US \"Home Grow Terrorists\" eyed Sears Tower

I do believe this may be an overblown attempt to scare the American People into thinking domestic spying is necessary. I don't think these guys are any more than homeless drug-addicted lost souls with loud delusions of grandeur looking to make a meth lab.

--The indictment said Batiste initially asked for "boots, uniforms, machine guns, radios, and vehicles," as well as $50,000 in cash, to help him build an "Islamic Army to wage jihad.”

I'm not much of a terrorist, but I think I'd need more that 50K to start a covert operation to destroy the Sears Tower.

--Ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer compound that can also be used as an explosive, was reportedly among the items.

I'm not much of a meth addict but isn't this stuff also used to make meth?

I think the Governor of Florida might have sent the President of the United States a memo outlining a way to boost America's fear level once again.

[ June 23, 2006, 09:43 AM: Message edited by: Maddog ]

While it certainly seems convenient that this has come to surface at this time, I think the charges are likely to be legitimate. At worst, the powers in charge might be inflating the extent of danger these guys posed. Wanting to attack the US is very different than actually being able to do so. The reports I read indicated that this was a pretty pathetic group. I'm thinking terrorist wannabes.
Troublesome nonetheless.

I'm pretty sure fertilizer is not used to make crystal meth. Maybe you were thinking of Sudafed?

You are correct sir.

From Wikipedia -

A common myth states that Ammonium nitrate fertilizer can be used in the synthesis of methamphetamine, however this is incorrect.

See I told you I wasn't much of a meth addict.

Back when I was in Ohio, there was something people were stealing from farms to make meth. I can't remember what it was though...

[Edited to Add]

I think I was thinking of anhydrous ammonia.

[ June 23, 2006, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Maddog ]

I agree! It would have been much more preferable to have these guys spend a few years planning an attack, then carrying it out and killing hundreds if not thousands of Americans. Then you and your ilk of the uber-left would be screaming how Bush did nothing to stop such an attack.

Jesus! You guys are unbelievable in your ridiculousness.

Maybe to vous... however, after the past several years, I don't trust anyone from the current administration to tell the truth about ANYTHING. If A Gonzales (for example) were to say the sun will come up in the east, I'd go check on it before giving any credence. Once burned, twice shy....

No I think it's wonderful they were arrested and they should be. But does it really require a press conference from Gonzales? Does it really require the national spotlight?

These guys were no where close to killing anyone and I'm assuming if they were of any real threat or they had any real Al-Qaeda ties they would still be under surveillance.

Is it possible for you to post a comment without it involving the deaths of thousands of Americans?

And please stop speaking for me. You get it wrong every time.

[ June 24, 2006, 08:43 AM: Message edited by: Maddog ]

When the national media gets a hold of such a story, you bet it's worthy of national coverage; otherwise, you'd be whining that the Bush Administration is trying to keep something quiet. Of course it's worth a press conference by the A.G., especially considering the fact that this was a domestic terrorism story that crossed state lines and involved the tallest building in North America.

Get over it already.

[ June 26, 2006, 10:34 PM: Message edited by: MIB ]

Again you spoke for me and got it wrong.

But since thousands of Americans didn't die in your post I'll let it slide. You are making progress!

They sound like a Nation of Islam-fringe group, complete with the talk of "devils" and so on. I'm glad they were caught. But why did they want "uniforms"??? They sound pretty inept by every measure, no matter how serious they were.

BTW, will the US government be able to convict some of these high-profile "terrorists" that Ashcroft, Gonzales and others have touted at their press conferences over the years? Their success rate has been pretty abysmal, and a number have had to be released. José Padilla's case was supposed to be clear-cut, but now it's looking like it was a lot of hype. (He was linked to Chicago too.)

Send them all to Gitmo. Detain them there.

After seeing their pictures, their background and reading about their resources...I'm really not convinced they were that much of a threat. Sure, arrest them for planning something, but what's the big deal?
This is like me planning something, it wasn't going anywhere.

So you'd rather take the chance?

Scary. eek!

After 911 - I personally applaud the detainment of these guys. I agree with MIB, why take the chance..?? Wasn't 911 caused by folks looking the other way and not taking threats seriously. I have *many* problems with the current administration, but am glad to see them take action on such incidents. It really is a different time now.

/and please don't come at me with any of that Michael Moore crap - that was a movie to make money.

I also don't like living in a "society of fear", but if you research these Islamic extremist, they are willing to take anyone out for their cause.

also - the media is ridiculous - they probably should not make every possible terrorist arrest headline news, but we do have the right to free speech and I would NEVER want to suppress that..

[ June 29, 2006, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: swmmr76 ]

MIB, I said arrest them, what chance am I taking by suggesting that *gasp*, this isn't a big deal.

So let's just "arrest them" without cause, for the hell of it perhaps. No real charges or evidence of a conspiracy. Just "arrest them."

Yeah, that'll work.

THAT is scary indeed!

LOL... you are too funny! Scroll up a bit and maybe you can find a reason to arrest them.