Thursday, May 21, 2009
NY jihad sting
Hasn't been one of these in a while. The news coverage is interestingly mixed. Cable networks are following the usual leftist rules, protecting nobility. These particular would-be terrorists are both black and Mohammedan, therefore doubly noble. So the news must treat them as innocent victims, shield their true identity, avoid naming their purpose. Other news sources, including ABC, are more refreshingly candid, starting the article with police commissioner Ray Kelly's statement that these four "wanted to commit jihad."
Stings are always dubious. They pick up the sort of would-be criminal who hasn't quite made up his mind, and encourage him to make up his mind. More serious and determined jihadis (home-grown or otherwise) don't wait for the nicely created opportunity in a sting; they just go ahead and bomb stadiums or shoot up Jewish Community Centers. We don't catch the serious ones until it's too late.
I wonder: was the recent buzzing of NY by Air Force One part of the sting operation? Maybe the stinger was gaining street cred with the criminals by demonstrating his inside knowledge, as in "Watch this! I can tell you when the President's plane will be flying over New York, so you can shoot it down with those missiles I'm going to sell you. Pretty neat, huh?" It sure as hell wasn't a photo-op. ¶ 6:47 AM
Stings are always dubious. They pick up the sort of would-be criminal who hasn't quite made up his mind, and encourage him to make up his mind. More serious and determined jihadis (home-grown or otherwise) don't wait for the nicely created opportunity in a sting; they just go ahead and bomb stadiums or shoot up Jewish Community Centers. We don't catch the serious ones until it's too late.
I wonder: was the recent buzzing of NY by Air Force One part of the sting operation? Maybe the stinger was gaining street cred with the criminals by demonstrating his inside knowledge, as in "Watch this! I can tell you when the President's plane will be flying over New York, so you can shoot it down with those missiles I'm going to sell you. Pretty neat, huh?" It sure as hell wasn't a photo-op. ¶ 6:47 AM
