NY Bombing: Why letters to NY Congressional contingent? Update: “We did it!”
posted at 7:55 pm on March 6, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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The bombing of a military recruitment center keeps getting stranger and stranger. The eight Congressional Representatives from New York City all received a copy of a picture of the targeted office, showing deliberate premeditated intent to hit the recruiting center. They also received a letter, but it contained no threat:
Eight House Democrats were mailed a letter and photo of a Times Square recruiting station in Manhattan before it was bombed this morning, according to House insiders.
The letter did not contain any specific threats against the lawmakers or the site, but the U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI are now investigating the matter.
With the late reporting today suggesting that the perpetrator could also have been responsible for two earlier bombing attacks against the Mexican and British consulates, it seemed that the choice of target may have been coincidental. Now we’re back to seeing this as a deliberate choice for the bomber. Reports from the earlier bombings didn’t include any communication with the targets, so this attack looks like some kind of political message — but what, we don’t yet know.
Stay tuned.
UPDATE: The content of the letters is now known, and it is an anti-war rant:
Police are investigating letters that arrived Thursday at Capitol Hill offices containing a photo of the Times Square military recruiting office before it was bombed and including the claim “We Did It.”
The manila envelopes contained a photo of a man standing in front of the recruiting station, according to a Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is under investigation. The photo was the kind commonly sent as a holiday greeting card.
The message on the card: “Happy New Year, We Did It.”
The envelope also contained a packet of approximately 10 sheets of paper that seemed to be a political manifesto railing against the Iraq war and a booklet. The aide didn’t know what the booklet was.
So it was in fact an act of political terrorism by some fringe anti-war activist. Of course, someone else had to have taken the picture, which indicates at least one accessory to the attack.
UPDATE II: Michelle notes that there may have been more than eight recipients of the letter; the FBI and the Capitol Hill postmaster is investigating it.
UPDATE III: Now MS-NBC says the letters are just a coincidence:
Law enforcement officials tell NBC News they believe they have identified the man who sent letters to several Capitol Hill offices that contained a photo of the Times Square military recruiting office before it was bombed and the words “We Did It.”
The letters, which arrived Thursday and at first glance appeared to take credit for Thursday’s pre-dawn bombing, are not believed to be connected to the blast, officials said.
The alleged letter-sender was being questioned, but there was no indication he committed any crime, officials said.
Why do they think it’s unrelated? The man signed the letters.
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The message should have been sent by the National Guard in Berkeley.
corona on March 6, 2008 at 7:58 PM
Hmm Mexico and Britian ? and now the US recruiting station.
Trying to find a connection. Doesnt seem to be one with Iraq so could it be the drug war ? Some lefties hate the anti drug war.
William Amos on March 6, 2008 at 7:59 PM
FNC is saying the letters were sent with a 20 pages manifesto ranting about the Iraq War.
ordi on March 6, 2008 at 8:02 PM
I bet the message said something like:
NTWR on March 6, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Ok, I’m stepping out on a limb here and questioning their patriotism.
bbz123 on March 6, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Somebody see what Silky was up to at the time.
Alden Pyle on March 6, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Who the hell knows?
mikeyboss on March 6, 2008 at 8:05 PM
When did they know it, and what did they do about it? (As they used to ask Nixon.)
And oh yeah, I question the timing.
NTWR on March 6, 2008 at 8:07 PM
Can’t wait to see the manifesto. I wonder how many Dem quotes litter the prose.
Dusty on March 6, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Why aren’t we raiding Code Pink’s headquarters right about now?
Et tu Brute on March 6, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Uhhhhh…typical pacifist violence.
gozips on March 6, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Don’t jump the gun. It could be a Code Pink/World Can’t Wait, the militant branch of the Revolutionary Communist Party, cooperation. The grumpy old hippie lady and the assbag sitting at Starbucks blogging on DKos with his MacBook…working together.
malan89 on March 6, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Sorry, he has an alibi. Somebody saw him enter a beauty salon this morning.
malan89 on March 6, 2008 at 8:17 PM
We now not only have the people in Congress who are SPEAKING and HELPING The Terrorists,
We are becomming overwhelmed with people who PERFORM the ACTS of The Terrorists FOR them!
grtflmark on March 6, 2008 at 8:17 PM
[Et tu Brute on March 6, 2008 at 8:10 PM]
The FBI has some agents on a crash program to ready them for infiltrating CP without being spotted, but gaining 100 pounds is taking longer than they thought.
Dusty on March 6, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Any Michelle Obama quotes in the manifest I wonder?
SouthernGent on March 6, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Obama supporters did it!
windansea on March 6, 2008 at 8:20 PM
I get it, I get it.
These A holes are taking there que’s from the muslims in Europe. If you dont do what we want we will get violent.
The Dems made there bed with the anti-war nuts now they have to sleep in it. I suppose that is why only Dems recieved the envelopes.
The Dems have only to blame themselves for this situation, and I think Americans need to look at the Dems and the anti-war people they are associtating with. I hope this does not esclate.
jharada on March 6, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Bah, this is bringing out my inner Celt. I’m struggling against wanting to grab some friends and give these vermin the war they want.
spmat on March 6, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Malan89: Hey - I have a mac! I’m not an a$$bag!. Watch it bud. I do like my latte’s however… :>
mimi1220 on March 6, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Are you kidding the whole “manifesto” will be dem talking points, I’d bet almost word for word.
HotAirExpert on March 6, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Et tu Brute on March 6, 2008 at 8:24 PM
You must fit all three elements of the assbag criteria.
1. Starbucks Drinker/WiFi User
2. Macbook Owner
3. DKos/D.U. Blogger
All three make an assbag. Anyone possessing the third is a assbag in training. Having only the top two, absent the third, is not evidence of assbaggery.
malan89 on March 6, 2008 at 8:25 PM
ROFL May I repeat with proper attribution?
Branch Rickey on March 6, 2008 at 8:25 PM
spmat, you mean that my frequent urge to form a posse and ride out for justice is caused by my celtic DNA?? Cool. How do you say “round ‘em up” in Erse?
Bad Penny on March 6, 2008 at 8:27 PM
not saying they did it, but some ron paul supporters could easily be this fanatical
offroadaz on March 6, 2008 at 8:28 PM
You know my aunt and uncle? Just kidding. Not really. Great assessment!
Branch Rickey on March 6, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Where is Medea Benjamin? Why isn’t she and her code pinkos defending this wacko’s cowardly actions?
eigafan on March 6, 2008 at 8:29 PM
My comment in the “Headlines.”
davidk on March 6, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Nah. They’d blame America first.
Et tu Brute on March 6, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Fringe huh?
benrand on March 6, 2008 at 8:32 PM
So now we’re at war with anti-war people. Ya just can’t make this stuff up.
davidk on March 6, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Don’t know about ’round ‘em up,’ but do know ‘Pog Mo Thoin’ (a.k.a. Kiss My A–): first Gaelic Granny taught me. Never underestimate the Viking in part of the Celt genes….
Branch Rickey on March 6, 2008 at 8:35 PM
I’m pretty sure this chick did it.
malan89 on March 6, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Umm, that might be a guy.
infidel on March 6, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Sorry to be so how-I-am, but I thought that was kind of a given. In the earlier thread, we debated the question on the level of do we broad-brush the leftists with the “domestic terrorist” label, just because of a lone wolf nutbag, and most did not.
But I didn’t think anyone doubted that this was our friends from DU or HuffPo.
Jaibones on March 6, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Or something. But not a “chick”.
Jaibones on March 6, 2008 at 8:42 PM
I don’t know how any man could possibly stand being Medea Benjamin’s personal bodyguard 24/7, but you could be right.
malan89 on March 6, 2008 at 8:42 PM
That’s a daily struggle, spmat. One day at a time.
Jaibones on March 6, 2008 at 8:43 PM
I’m sure the fbi will find their myspace page shortly
tlynch001 on March 6, 2008 at 8:44 PM
It’s like trying to argue with the commenters at DKos, D.U., of HuffPo. You want to do it, but realize that they aren’t worth it.
malan89 on March 6, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Thanks for that. I’m now permanently scarred for life.
Et tu Brute on March 6, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Didn’t Michelle report on a the Left loons planning a day to attack recruiting stations? I bet it’s connected, even if they are tardy with the ploy.
Could be a trial run for Denver, though. “We did it” could be a warning shot across the bow to let the party know they (the anarchists) did it and will do it again.
SouthernGent on March 6, 2008 at 8:47 PM
I don’t see why people haven’t figured this out yet.
Obviously, Karl Rove was behind the whole thing.
Et tu Brute on March 6, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Tower 7, man. What about tower 7?
steel melting…blah blah blah….bushco…..evil…..terrorists are our friends…blah blah blah…..gulf of tonkin….blah blah blah…..did you catch the view yesterday?…..blah blah blah…..Rosie is awesome.
malan89 on March 6, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Is Dennis Kucinich still here or went back to Mars?
You may want to check the real source of these letters.
“Code Pink” can explain it to you.
Indy Conservative on March 6, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Ah, those “peace-loving” anti-war activists.
CP on March 6, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Maybe giving the Gambinos a little running room could solve some problems for the justice department.
Saltysam on March 6, 2008 at 8:55 PM
It’s all Bush’s fault! He MADE them do it! He Held them down and forced a bomb into their little hands and drove them down there and told them to bicycle away!
Curse you George W. Bush!!!
Vntnrse on March 6, 2008 at 8:56 PM
You forgot: Bildebergers, New World Order, fiat currency, and faked moon landings.
Et tu Brute on March 6, 2008 at 8:57 PM
I agree. This summer could make Chicago ‘68 pale in comparison.
I hate to see it, but Pelosi and Reid have not been kissing a** to the appropriate levels desired by the extreme left and these sickos have taken their playbook from the terrorists.
When the violence breaks out in Denver, it will be interesting to watch the MSM slant on the events. And to watch America’s reaction. And to see the Police/FBI response.
Old chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times…”
Timothy S. Carlson on March 6, 2008 at 9:02 PM
So now that the letters have only(?) been sent to Ds, will the Enemy Press start headlining the stories “Democrat supporters bomb recruiting centers.”
ScottG on March 6, 2008 at 9:05 PM
MSM slant: distorted and wrong.
America’s reaction: indifferent and uninterested.
Police/FBI response: flaccid and impotent.
Et tu Brute on March 6, 2008 at 9:09 PM
I think somebody is off their meds. He is not bright and nowhere near paranoid enough to be sophisticated since he did it in front of one of the most videotaped streets in the world. Also give me a break the little fire cracker is a joke whether the suspect wanted to be some kind of anti government organization or lone wolf. Some idiot that’s off his meds.
LevStrauss on March 6, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Thank gawd!
easy on March 6, 2008 at 9:12 PM
I have to question your assertion that it is a chick .
Can the FBI lift patchouli oil residue off the ground where the bomber was last seen.
If is comes back as old sherry and arthritis cream AI think its defiantly linked to code stinko
Mojack420 on March 6, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Yeah, that’s a bizzare string alright. I vote it wasn’t the same person, especially after the update claiming responsibility. No such claim for the first two.
TexasDan on March 6, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Guy will be found within a day or two. I imagine he was the unintentional star in about a dozen security videos around the area.
Let’s hope genius boy makes it easy for the FBI and went to a local ATM before going home to sip chamomile tea and post support for this “unknown but courageous and principled activist for peace” on KOS.
moxie_neanderthal on March 6, 2008 at 9:34 PM
20 page letter. Good. That makes the case much easier to prosecute when it comes to that, and it will. Language experts are quite good at picking out idiosyncratic language, repetition, unusual vocabulary, frequency, etc.. The greater the logorrhea the easier the whole thing is to crack. At 20 pages, you know it’s not a first-time author. There will undoubtedly be other written evidence to compare. Then there’s the whole technological side to it; word processors, programs, hard drives. In the past, they used to nail the exact typewriter that was used to produce a document, now it’s even easier.
bour3 on March 6, 2008 at 9:34 PM
dang sen. geinstein told her operatives not to send mail back to her office after they completed the mission.
custer on March 6, 2008 at 9:36 PM
She’s the official Understudy to the Code Pink She-Male not-so-fem Dominatrix. She’s a gym teacher in Berkley.
And her name is Gynosaurus Blechs.
I know, because a neighbor’s friend’s illegitimate second cousin by divorce has been to her website…
darkpixel on March 6, 2008 at 9:38 PM
Nothing like a demonstration to show willingness, and to thumb your nose at the ‘man’.
First question: How long have the letters been examined?
Second question: Weird letter. Manifesto. Photo of recruiting station. Why no pro-active surveillance? Seems like a pretty basic assumption on law enforcement’s part.
Third question: Or were any of the letters turned over to the authorities before the bombing?
Limerick on March 6, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Exit question: Should the perpetrator be waterboarded? Discuss.
Heh.
CP on March 6, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Why is it when Liberals are out of power:
The left Politition’s became very bitter
and lash out at the other side,then the
name calling starts,and worst come to worst
they don’t like the outcome,they storm out
and head to the microphones to whine to the
press and delibertly distort the truth!
And then we have Anti-War left,Enviromentalists
and a host of other left crusading groups become
unglued because their “Side” is not in power,
and for some strange reason,really bad things
begin to happen!
Me thinks that Republicans use logic and Liberals
use their heart,no wonder Liberals are dangerous
when there upset,example- Liberals at any protest!
canopfor on March 6, 2008 at 10:01 PM
I hope they catch these twelve monkeys.*
* Terry Gilliam movie reference that I’m surprised I’m the first to make. The connection’s right there for anyone who’s seen the movie, and I’d bet the perps have.
Splunge on March 6, 2008 at 10:16 PM
I should check and see where my 57 year old brother was at that time. He votes for Nader every four years… he could do anything!
leftnomore on March 6, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Seriously….postmarked 2/29. So how long to a congressman’s office? Either NY or DC? Two or three days?
Staffer of NYC congressman gets a photo of Times Square and doesn’t recognize it? Capitol Police or NYPD doesn’t recognize it? Or did the staffers just put them in some in-box for a future ‘thanks you for contacting us’ form letter?
Limerick on March 6, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Strange. One would think BHO would be tellin’ Billy Ayers to keep a low profile these days.
soundingboard on March 6, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Rove! You magnificent bastich!!
thebookkeeper on March 6, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Why wont the press say who received the letters?
BelchSpeak on March 6, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Pardon the fix.
soundingboard on March 6, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Nothing like a demonstration to show the willingness,
and to thumb your nose at the “Man”.
Limerick on March 6,2008 at 9:45PM.
Limerick: Thumbing your nose at the “Man”,these individuals
are all going to eventually grow up,so to speak
and replace the Kerrys,Clintons,as the Liberals
who are in power.
Perplexing at the thought that those Liberals
who thumb the nose of the “Man”,become the “Man”!
canopfor on March 6, 2008 at 10:36 PM
No, the perp should become part of the southern border fence.
Rovin on March 6, 2008 at 10:39 PM
I don’t disagree with your point. I was trying to say that this New Yorker (which I assume he was) HAD to know he was being filmed. Letters go out to show how much smarter he is then ‘the man’. Then he deliberately does this as a demonstration of worse things to come. I think this is one scary SOB(s). Amature or not, it looks to me that they think they are untouchable.
Limerick on March 6, 2008 at 10:41 PM
amateur…sorry again
Limerick on March 6, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Must not have been a Rove conspiracy after all!
Donald Douglas on March 6, 2008 at 10:51 PM
You know eight Jewish students were gunned down today by fanatics with a “cause”. Two beautiful college students were murdered here in the U.S. in the past few days who deserved a future. Fifty-eight Iraqis were murdered yesterday by an ideology of sickness that we still try to understand……and here we are talkin bout a lone nutbag that deserves niether our time or the press simply because it happened in the heart of a city. Shove that 20 page manifest where the sun don’t shine. I’m out.
Rovin on March 6, 2008 at 11:01 PM
I didn’t see Rove on FOXNews tonight. Hmmmmmmm….
SouthernGent on March 6, 2008 at 11:02 PM
C’mon. You all know it’s all Bush’s/Cheney’s/Haliburton’s/Blackwater’s/Rush’s/US Military’s/Zionist’s/Global Warming Non-believer’s/Homeschooler’s/Conservative Bloggers(and commenters)/Tax Cutter’s/Meat Eater’s/Gun Nut’s/Xenophobe’s/Homophobe’s/Islamophobe’s fault.
kwbrownie2003 on March 6, 2008 at 11:04 PM
er…there is a thread for the Palestinian attack and the bombing in Iraq. Those have been part of todays discussions.
Limerick on March 6, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Interesting details
William Amos on March 6, 2008 at 11:15 PM
I don’t disagree with your point.
Limerick on March 6,2008 at10:41PM
Limerick:There’s no axe to grind,were both on the
same page.
canopfor on March 6, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Lim slips the axe back in the drawer, frowning…..
Limerick on March 6, 2008 at 11:46 PM
LOL you were not even alive then. And I think you are positively salivating over the prospect of violence at the convention. How very sad.
Bradky on March 7, 2008 at 12:14 AM
If there is a free-for-all in Denver,it will be
all the DNC fault,this is more about the Liberal
Party catering to Queen Hillary and not allowing
an African American to proceed from nominee to
Presidential hopeful.
There is no vast right wing conspiracy,or Republicans
have any hand in this,whatever happenes in Denver,
will be the sole responsibility of the DNC.
And the real kicker to this,for all the demonization
of the Republican Party in race relations that the
Liberal Party has been busy playing,for the first
time in History,an African American has directly
challenged the DNC,no Jesse and no AL,and what
the Republicans have had to endure,sick as it sounds,
the Liberal Democrats are doing the same to their
very own!
Watch for the sh!t to hit the fan!
canopfor on March 7, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Seriously….postmarked 2/29. So how long to a congressman’s office? Either NY or DC? Two or three days?
The report on Fox News said snailmail REALLY takes a while to get thru due to precautions instituted after the anthrax attacks post 9/11.
poodlemom on March 7, 2008 at 1:31 AM
The anti-war folks just did this to show everyone how much that they detest violence.
Johan Klaus on March 7, 2008 at 1:39 AM
Between the two World Wars, there was a period when American Soldiers were ordered to report to their stateside posts in civilian clothes and change into their uniforms there to avoid violent protesters.
We had a grossly undersized army then, with every soldier, non-com, and officer ready to advance by two ranks. That nearly describes today’s army.
If we are returning to those days, if the “pacifist” movement today is doing what it was then and growing as it grew then I can only fear for what will come next.
njcommuter on March 7, 2008 at 7:09 AM
OK, whole incident summarized in 2 sentences, that’s a wrap.
Alden Pyle on March 7, 2008 at 7:11 AM
Why? Because the left wing terrorist bastards knew who their friends were.
rplat on March 7, 2008 at 7:49 AM
You really have no clue what you are talking about. The military is not hurting for people because it has been downsized by 50% in the last decade.
As for you being afraid of pacifists… that makes no sense other than a desire to make a dramatic statement with no reasonable logic behind it.
Bradky on March 7, 2008 at 7:56 AM
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it. Fox had Mancow on this morning and he was saying that “Happy New Year. We did it.” is directly from 12 Monkeys. I didn’t recall it, but hey, nice catch.
Pablo on March 7, 2008 at 8:26 AM
Bomb vs Letter….
The letter writer should have bought a lotto ticket. The odds were probably better to win the lotto then to cross paths with the bomber. Weird.
Limerick on March 7, 2008 at 9:17 AM
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