Jihad, and a Video Cam to Go

Jim Henley provides an interesting counternarrative to the FBI's sting arrest of the alleged Miami terror cell Seas of David. It starts like this:

You don't suppose the Seas of David Cell was just trying to scam their "al-Qaeda contact" (FBI informant) out of a lot of cool shit, do you?

and gets better.

Juan Cole questions exactly how Muslim these potential Jihadists are.

Comments

[rm2muv]

While it is quite a shock to imagine the administration trying to manipulate the situation for political advantage...well, perhaps not a great shock...grrrr. There are plenty of questions to be answered here, but don't hold your breath waiting for answers. I'm sure our national security will depend on stonewalling.

[M. Simon]

It is looking more like they were confused Christian terroists calling themselves Islamic.

If it was a scam they deserve having the book thrown at them.

In some cases stupidity can be very severely punished. This may be one of them.

[amazingdrx]

Meanwhile the real world keeps spinning, oblivious to the tabloid nonsense so beloved by corporatarians.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2006/6/26/2056441.html

(Hint: The so-called terrorism bust was a diversion from the latest domestic spying revelation.)

[Dave W.]

Amazing Doctor,

The link goes to a post about electric cars.

Comment on Henley commentary:

That thing about the "cool shit" was the first thing I thought when I heard about the boots and the cash.

[Dave W.]

Oh and I forgot the really obvious Dave W. comment. One of the few things I am really trying to stress for all you HnRers (except T. who is on a filtered sabbatical from learning):

We should demand to hear all the tapes. Every meeting, every word. There is no legitimate confidentiality concern here. There are concerns that we are being fed a load of crap.

Weigs to the FOIAroom, pls.

[thoreau]

It seems pretty clear to me that these guys should be punished. I mean, even if they really were just in it for the bling bling, you can't just get away with accepting bling from Al Qaeda. Sets up all the wrong incentives.

Still, I doubt that we'd be in any danger if these guys got a fairly moderate punishment.

There should be an Onion article based on this: "Terrorist Only In It For The Cool Gear."

"Al Qaeda officials believe that Yusuf Al Khali, a new recruit in their New York cell, is only in it for the toys. Senior Al Qaeda officials report that he promised to capture US government employees, behead them, and broadcast the beheadings over the internet. However, more than two weeks have passed since he took delivery of the sword and webcam without any beheadings. In that time, Al Khali has added several self-made video clips to his MySpace profile, and also attended at least one Renaissance Fair with his new sword."

[P Brooks]

Be honest: you're leaning up against the bar in your local tavern, watching the baseball game, and a good-looking chick comes up to order a drink. What would you rather tell her?

"I'm an assistant greeter at Walmart."

or

"I'm the ringleader of an international terror cell. Want to come back to my house and play with my satellite scrambler phone? These boots are just like the ones those guys in the French Foreign Legion wear."

[mediageek]

Is anyone else amused by the fact that the "Amazing" "Doctor" X misspelled the name of his blog?

I get a little giggle every time he posts a link.

[SPD]

This is something on which I would appreciate some clarification...

Are these terrorist cells "evil geniuses" or "bumbling thugs?" I've seen both descriptions used in major publications (well, OK, the New York Post). They can't be both, can they? I suppose it depends on whether the local rags want to scare the crap out of their readership or play up the superior efficiency of our brave and well-trained intelligence agencies.

[mediageek]

SPD, remember, Evil Geniuses always have Bumbling Thugs in their employ.

I think that the EG's are contractually obligated by the charter of The United Evil Henchperson's Brotherhood.

[thoreau]

mediageek-

For reasons that I've never understood, Evil Geniuses always entrust the Bumbling Thugs to acquire complex weapons systems, like sharks with laser beams on their foreheads.

[mediageek]

Thoreau-

Blame the Unions.

[SR]

"I suppose it depends on whether the local rags want to scare the crap out of their readership or play up the superior efficiency of our brave and well-trained intelligence agencies."

To be fair, the US government can't decide that either, since its press briefings tend to alternate between "Al-Qaeda is the most brilliant criminal organization in the history of the world" and "Hyuck-hyuck! Get aload of these clowns! They can't even get their shoelaces tied."

[SPD]

To My al-Qaeda Contacts Or Their Undercover Fed Counterparts:

You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads! Would you remind me what I pay you people for, honestly? Throw me a bone here!

[Pro Libertate]

Thank Jesus that bin Laden never read Peter's Evil Overlord List. Of course, many of us hereabouts have read it, since it's been posted here before. Therefore, if any Hit & Runners go bad--watch out!

[thoreau]

I think we should recruit as many Bumbling Thugs as possible and help them line up positions as foot soldiers for our enemies. Pretty soon, the Evil Geniuses among our enemies will be screaming "Why am I surrounded by such incompetent fools!?!?"

What could possibly go wrong.

[Jon H]

I await the announcement that the FBI has captured someone for offering to sell the Brooklyn Bridge to Al Qaeda.

[DB]

You don't suppose the Seas of David Cell was just trying to scam their "al-Qaeda contact" (FBI informant) out of a lot of cool shit, do you?

They'll have plenty of time in prison to reflect on why "international terrorism" wasn't the smartest place to start their new careers as con artists, I guess.

[Dave W.]

They'll have plenty of time in prison to reflect on why "international terrorism" wasn't the smartest place to start their new careers as con artists, I guess.

As the Henley counternarrative suggests, they may have figured that out without the help of the FBI, all on their own, without the help of arrests or jails. If they get a fair trial, then we'll see if that is how it went down.

[thoreau]

Could I get a free digital camera and cool boots from the FBI if I promise to sell drugs to Rush Limbaugh?

[thoreau]

DB-

Actually, I'd be willing to let them off the hook if they agree to scam Bin Laden (the real one) out of some cash. Starve the beast, and all that.