Re: Terrorism and stupidity
Minah: You are incorrect about it being a woman who contacted the guy. The woman was the person who signed the affidavit and explained the surveillance and operation. After obtaining information from a confidential source who knew this guy for awhile, a male undercover officer portyraying himself as a Russian named Vanya was the main contact. Vanya was the middleman who introduced the guy to the Al Qaida representative.
So the chain of events was the guy asking his friend to set him up with someone who wanted a bomb. (The friend -- who was the confidential source to the FBI-- may very well have been some foreign born dude with such connections). So the friend "introduces" the Russian and the Russian introduces the Al Qaida rep.
This certainly is not the case of the FBI trying to set up some poor innocent pensioner as suggested by Ma Mooli. The FBI reacted to information it was given. It first verified the accuracy of the information supplied by the confidential source which led the FBI to conclude that the guy did, in fact, have the background and ability to create the bomb.
Nor was the guy a bored retiree looking for some action. His prior prison record and his belief that the government was somehow responsible for his divorce and the loss of custody of his kids instilled in him a general antipathy for the government. He wanted his ex-wife killed.
That the guy is part nuts I certainly would not argue. But some nuts really shouldn't be on the street. I hope they lock this guy up for a good long while.