Pipe bombs are fireworks - aren't they?

Posted by: johnb at September 6, 2007 4:21 PM

It just gets better and better...

Posted by: Miss_Anthrope at September 6, 2007 4:27 PM

Pipe bombs are fireworks - aren't they?

And "Bullets" are a basketball team 'aren't they?

http://tealdragon.net/sports/bsktball/194950bb.htm

I see no possible crime here.

Posted by: Joe Schmoe USA at September 6, 2007 4:35 PM

I am interested in this supposed non-conviction that did or did not take place not in Egypt. Not that it wasnt confirmed in other media reports.

Posted by: pegg696 at September 6, 2007 4:37 PM

Bullets and no gun?...poor man's blasting caps, but only if you're gonna commit suicide (you have to be in point blank proximity to do so, unless it's wired up in a "det cord" arrangement).

That aside, if the cops are smart, they'll be checking gun purchases down the coastal states to see if any names come up (some of them have been known to use firearms to strike/detonate the "fireworks"-in-question and/or fire on survivors of a target that just got hit.

Their defenders of these two aren't fooling anyone (where it counts).

Posted by: jcom972 at September 6, 2007 4:44 PM

"On Wednesday, a high-level official from the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, D.C., visited the jail in rural Moncks Corner. Andy Savage, attorney for Megahed, said Ashraf Salama spoke with the two defendants for more than four hours. Defense attorneys were present, although the conversation was mostly in Arabic." -- from the article

Now, that is interesting.

Posted by: Josephine at September 6, 2007 4:52 PM

END ALL JIZYA PAYMENTS TO EGYPT!!

Now that would be a good sign for Anti-Jihad protesters at the courthouse. Let those diplomats

Posted by: senor doeboy at September 6, 2007 4:59 PM

The conversations should not have been allowed to take place without a reliable translator.

At the very least, I hope they were taped and translated later.

Posted by: infidel! at September 6, 2007 5:12 PM

From the article

And he also refuted a widespread rumor that one of them had a previous arrest in Egypt.

It should not be a matter of rumor, one way or the other. It could be easily proven or disproven. But I wouldn't trust the Egyptian government to give us accurate and complete information. I wouldn't trust the Egyptian government to value U.S. citizens' safety above the freedom of these two Egyptian citizens, who were driving near a military base with explosives in their trunk.

And if we cannot trust Islamic-majority countries to give us accurate and complete information about the people they are sending here, if we cannot trust that we are being informed about the true background of their emmigrants, then it is just another reason to halt Muslim immigration. Immigration is based on trust between two nations. Any trust we place in Islamic-majority governments is misplaced trust.

Posted by: special_guest at September 6, 2007 5:18 PM

"CAIR's Ahmed Bedier, you may recall, said these were a couple of naive kids with fireworks in their trunk".

As Goebbels emphasised, it is very important to position oneself as a "victim" in the propaganda process. Watch-they will unleash "a veritable barrage of lies and slanders" against the local police. (Maybe Sudetenland style charges of ethic oppression will work, Ahmed Bedier.) It's all about propaganda with Ahmed Bedier and Co. They have learned a lot from Hitler and Goebbels re propaganda. Mein Kampf is a "best seller" in the Mideast. I'm sure Ahmed Bedier has read Mein Kampf and is familiar with the theories of Goebbels.

Hitler (from Mein Kampf) on the methods he learned in Vienna on how to silence critics: "I understood the infamous spiritual terror which this movement exerts, particularly on the bourgeoisie, which is neither morally nor mentally equal to such attacks; at a given sign it unleashes a veritable barrage of lies and slanders against whatever adversary seems most dangerous (JW, e.g.), until the nerves of the attacked persons break down (JW and others, e.g.) and, just to have peace again, they (the PC in media and govt) sacrifice the hated individua(s).

However, the fools obtain no peace.
The game begins again and is repeated over and over until fear of the mad dog results in suggestive (PC) paralysis.........Conversely, they praise every (PC) weakling ("Zacary Smith Distinguished proffessor Karl Ernst", e.g.?)on the opposing side, sometimes cautiously, sometimes loudly, depending on the real or supposed quality of his intelligence".

In regard to the "spiritual terror" tactics of Hitler (noted above), William Shirer (page 23, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich) said: "No more precise analysis of Nazi tactics, as Hitler was eventually to develop them, was ever written".

Posted by: Frank at September 6, 2007 5:24 PM

Maybe they were "peaceful Bullits", to be fired from "peaceful rifles", by "peaceful Muslims." -- ever think of that? Give the kids a break!

Posted by: rational at September 6, 2007 5:29 PM

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with the assistance of the National Security Division at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joint Terrorism Task Forces in both Tampa and South Carolina, with the assistance of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.

Here is the indictment against these two as it stands today.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v. CASE NO. 8:07-cr-
AHMED ABDELLATIF SHERIF MOHAMED 18 U.S.C. § 842(p)(2)(A) and 2
and 18 U.S.C. § 842(a)(3)(A) and 2
YOUSSEF S A M I R M E G A H E D 18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(2)(B) - forfeiture

INDICTMENT

The Grand Jury charges:
COUNT ONE
During and between in or about June, 2007 and on or about August 4, 2007, in
the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere,
AHMED ABDELLATIF SHERIF MOHAMED,
the defendant herein, did teach and demonstrate the making and use of an explosive
and destructive device and distribute by any means, information pertaining to, in whole
and in part, the manufacture of a destructive device and did distribute by any means
information pertaining to, in whole and in part, the manufacture and use of an explosive
and destructive device, with the intent that such teaching, demonstration, and
information be used for, and in the furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a federal
crime of violence, to wit: a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339A.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 842(p)(2)(A) and 2.2

COUNT TWO
On or about August 3, 2007, in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere,
AHMED ABDELLATIF SHERIF MOHAMED
and
YOUSSEF SAMIR MEGAHED,
the defendants herein, not being licensees or permittees under the provisions of
Chapter 40 of Title 18 of the United States Code, did knowingly transport and cause to
be transported in interstate commerce explosive materials.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 842(a)(3)(A) and 2.

FORFEITURE
1. The allegations contained in Counts One and Two of this Indictment are
hereby realleged and incorporated by reference for the purpose of alleging forfeiture
pursuant to the provisions of Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(a)(2)(B).
2. From their engagement in any or all of the violations alleged in Counts
One and Two of this Indictment, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section
842, defendants
AHMED ABDELLATIF SHERIF MOHAMED
and
YOUSSEF SAMIR MEGAHED,
shall forfeit to the United States, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section
982(a)(2)(B), any and all of the defendants’ right, title, and interest in any property
constituting, and derived from, any proceeds the defendants obtained directly or
indirectly as a result of such violation.
3. If any of the property described above, as a result of any act or omission
of the defendant(s):
a. cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;
N:\_Criminal Cases\M\Mohamed, Ahmed Sherif_2007R01848_JLH\p_INDICTMENT.wp3d
b. has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third
party;
c. has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the Court;
d. has been substantially diminished in value; or
e. has been commingled with other property which
cannot be subdivided without difficulty;
it is the intent of the United States, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section
982(b)(1) [incorporating the provisions of Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p)],
to seek forfeiture of any other property of said defendant up to the value of the
forfeitable property.

A TRUE BILL,
______________________________
Foreperson
JAMES R. KLINDT
Acting United States Attorney
By: _____________________________
JAY L. HOFFER
Assistant United States Attorney
By: ________________________________
ROBERT A. MOSAKOWSKI
Assistant United States Attorney
Chief, Tampa Division

Posted by: Mackie at September 6, 2007 5:38 PM

Fibrahim "Farur style propaganda" Hooper even tried this Goebbels crap with Spencer. However, Fibrahim is "dime store" in the overall propaganda picture. There is a much better organized propaganda picture here and the guys at Homeland Security might benefit from looking at the Goebbels style propaganda here. (The similarities are startling. Take a look, guys.)

Fibrahim is on a program with Dennis prager-right?. He attributes a post on JW (deleted by Robert) to Robert Spencer. (Folks, Fibrahim knew exactly what he was doing when he did that. He knew Robert deleted the post.) But Fibrahim knowingly slandered Spencer.

Fibrihim was a happy bunny when he lied. Why? He knows (a la Goebbels) the slander will stick with many among "the stupid masses" (as Goebbels called them). That's what propaganda is about. It's not about logic, not about the truth, and as Goebbels said "ti doesn't even have to be intelligent". It just has to be effective. Did the smear work, Fibrahim?

Posted by: Frank at September 6, 2007 5:38 PM

The indictment charges above alone if convicted without a terrorist connection of any kind, which is probably in discovery now,could get these two 10 to 20 years in Federal prison.

Posted by: Mackie at September 6, 2007 5:45 PM

Greetings:

An Egyptian embassy official visiting an American jail to ensure that his countrymen are not being mistreated.

I thought that charity began at home.

And I thought "chutzpah" was a Yiddish word.

Posted by: 11B40 at September 6, 2007 6:13 PM

Guess these 'naive' lads were hunting geese. Infidel geese of course. Certainly would have to
be a GOOSE of the feathered variety to believe
such preposterous lies but then Muslims learn to lie from an early age-they are just following their example of their paedophile, murderous prophet!

Posted by: Morgane at September 6, 2007 6:58 PM

For all of you East and West Coast Jihad Watchers and non-US Jihad Watchers, in the South bullets or even live ammunition alone is not so surprising; however, the bullets and the bombs make a disturbing combination.

Some reporters cannot write their way out of a wet paper bag. Are the bullets just bullets or does the writer mean ammunition. Bullets can be bought for use by people who reload ammunition. I would also like to know what caliber these are; it might be a clue as to their intent. If the word bullets came from the police, this may not be live ammunition.

Times staff writers Colleen Jenkins and Amber Mobley and news researcher John Martin did a incomplete job.

Am I splitting hairs?

Posted by: Pelayo at September 6, 2007 7:15 PM

You know, celebrating the great satan's birthday by throwing "fireworks" at it's armed forces...too bad they forgot their "capguns" to further the celebration.

Posted by: SoteriA at September 6, 2007 7:25 PM

is it illegal to have "bullets" in your car?

i have 200 9mm magnum rounds and a walther p.38 in my glove box.

but alas, no pipe bombs.

Posted by: leonthepigfarmer at September 6, 2007 7:29 PM

From Rusty at "The Jawa Report" . . .it appears that members of that un-indicted co-conspirator group better known as CAIR are about to be brought up on charges . . .

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/189288.php

"I'm also told by a source close to the case that certain high placed members of the Tampa chapter of a well known Islamic "civil rights" organization could face obstruction of justice and other charges for making false statements to the grand jury. Let's put it this way: there may be a very good reason CAIR has shut up since Ahmed Bedier testified at the grand jury...."

Posted by: justamomof4 at September 6, 2007 7:43 PM

These two were students here and from what I gather spoke English yet all of a sudden they are speaking Arabic? This is subversion, they are laughing at us making a mockery of our courts. The judge should be completely embarrassed the prosecutor removed from the case. This nonstop parade of terror trials making a mockery of justice has to stop. If you are a foreign agent/spy/insurgent/student conducting surveillance, sabotage, espionage, terrorism you should be turned over to the military immediately.

Posted by: tgusa at September 6, 2007 7:55 PM

Sorry Off topic: Please help debunk the Islamofascist propaganda about Israel being spewed here by some commenters:

http://iranian.com/main/2007/threes-company

Posted by: serendip at September 6, 2007 8:17 PM

For all of you East and West Coast Jihad Watchers and non-US Jihad Watchers, in the South bullets or even live ammunition alone is not so surprising; however, the bullets and the bombs make a disturbing combination.

Some reporters cannot write their way out of a wet paper bag. Are the bullets just bullets or does the writer mean ammunition. Bullets can be bought for use by people who reload ammunition. I would also like to know what caliber these are; it might be a clue as to their intent. If the word bullets came from the police, this may not be live ammunition.

Times staff writers Colleen Jenkins and Amber Mobley and news researcher John Martin did a incomplete job.

Am I splitting hairs?
Posted by: Pelayo [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 6, 2007 7:15 PM

You may indeed be splitting hairs Pelayo; but as "bullet" (the lead slug) has become synonamis with "cartridge" (or more exactly, cartridge CASING, The casing in which the POWDER and SLUG are combined to create the ROUND Which is then inserted into the BREACH or CHAMBER of the firearm for which it is designed.Maybe not a big deal to most of us,but the sematics of which liars, er..ummm..I mean LAWYERS make their living.

Posted by: ooddballz at September 6, 2007 8:22 PM

"You may indeed be splitting hairs Pelayo; but as "bullet" (the lead slug) has become synonamis with "cartridge" (or more exactly, cartridge CASING, The casing in which the POWDER and SLUG are combined to create the ROUND Which is then inserted into the BREACH or CHAMBER of the firearm for which it is designed.Maybe not a big deal to most of us,but the sematics of which liars, er..ummm..I mean LAWYERS make their living."- Posted by: ooddballz

which reminds me of a certain "Dissident Frogman" who instructs the AFP and any additional msm requiring the necessary education in the linked video below.

Featuring Dissident Frogman, his 'boomstick' and shooty vs. no shooty cartridges -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2sAFHBptJE

Apologies for the OT, but that video is a gem!

Posted by: justamomof4 at September 6, 2007 9:03 PM

Since 9/11, I have been wondering why American
Consulates and Embassies in the Middle East are issuing "Student" visas without doing much of a background check on the applicants.
Perhaps we need to have a moratorium on
granting student visas to middle east students.
Many of the 9/11 perpetrators had obtained
student visas to enter the US.

Posted by: RossR at September 6, 2007 9:04 PM

For all of you East and West Coast Jihad Watchers and non-US Jihad Watchers, in the South bullets or even live ammunition alone is not so surprising..

Having bullets generally involves the use of a firearm. Are you suggesting, Pelayo, that in the South it is permissible for a foreigner with only a student visa to possess, own, or purchase firearms?

Posted by: Mick_n_NYC at September 6, 2007 9:33 PM

Bullets or cartridges? What caliber?

Posted by: infidel! at September 6, 2007 11:50 PM

Mick_n_NYC, I stating my problem with the word bullet. Since no firearm has been found, I'm wondering what this means. The indictment posted above does not mention illegal posession of ammunition.

When I posted that, I was wrong in believing that one of those guys was a permanent resident.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Posted by: Pelayo at September 7, 2007 12:02 AM

Ooddballz, proper terminology is very important. A bullet, not a live round, would be useful only in a slingshot. One needs proper reloading equipment to make it useful in a firearm.

There is a significant difference between a clip and a magazine and the difference between a flash hider and a muzzle brake. Gun control advocates have sucessfully ruined the firearms lexicon. Reporters who do not know bullets from bananas are also doing their part.

I have used lead bullets made for black powder firearms in a slingshot.

If they had ammunition, why was it not reported that way?

Posted by: Pelayo at September 7, 2007 12:15 AM

The funny side of this story(Charlotte Observer):

Samir Megahed (the father) said he told the FBI to go in his house "and look around, and if you find something, take it." He said FBI agents seized a $19 remote-control boat Youssef bought at Wal-Mart for his younger brother, Yassien.

Samir Megahed said 11-year-old Yassien has mangled fingers from a surgery and was using the joy stick on the remote to improve his fingers' flexibility and control.

It was likely a Wal-Mart shopping excursion that put his thrifty son on the road where he was stopped, Samir Megahed said.

"He would spend 10 cents more in gas to pay 2 cents less" at Wal-Mart, Samir Megahed said. He said his son often punched in the locations of low-cost gas stations on his car's GPS.

Driving directions from MapQuest lists the distance as 447.75 miles and the driving time as 7 hours, 13 minutes from Tampa to Goose Creek.
The agents must have been peeing in their pants. It would reasonably cost over $100 in gas and 14 and 1/2 hours to get the $19 boat. Not to mention there are 10 Walmarts in the Tampa area alone and probable hundreds on the way to SC. And way to go with the Tiny Tim analogy - pulling those heart-strings in true Dickensian fashion. Hilarious.

Posted by: Mick_n_NYC at September 7, 2007 4:04 AM

Ooddballz, proper terminology is very important. A bullet, not a live round, would be useful only in a slingshot. One needs proper reloading equipment to make it useful in a firearm.

There is a significant difference between a clip and a magazine and the difference between a flash hider and a muzzle brake. Gun control advocates have sucessfully ruined the firearms lexicon. Reporters who do not know bullets from bananas are also doing their part.

I have used lead bullets made for black powder firearms in a slingshot.

If they had ammunition, why was it not reported that way?
Posted by: Pelayo [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 7, 2007 12:15 AM

Preaching to the chiore on this one my friend....Was just trying to clairify for some of the folks who may not be as savvy on the subject as you.

Posted by: ooddballz at September 7, 2007 6:45 AM