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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Uh, “We did it” pretty much clinches it, don’t it?
corona on March 7, 2008 at 9:21 AM
Anti-war judge won’t let foster teen join Marines.
corona on March 7, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Nice catch.
Limerick on March 7, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Oh, yeah, I totally buy the “coincidence” angle, I weally, weally do!
‘C ause we wouldn’t want to think a whole political party has ties to terrorists, would we? It’s not like they have enemy nations’ flags decorated with pictures of dead terrorists in their campaign offices, right? Or that their names show up in terrorist memos on computers captured by our allies…or fly to terrorist-states to have talks with political leaders in contravention of policy or laws….
Oh…wait a minute…
dmh0667 on March 7, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Classic MSNBC response. The New Year’s Manifesto had a picture of the guy posing in front of the recruiting station. There was also a significant delay due to the screening system - something that would have been pre-planned. I think the letters were dropped a day or so before the “attack” even happened.
Now taking bets that these people are Ron Paul supporters. There’s something very Guy Fawkes/5th of November about that New Years thing to me…
So maybe it was a right-wing anti-war wacko? Just a thought.
blankminde on March 7, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Probably nothing was done because the staff of the NY democratic congressmen who got it saw nothing wrong with an anti-war rant showing a recruiting center, screaming “We Did It”. Must have looked like every other piece of fan mail those offices get.
AverageJoe on March 7, 2008 at 9:56 AM
The only people not surprised by a liberal taking military action, terrorist action, shutting down free speech and freedom of expression, or just plain freedom, are posters on HA and other conservative sites.
The liberals have always been the oxymoron of political dissent. Screaming about freedom, and then stealing freedom from others.
And the MSM is part of that liberal philosophy; I take from you so I can have. .
So naturally they will see no connection between “We did it” and it being done.
right2bright on March 7, 2008 at 10:03 AM
“We did it” may not cinch it.
The guy put his name on the letters, according to the MS-NBC news account: “Investigators told NBC News it wasn’t hard to find the alleged sender. His name was on the mailings, according to law enforcement sources and several congressional staffers who have seen the mailings. (Msnbc.com is not identifying the man because no charges have been filed against him.)
Letters likely mailed well before bombing
In an e-mail to lawmakers, Capitol Police said the envelopes went through the standard security process. That process, which involves radiating incoming mail, can easily take a week or more, making it likely the letters were mailed well ahead of the bombing.
Law enforcement officials speculated the letters may have been sent to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, which is March 19. And the “We did it” claim may simply be sarcasm connected to the war, one official said.”
jim m on March 7, 2008 at 10:11 AM
It was signed “12 Monkeys”
tomas on March 7, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Imagine that…
eanax on March 7, 2008 at 10:48 AM
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 03/07/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.
Thunder_Run on March 7, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Why do they think it’s unrelated? The man signed the letters.
Because the letters are not believed to be related to the attack. They are described as not threatening in nature and the sender was easily identified. That he included the picture of the recruiting center looks to be a big coincidence.
Tom_Shipley on March 7, 2008 at 10:56 AM
“FNC is saying the letters were sent with a 20 pages manifesto ranting about the Iraq War.”
Was it written on the House Speaker’s stationary? That might be what they call in law enforcement, a “clue”.
NoDonkey on March 7, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Laura Ingraham is speculating why BHO hasn’t said a word in response to the NYC bomb attack.
As far as the Obamas are concerned, that doesn’t count as wrong because it blew up something wrong, and two wrongs make a left (never right).
The Obamas are the weirdest of presidential personalities, wanting fellow blacks to be subserviant to them so that they can be the ultimate carpetbagger plantation owners over losers. King of the Hill BHO with Queen B Michelle.
As per who dunnit, Hillary supporters. This way, the pinkos get their statement against militarism while providing Brunhilda the opportunity to “support” the military without having to support any military effort abroad.
NO WAY IN HELL did the GOP ever do a damn thing to hurt any military recruit center. Our military are sacred to our nation’s security.
However, McCain has attracted “conservative liberals” who are not of the same persuasion ideologically as the traditional GOP. These fellows play the role of potential enemies within his ranks ready to sabotage his campaign.
We hear Nancy Pelosi blaming McCain for the military contract to rebuild our fleet of planes being granted to a French vs. USA corporation. What traction has that claim other than indirect result of his anti-corruption efforts? With 10 days to argue their case, what chance has Boeing in purging their incriminating element and re-negotiating to win the military contract? And does the military or does Congress assign the contract? The MSM report named the military as having assigned the contract against the Congressional will. Since when does the military tax the public–the actual responsibility still resides with Congress as per tax dollar collection and dispursement.
maverick muse on March 7, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Some free advice to law enforcement communications personnel:
Please don’t insult our intelligence by patting us on the head and reassuring us that the mailing is just a coincidence.
We’re willing to listen to what you have to say. However, the probability of this mailing and the bombing occurring in so close a time frame is so compelling on its face that you owe us a more substantial account of your rationale.
In your defense, the fact there’s an ongoing investigation means you can’t release many of the relevant facts. Very well, then please spare us the half-ass account you just gave. It would be far better in cases like this for you to say nothing. You can do that, you know. When a reporter asks you a question, you can say “don’t get stuck on stupid.” We respect that. But on days like today, you look like gullible amateurs. This does not inspire our confidence.
jeff_from_mpls on March 7, 2008 at 11:06 AM
jeff from mpls,
Isn’t it standard procedure to deny domestic organized terrorist achievement until otherwise proven–to keep the public calm?
This small scale effort should prove whether or not anything voted into effect and granted by executive order works.
There is always the central intelligence contarian type involvement to spawn a scene in order to conjure up public support for more of whatever they want–more power over the government and over the citizens.
The one thing that the public has a right to is publicity of public matters. Cameras on the public streets are to be expected as an after effect of generations of Americans being raised to defy authority as a constitutional “right”, having gone through childhood never having been spanked by their parents as they displayed terrorist behavior at home or school.
maverick muse on March 7, 2008 at 11:18 AM
You gotta be kidding me. I find this hard to swallow, there is no way in hell you can get an 0321 MOS billet to FORCE straight off the street. It took me four years active duty grunt to get a shot at BN Recon. Even those tests were usually given out as a re-enlistment incentive.
Should you pass the test, and then RIP school, you were put in the bathroom cleaning 2nd BN Recon Company and you worked your way up to actual operations and as you approach your second re-enlistment as a senior NCO, and if you didn’t “F” up or piss anyone off, then you got your shot (and it was a damn LONG one)to finally TEST for a billet in Force.
That’s how it worked at Onslow Beach, don’t know about the Hollywood Marines on the left coast.
I hope things haven’t changed so much that we give kids right off the street a shot at Force. Force is the crowning glory of your Marine Corps career and you should be an EX-Fing-SPERT at every aspect of being a combat Marine. To give it away to boot noobs who haven’t even earned the right to wear the eagle globe & anchor cheapens it’s worth.
Alden Pyle on March 7, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Jeff and Maverick,
I know you’re in love with the idea that leftist anti-war group is behind this bombing, but the police were pretty straight-forward about it. The guy lives in LA, he sent over 100 letters — which included a picture of a person standing in front of the building that was bombed. He was easily identifiable from the letters. The letter itself is not of a threatening nature. Because of the mail security, delivery of the mail was delayed for days, meaning with all probability the letters were meant to be received prior to the bombings.
They questioned him and don’t expect to bring any charges.
Don’t let your hate for the left impede your ability to use rational thought.
Tom_Shipley on March 7, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Recon is still a re-enlistment incentive - not something you can start out as…ever. You have to be an NCO re-enlisting, have a pretty high GT, and obviously a very high PFT score. That all just gets you the chance to try to make Force…nothing says you’ll actually make it. Clandestine Ops is still the cherry on top. May it ever be so.
blankminde on March 7, 2008 at 2:40 PM
We did it! We made obscure pronominal reference! Hurrah!
Kralizec on March 8, 2008 at 12:08 AM
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