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July 11, 2007
Man accused of trying to help al-Qaida ~ Inspired by John Murtha
Looks like Michael Reynolds could well be an alias. He sure looks a lot more like Ahmed Al something to me.
Man accused of trying to help al-Qaida sought US public rebellion
SCRANTON, Pa. - A man charged with trying to help al-Qaida blow up U.S. energy facilities described in chilling detail a plan to target a natural gas refinery and wrote that it would lead to "instant rebellion" by an American public disgusted over the Iraq war and the government's response to Hurricane Katrina.
Michael C. Reynolds, 49, of Wilkes-Barre, is on trial here on federal charges of providing material support to terrorists. He was arrested in December 2005 after he tried to meet a purported al-Qaida contact near a hotel where he was staying in Pocatello, Idaho.
Prosecutors on Tuesday displayed a series of computer messages between Reynolds and the contact, whom he knew from an Internet message board used by adherents of Osama bin Laden. The contact turned out to be a Montana judge who was working for the FBI.
Reynolds, who has pleaded not guilty, maintains that he was working as a private citizen to uncover terrorist plots and that his Internet communications were meant to ensnare a person he thought was a terrorist.
He wrote in one message that he had selected the Williams natural gas refinery in Opal, Wyo., "the largest refinery in the west," as the first target. He said the refinery should be struck on Dec. 24, 2005, when presumably there would be less security.
"The site has no fences or security to speak of, 3 men would merely walk as they wished there and leave undetected. ... Minimum forces, maximum damage," he wrote, according to transcripts displayed to the jury.
Prosecutors said Reynolds also sought to target the Transcontinental Pipeline, a natural-gas pipeline that runs from the Gulf Coast to New York and New Jersey; and a Standard Oil refinery in Perth Amboy, N.J., that no longer exists.
Reynolds wrote it was an opportune time to strike, citing public disapproval of the Iraq war and President Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina.
"The fuel is here ... He'll be roasted on a spit," wrote Reynolds, tacking on a news article that quoted U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., as calling for an immediate end to the war.
"U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa) calls for the withdrawal of U.S. military personnel from Iraq while at a news conference on Capitol Hill November 17, 2005. Murtha called the war "a flawed policy wrapped in illusion" and noted a shift in public sentiment against the war. REUTERS/"
In another message, Reynolds seemed to refer to the Dec. 1, 2005, death of a top al-Qaida leader, Hamza Rabia, in Pakistan. Rabia was allegedly killed by a Hellfire missile fired by an unmanned American warplane, although Pakistan's army maintained that Rabia had died in a bomb-making accident.
"I notice the news of a beloved leader being killed, and conflicting reports that the US takes credit," Reynolds wrote. "Your people need a strike victory here, and soon to bolster support, not to mention cutting down this president."
Reynolds and his contact agreed that he would receive $40,000 to finance the alleged plot. Reynolds provided a shopping list of materials to build a landmine, including stainless steel flasks, shotgun shells, flares, batteries, an alarm clock and stereo wire. He also said he was working on a "15-20 minute timer that is failsafe."
The message traffic shows that Reynolds was worried about getting caught.
"You say I risk little, you are wrong," he wrote. "If I am discovered ... I could get life in prison, perhaps even execution as a traitor."
Wild Thing's comment........
Murtha has been giving aid and comfort to the enemy and here is a case that murtha's antiwar rantings seem to have given encouragement to a terrorist.
The Democrat Senators in the US Senate help al-Qaeda every day and they are not in jail. Along with the anti-american left-wing pig faced al-Qaeda Democrats now come several RINOS like Lugar, Warner, Hagel, Voinovich and as the list gets longer al-Qaeda cheers their actions giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the American people.
Posted by Wild Thing at July 11, 2007 12:50 AM
Comments
Is there something in the water in Pennsylvania? They put up an Islamic outdoor Mosque celebrating the takedown of United Airlines Flight 93 and nobody in PA is protesting the insult to our nation. Then they keep Murtha in office, does the entire state depend on government aid so much that they are willing to take whatever Allah hands them like Washington does.
Posted by: Jack at July 11, 2007 02:52 AM
Kick this man to the curb!
Send him packing with the rest of his Al Qaeda buddies back to where they came from!
And yes, Jack, I think there is something in the water in Pennsylvania. Every time I talk to someone fom there on the phone at my job, they are just plain rude or mean or both.
I don't get it. Do they think they're being deprived of something?
Or are they all just spoiled rotten?
Posted by: Lynn at July 11, 2007 06:25 AM
Well, I'm off to snag a fish or maybe just play in the water, it's warm already this morning. I see the PA case of the pizza bomber is back in the news, nice folks there. Y'all take care, no complicators where I'm going so I'll be offline. Have a great day. Thanks Lynn.:)
Posted by: Jack at July 11, 2007 09:21 AM
I bet Murtha is proud of the protegees he's inspired.
It's sad. At one time Murtha was a decorated military veteran who fought for this country but then, so was Tim McVeigh and Benedict Arnold.
Posted by: BobF at July 11, 2007 09:41 AM
Lynn Jack, I take exception to those unkindly remarks, I am now a member of the state of Pennsylvania.
New Deliverence Pennsylvania, where all the women are ugly and fat, the men are gay or Ahmish and all the children are below average. What else would explain the people we send to congress.
But don't blame me It was my wife's idea to move here.
What do you expect, the closest Home Depot is 30 miles away, we even have a sunshine tax, if you don't pay your tax you get rain.
Posted by: Mark at July 11, 2007 09:59 AM
I hope Reynolds spends the rest of his life in a windowless cell, listening to Murtha speeches over and over and over.
Posted by: TomR at July 11, 2007 10:18 AM
Unfortunately, our elected idjits have a hard time connecting the dots...so again this will be considered just another random nutjob lawbreaker.
And Murtha can't see past the next earmark. Or bribe.
Posted by: yankeemom at July 11, 2007 11:11 AM
Jack what I wish is that the Marine Corps would kick Murtha out. I have such tremendous respect for the Corps and to know Murtha is connected to them in any way makes me angry. GRRRR
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 12, 2007 12:08 AM
Lynn we should kick them all to the curb that give aid to the enemy too. Good idea right along with the a-quada.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 12, 2007 12:11 AM
Bob, good point. When they have served well like that it makes it harder to believe they become someone else that is horrible but like you said it has happened before.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 12, 2007 12:16 AM
Mark..........Hahahahahha
You are so funny!!
((hug))
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 12, 2007 12:17 AM
Tom, omg that would be such a good idea.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 12, 2007 12:19 AM
Yankeemom, that is true. It amazes me how they have no feeling of guilt. Like the Clinton's etc. they lie and do horrible things and are never sorry.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 12, 2007 12:20 AM
This islamo wacko voted for Gov. Ed Rendell!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at July 12, 2007 01:27 AM
Try and convict. I got rope.
Posted by: raz0r at July 12, 2007 08:42 PM
