America Under Attack

America Under Attack

September 19, 2016

After being in the intelligence community for over twenty years, and analyzing data from different situations, every intelligence analyst will confirm one truth.  There is no coincidence.  That fact is drilled into the heads of the recruits during training at Quantico.  And the training at the Farm reinforces that fact even more dramatically.  Recognizing patterns and coincidences saves lives.  Coincidences never happen, and what the agents will do is exam all of the evidence and they will find the common thread that links all of the incidents together.

At first, all levels of government were refusing to call yesterday’s attacks against America as coordinated.  Homeland security wants of us all to believe that several groups of people woke up, with no direction, no contact with each other, or planning, and they randomly chose to just get out of bed and attack United States citizens in three separate States.  Isn’t Homeland Security's job to protect Americans?  This statement is purely subjective, but if they are labeled coordinated attacks, suddenly things for Donald Trump gets much better.  People don’t trust, nor do they believe that Hillary will keep Americans safe.  I think that Tyrone Woods would have something to say about that if he was alive today.

I know that it’s a hard pill to swallow.  A difficult truth to accept, but, the government and the media have done all they can to protect Hillary and get her elected.  I thought Jeh Johnson, Director of Homeland Security and Director James Comey of the FBI took an oath to uphold the Constitution against enemies both foreign and domestic.  Director Comey has already shown America that he does not take that oath seriously.  He let Hillary Clinton get away with one of the most egregious violations of the espionage act in history.  Her actions alone caused more harm and more damage to this government than Edward Snowden.  Comey demands to prosecute Snowden for his crimes, but not Hillary for putting secrets and the lives of agents and military personnel at risk.  She didn’t care who she hurt, and Comey didn’t care that she broke the law.  I guess when you’re a benefactor of $6 million dollars from the Clinton Foundation, you are owned.  Everyone has a price they say, DIrector Comey’s is $6 million.

The bomb exploded in Chelsea close to 8:30 PM September 19th on West 23rd street.  Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement shortly after the attack that the the bombing in New York City was “intentional” Additionally, he said “we do not see a link to terrorism.”  de Blasio also said that there is nothing connecting the act in New Jersey to New York.  

Today, Mayor de Blasio said in a press conference, “We know it’s a very serious incident.  But we have a lot more work to do to be able to say what kind of motivation was behind this.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo clarified what actually took place.  “A bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism.”

Bill de Blasio has played the political game by not calling it terrorism.  That word will be catastrophic for Clinton.  But Governor Cuomo, who puts the lives of his citizens ahead of the presidential election, called it terrorism.  The people of New York need to be vigilant, and the terrorists are still on the loose.

The FBI has released a statement late on September 18th, “We did a traffic stop of a vehicle of interest in the investigation.  No one has been charged with any crime.  The investigation is continuing.”

And in Elizabeth, New Jersey, another device was found at a train station stop that appears to be another bomb similar to the pipe bomb that was found in Seaside, New Jersey.  The FBI bomb squad is on the scene and have determined that there is at least five ne explosive devices.   

The remnants of the three other bombs have been sent or are in the process of being sent to the FBI labs in Quantico, Virginia for further analysis.  

Let’s examine what we know from an intelligence analyst's perspective.  The bomb in Seaside, New Jersey, was a pipe bomb that was placed in a plastic garbage can.  Pipe bombs in and of themselves are a crude device that some kids build for kicks.  These pipe bombs were not crude and it was not for kicks.  While they appear to be crude pipe bombs, there were three of them and all attached together with a timing mechanism to trigger the explosion.  Only one detonated, and it was only a partial detonation at that.  The good news there is that there are possible fingerprints and DNA that has survived the initial blast.  The other two failed to detonate.  If these were crude pipe bombs, like the  authorities have alluded to, the first blast would have detonated the other two.  

However, the way that the explosives were packed, and the manner to which the attacker wanted to direct the blast, coupled with a slightly more sophisticated timing and detonation device then we have been led to believe by the media, it’s no wonder the other two didn’t explode.

That garbage can was chosen for several reasons.  First, no one checks out suspicious garbage cans.  Second it allows a great hiding place.   Third, it was made of plastic so it would not interfere with the blast.  That plastic garbage can would help in a small way to wound people using the plastic of the garbage can as additional shrapnel.  The start of the race was delayed because of a backpack left unattended.  Had the Marines Semper FI 5K charity run started when the race was suppose to start, the potential injured or killed could have been significant.  The charity run was canceled by the authorities.  

Unlike Mayor Bill de Blasio, who refused to label this as a terrorist attack, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey was quick to label this as a terrorist act.  On Fox News Sunday, Governor Christie said, “As far as terrorism is concerned, it is clearly an act of terrorism.  We just don’t know who is responsible for it.”

On October 29, 2012, during the presidential election cycle, New Jersey had a devastating hit from Superstorm Sandy.  Unlike Bill de Blasio, Governor Christie quickly reached out the the Obama administration and sought federal help for his State and it’s citizens.  Governor Christie was seen with the President who was in a hotly contested election against then Republican Nominee Mitt Romney.  Christie did the right thing for the people of New Jersey, he thanked President Obama for his rapid help in getting needed aid to New Jersey.  Was it politically expedient for the GOP and the election a few days away?  Not a chance.  

Christie did what was right for his citizens.  Bill de Blasio apparently doesn’t feel the sameway.  It seems that de Blasio is more concerned for the election of Hillary Clinton than the safety and vigilance of the people of New York

The bomb that exploded in New York was actually in a dumpster.

The dumpster presented a bit of a quandary to investigators.  Why would anyone put a pressure cooker bomb into the dumpster?  I would significantly reduce the effect of the explosion.  As you can see, the dumpster was completely obliterated.  Even in the dumpster, 29 people were injured and windows across the street from the blast were broken.  So why limit the effects of the blast.  

It wasn’t until hours later that investigators found the clue.  A man walked up to the garbage can and set a backpack in front of the dumpster.  It is presumed that the bomb was inside the backpack.  A few minutes later two other men see the backpack, open it up, and after examining its contents, emptied it into the garbage can.  They left with the backpack.

The FBI has now found a common thread between the New Jersey attacks and the New York attacks.  But what about attack number three?

That attack happened in the Crossroads shopping mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota.  The alleged attacker dressed as a security guard wounded nine people in the mall.  Witness and some of those attacked say that he asked if they were Muslim while holding the knife to them.  

As the rampage continued, Officer Jason Falconer with the Avon Police Department, confronted the man.  He shot the suspect and the suspect got back up to attack Falconer.  Falconer shot him a second time and the suspect got up again.  Once more Falconer discharged his weapon and killed the attacker.

The attackers name has not been released, however, he is a Muslim of Somali descent.  

FBI Special Agent Richard Thornton said in a news conference, “We’re currently investigating this as a potential act of terrorism.  We don’t know whether the subject was in contact with, had connections with, or was inspired by a foreign terrorist organization.”

ISIS did release a statement regarding the Minnesota attack deeming him “a soldier of the Islamic State.”

These attacks come on the heels of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Ghadeer which is today, September 19, 2016.  It commemorates the naming of the successor to the prophet Muhammad.  That successor was Ali ibn Abi Talib.  In this ceremony over ten thousand people attended.  The most important line from his speech that day is celebrated by the Muslim world.  “O God love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him.”

Freedom of religion is the most important civil right we have.  And certainly Muslims worldwide, have the right to worship God according to their beliefs.  A few radical elements of Islam have once again made it unsafe for American citizens this day.  Be mindful of your surroundings, be vigilant in your activities today.  And above all, be respectful to Muslims.  The overwhelming number of Muslims are peaceful and law abiding.  Criminal elements of all religions must be brought to justice, but peaceful worshippers of God need to not live in fear of retaliation for actions they have nothing to do with.