MartiniPundit

What About the Iraqis?

The FBI has released pictures of the four Chinese suspects and identified them - possibly through China as there appears to be no criminal record involved.  Here they are:

According to the Boston Herald, the photos were left at the designated “drop spot,” but that the informant was not there. No information on the Iraqis so far.

Although this threat still seems far-fetched, the authorities are correctly taking it very seriously. While a so-called “dirty bomb” is not a nuclear device, and is unlikely to be dangerous itself outside the immediate blast area, depending on the amount of radioactive material, it could contaminate a large part of the city. (Winds of Change has a dirty bomb primer.)

Yet it’s more likely that this was an illegal border crossing gone bad somehow.  This is a topic Michelle Malkin has been covering for some time. More vigilance on the quite porous Mexican border (and Canadian while we’re at it) would seem prudent at least for the duration of the GWoT.

I find it odd to have four Chinese and only two Iraqis. If indeed Chinese ‘chemists’ were needed, it seems unlikely that they would outnumber the Iraqis. Further, given that there are no photos of the Iraqis (are those passport photos of the Chinese?) could it be that the real story is that four Chinese attempted an illegal border crossing, said they were planning to go to Boston, but crossed their Mexican benefactor somehow who then concocted the tale - throwing in the Iraqis to give the story some starch.

Stay tuned.

Update

Backcountry Conservative lists many of the bloggers on the story. 

Another Update

Soxblog has thoughts on gallows humor.

Yet Another Update

I’ve found an actual image of a Chinese passport here and the photo doesn’t really look like the ones of the suspects. Indeed, as I look at the latter, the pictures of the four seem strangely old-fashioned. I’m not sure what to make of that as I’m no expert on photography, but they look old as if taken in the 70s.  Here’s one larger. I can’t help but notice that the colors are a bit washed out, as if this picture had been around for some time.  I suppose someone could have botched the scanning job, or it may be something else. One thing is clear - someone is playing games.

1. Of course the four Chinese pictures look different than the passport picture you possess - all four of the pictures are of adults and the passport is of a baby! 

   I couldn’t resist humor in a story like this.  Four years ago this wasn’t news.  Today, it makes hundreds of sources…

   Posted by Baron  on  01/21  at  12:18 AM

2. It’s true - I found a baby. Odd that but you’d be amazed how rare passport photos on the passport are on the web.

   I do see the humor - I do. And at this point I don’t believe this is an actual terrorist plot but rather a case of an illegal border crossing gone bad. Nevertheless, I think the FBI and the MA authorities are right to treat this seriously.

   I’ve noted what I believe to be discrepancies in the photos - they look old to me not current. They’re faded and yellowed and don’t strike me as images one would expect from a camera today. I’m far from convinced that these people are terrorists.

   But it is my town.

   Posted by  on  01/21  at  01:09 AM

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