perverted, maniacal, psycho individual acting on his own. And, until he's apprehended, we'll never understand why he's killing innocent people. But, consider -- this person has taken ten lives now. And, before it's all over, more may die. It's not likely this guy will just come walking out of the woodwork with his hands up. The death penalty's facing this guy if he *is caught, so, what has he got to lose? No, I don't think he'll be taken alive. Especially, if he's one of those "big picture" terrorists.
In the meantime, while we're still fighting the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, we're thinking about expanding that war to Iraq. And, all the while, terrorists continue to attack the civilized world in such places as Kuwait, Sudan, Yemen, Germany, France, Bali, Indonesia, The Phillipines, -- and, the United States.
Remember how we used to ask our fathers, "What did you do in the war, daddy?" And, how we'd always heard that the First World War was supposed to be, "The War to End All Wars." We found that not to be true on December 7th, 1941. This war on terrorism, I'm afraid, will not be the last, either. It's our children and grandchildren who'll be fighting this war, long after we are gone. And, whether terrorists are foreign, domestic or both, it could go down in history as "The World's Neverending War."
With Perspective, I'm Bob Lewis.
I agree, it could be a terrorist network. It could be a lone killer. There simply isn't enough info available to the public to judge.
I say release the hunters and ex service personel from the bondage of unconstitutional firearms regulations, and allow them to guard our civilians.
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