Whoever DC Sniper Is, He's a Terrorist

October 23, 2002

The speculation rages on about the DC sniper.   Is he a terrorists or just a lone nut?   Regardless of who he, she or they are, this much can be said: it’s terrorism, al Qaeda or not.   This person or persons have managed to terrorize an entire region into drastically changing their lifestyle.   Football games have been either cancelled or moved.   School attendance at some of the schools in close proximity to the shootings has been as low as 15 percent of a normal school day.   Whatever the motive, the result has been sheer terror.

It’s easy for those of us not living in the Washington area to inject clearheadedness into the consternation.   After all, it’s not my kids who are in danger each time they head to school.   But logical, rational thinking tells you that your chances of being killed in an automobile accident are far greater than being picked off by a sniper.   Still, that’s little solace to the citizens who have to live their lives each day scanning the surrounding terrain each time they venture outdoors.  

The entire nation is captivated by the most intriguing whodunit in recent memory.   The police are giving us little to go on.   Some inside the investigation claim that a composite description of the gunman exists but is not being released to the public.   One has to wonder why.   In nearly every other instance when police are stumped, they turn to the public for help.   Why not now?   Not that it’s our place in the media to second guess the police but some leaks, purportedly from inside the investigation, have claimed that the profile of the gunman may, indeed, be that of an Arab man or men.   These same sources have suggested that profile information is being withheld out of fear of public panic.

 

Could it also be that federal law enforcement was burned by the early all points bulletin that was issued shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing for an Arab man.   When Timothy McVeigh was arrested instead, there was outrage in the Arab community.   However, substantial evidence emerged in the months and years following the OK City bombing that links Arab terrorists to it.   TV reporter Jayna Davis has built such a strong case, complete with signed affidavits of witnesses who saw an Arab man in the truck with McVeigh the morning of the bombing, that a senate committee headed by Arlen Specter is investigating further.

Have we become so politically correct, or worse, afraid of politically correct people, that we refuse to risk fomenting further anger by releasing the truth?   I certainly hope not.   If that turns out to be the case then we’re in worse shape than I thought.

Whoever is terrorizing our nation’s capitol and the surrounding area must not be allowed to win.   They win when they force us to cower in our homes with the doors locked and the shades drawn.   They win when they force us to drastically change our lives to suit their sick and twisted agenda.   Be ever vigilant, for sure.   Pay attention to your surroundings.   Protect yourself but don’t allow them to win the psychological war.   Terrorism wins when it truly terrorizes and paralyzes.   The way we best fight terrorism on the home front is by never allowing that to happen.