Fort Dix Death Plot, Terrorism Arrests

On May 8, 2007, the New York Times reported that six people had been arrested for allegedly plotting to kill as many soldiers as possible at Fort Dix U.S. Army installation in New Jersey. Apparently they had played all of their video games and now wanted some real 3D action.

Part of the evidence against the alleged Fort Dix plotters includes a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. district court a week prior which accused one of the six, Dritan Duka, of suspicious activity. Apparently, he had been studying terrorist training videos, collecting weapons and engaging in firearms training during a period from January 2006 up to his arrest. The complaint also accused him and two other members of the group of being in the United States illegally. Sounds like a case of jumping on the bandwagon to me. Everybody wants to get in on the action. Next decade we'll be back to Tomagochi pets and everyone will be much happier.

The complaint also mentioned a plan to commit murder in the executive branch of the United States government.

Another part of the evidence was a rather incriminating video of the men firing weapons and calling for jihad while shouting "God is great." They actually shouted "Allah akbar," but "God is great" makes for a more interesting image in my head.

It gets even more interesting. The FBI had a spy in the group, according to an affidavit from John J. Ryan, who is a special agent with the FBI, which sounds like a great idea for a screenplay. I love double-agent stuff. That particular witness had made some recordings of conversations, like something right out of a Hollywood film, and on that tape, one of the accused said that he and a group were planning to attack a U.S. military base.

Again, I can think of so many more interesting ways to spend a weekend. Ways that don't involve blood and massive cleanup and prison sentences or death.

One of the men's name is Mr. Tatar. I am from Georgia. You can imagining what is going on in my head.

White House spokesman Tony Snow denies any actual evidence that a terrorist operation is afoot, but says the evidence that the six alleged Fort Dix plotters had been preparing for one had the powers that be worried enough to take action. These guys may not have been intelligent enough to be dangerous. According to a report by The Washington Post, they actually took some of their training videos at a store to be copied. The store clerk promptly called the FBI and turned over the materials.

That's only one of the not-so-bright things the group did. Apparently they also had a conversation with a policeman about getting maps of Fort Dix.

These guys should really take up a sport or something. Basketweaving, maybe, or self-hypnosis. Something really, really soothing. #