"Let's get something straight. You don't assume something is terrorism. You declare early on that it is not assumed to be terrorism."
I can picture new FBI recruits getting that lecture from their superiors, passing on the message that has come from on high. The best way to prevent reports of terrorism is not to call any acts terrorist acts. Right?
So we have this hotel room with people exposed to Ricin. The room's been empty for over a week, because its inhabitant has been in the hospital with respiratory problems. Hmmm. They're a primary symptom of exposure to ricin.
But not to worry. Bloomberg news reports,
So all's okay with the world. Oh, there's a guy in a coma after exposure to the stuff. And Associated Press is reporting
that "Firearms and an "anarchist type textbook" were found in the same motel room where several vials of the deadly toxin ricin was found, police said Friday."
But not to worry. There's nothing unusual happening here. And in all the articles, they keep talking about "the man" a 57 year old man. No name no info on where he's from. You think his name, or some info about who he is might be worth mentioning in an AP or Bloomsberg article. Remember those good 'ol journalistic questions? Who? What? Why? Where? When?
I guess the pros reporting on this story, and their editors forgot to ask that question, or even to mention that the information on WHO was refused by the police or FBI. Wouldn't want to get people's suspicions up if the name or origin of the man would raise suspicions of terrorism.
Oh, and CNN reports that days before the ricin was discovered, they had suspicions, so they searched the room, but didn't find anything. Then, later, someone who knew the victim in hospital raise the alarm.
That's when they found the anarchist book, guns... but still, no reason to suspect terrorism. And CNN doesn't mention who "the man" is, or the person who knew the man.
The Las Vegas police spokesperson reported, "There is no information to lead us to believe that this is the result of any terrorist activity or related to any possible terrorist activity," AP reports.
Maybe this goes back to my speculation on FBI instructions to new recruits. Maybe they don't want to see possible terrorist ties.
Me, when I think of Ricin in the news, I think of people killed in Japanese subways, terrorists plotting, ricin found in 2004 in the capitol.
But no, maybe the Ricin here accidentally fell in "the man" the unindentified man who also had an anarchist book, with the page on ricin bookmarked, maybe that book just accidentally showed up in the room.
Or, maybe, just as I don't trust the economic numbers the Bush administration dishes out, I don't believe it when they say there are no cases of terrorism in the US. Yep. I don't believe it when they say there have been no cases of terrorism because it has been clear that they wouldn't tell us if there were.
It would be nice if we could at least find out who the guy with the anarchy book bookmarked to the ricin page was.
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