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FBI Terror Sting in Houston

By Jeralyn, Section Terror Trials
Posted on Sun May 29, 2005 at 11:08:27 PM EST
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Via Raw Story we learn of another FBI terror sting in Houston that sounds similar to the one involving the Boca Raton doctor announced today.

Ron Grecula did not try to hide his disdain for the "wicked" American government when he sat in a Houston hotel room two weeks ago with two men claiming to be terrorist operatives linked to Al Qaeda.

"I have no loyalty to America whatsoever," Mr. Grecula, 68, a destitute inventor from Pennsylvania, said in a conversation monitored by the authorities. He blamed the F.B.I. for imprisoning him in the abduction of his two children, he said, and he blamed the government for a foreign policy of world domination.

So when the supposed terrorists sought to have Mr. Grecula build them a bomb that he said could wipe out everything within 3,000 feet, he did not flinch, prosecutors said. "Of course, I don't like how y'all are killing Americans, but America has asked for it," he said, according to a court transcript. "They want a war, they got it."

Other sting cases are pending in Albany, New York, San Diego. The cases are making use of the increased information sharing provisions of the Patriot Act:

The recent prosecutions also reflect, in part, the Justice Department's improved ability to develop better communications in secret investigations as a result of structural changes put in place under the antiterrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act, officials said.

The F.B.I. is getting more aggressive with suspected terrorists. Instead of long investigations, they are acting quickly after getting tips. If it stops a real terror plot, that's good news.

But some defense lawyers and civil rights advocates said that the government's tactics raised questions about possible entrapment of people who pose no real danger but are lured into make-believe plots at the government's urging.

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    FBI Terror Sting in Houston | 10 comments (10 topical)
    Re: FBI Terror Sting in Houston (none / 0) (#2)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:27 PM EST
    "The one-count complaint details a sting operation from 2003 to 2005 in which the two men took an oath pledging their allegiance to al-Qaida." "If convicted both men face a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the crime." If found guilty, not enough.

    Re: FBI Terror Sting in Houston (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:28 PM EST
    It would be interesting to see if the FBI spent as much time encouraging right-wing groups (like Christian Identity Groups, the Klan, Aryan Nation, etc.) to plant bombs and plan terrorist attacks how many arrests they could make.

    Re: FBI Terror Sting in Houston (none / 0) (#4)
    by BigTex on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:28 PM EST
    Don't forget ELF Freder who has a history of bombing places they don't like. They are the most active domestic terror group today, and the most violent. When this broke on local TV it was worrisome. It would be all too easy for someone to dress like a student with a backpack, hop on the metro and homicide bomb us. Entrapment is a difficult standard to meet. Giving someone opportunity isn't enough to sustain an entrapment challenge. All the government needs to show is the ability and predisposition to commit the crime. Predisposition seems clear from the language in the story. Ability is simple enough to demonstrate, it's not difficult to get the materials to build at least a small bomb. NYT isn't being sincere with this story. It's sad the way they have let their editorial page content slant their hard news story. -BigTex

    Re: FBI Terror Sting in Houston (none / 0) (#5)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:28 PM EST
    We will see many more of this kind of thing in the coming years. lets face facts its part of the propaganda lines of terror by our own government.

    Re: FBI Terror Sting in Houston (none / 0) (#6)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:28 PM EST
    Freder - They did that a few years back in Idaho.

    Re: FBI Terror Sting in Houston (none / 0) (#7)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:28 PM EST
    All the government needs to show is the ability and predisposition to commit the crime.
    Yeah so let's start rounding up right wing Christians since they seem pre-disposed to bombing abortion clinics.
    Freder - They did that a few years back in Idaho.
    Yeah and Randy Weaver was turned into a poster boy of victimhood (and correctly so) by the same politicians that support the sort of thing now being addressed here.

    Re: FBI Terror Sting in Houston (none / 0) (#9)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:28 PM EST
    You're joking right?
    I wish! They did this to union organizers in the 1910s. They did this to the Black Panthers in the 1960s and 70s. They did this to the militia groups in the 1980s and 90s. The threat here is that they can and will (if allowed to) expand their definition of terrorist to pretty much any group they want. Yet another example of history repeating itself.

    Re: FBI Terror Sting in Houston (none / 0) (#8)
    by BigTex on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:29 PM EST
    Yeah so let's start rounding up right wing Christians since they seem pre-disposed to bombing abortion clinics.
    You're joking right?

    Re: FBI Terror Sting in Houston (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:30 PM EST
    do you not think they go after such organizations. ask Matt Hale in Illinois. if a right wing christian indicates a desire and takes steps to bomb a clinic, by all means prosecute him or her.

    Re: FBI Terror Sting in Houston (none / 0) (#11)
    by BigTex on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:31 PM EST
    EDM - Since you weren't joking rounding up Christians, do you subscribe to the philosphy that all blacks have a propensity to commit crime since they have some incidents of criminal activity? How about all hispanics have a propensity to suport illgal immigration? What about all Muslims are terrorists? That's based on religious views just like your statement. It's the same logic you were using. The accused here offered to build a bomb. That's predisposition. He signaled a willingness to do the deed, showed his predisposition. You can't artifically impart predisposition based on race/creed. That's called prejudice (coloquial use.) A Christian may dislike abortion, but it doesn't automatically grant a predisposition to bomb abortion clinics. Just like some balcks commit crimes, some hispanics support illegal immigration, some muslims support terrorism; but none of the groups can be said to be predisposed to support what is the view of a radical minority within their race/creed. -BigTex

    FBI Terror Sting in Houston | 10 comments (10 topical)