CBS: Traffic Stop Foils Terror Plot?

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/28/terror/main632382.shtml

A driver stopped on an Iowa highway this month was found with flight-training manuals, Arabic documents and night-vision goggles, and he told troopers he knew of terrorist plans to shoot up trains in San Diego, according to court papers.

Michael Wagner, 44, of San Diego, said he had knowledge of terrorist activities and people and groups tied to al-Qaida and the Taliban. Wagner also said that he knew about things in the Muslim communities in San Diego that would interest federal authorities.

Federal prosecutors declined to comment on the case, and it was not immediately known whether they were able to corroborate his claims or determine his motivation for carrying the manuals and documents.

Wagner pleaded not guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of body armor and weapons.

[geek tragedy]

1. Sounds like a nutjob (of the non-organized terrorist kind)

I'm sure he has all kinds of things he can tell the doctors too.

[Spiffarino]

4. Ooh...dangerously close to 1,000 aren't we?

:)

[geek tragedy]

7. Just gotta get into one good argument and I'm there.

*Looks for a Nader supporter*
:-)

[ixion]

2. if I never hear the word 'terror' again

it will be too soon. This headline is nothing more than a misleading piece of propaganda, IMO.

Just another crappy day of life under the facist regime, I guess. :-(

[Zorra]

11. I was thinking that too.

Terrorist stopped on the highway for not wearing a seatbelt.

Yuh.

See how wonderful it is to live in a police state? Isn't it nice to know that every little action you make is being observed by your friendly law enforcement officials, who are everywhere?

It might be a good time to consider police roadblocks on all highways to lookout for terrorists!

(sarcasm off)

[jayfish]

3. Wow, I didn't Know It Was Against The Law...

to own body armor, felon or not.

Jay

[geek tragedy]

6. It makes sense.

Do you remember the big shootout in Southern California a while back? Two bank robbers covered head to toe in body armor and armed to the teeth were able to hold off dozens of police for hours while shooting up a neighborhood.

[jayfish]

8. Yeah I Remember...

but I disagree with a purely defensive device being outlawed. If I remember correctly those robbers were able hold off the police because for some strange reason the police were only using low-caliber handguns. Even the TAC teams. It was a strange and tragic event.

Jay

[geek tragedy]

12. Technically, a tank with its gun disabled would be purely defensive too.

Being able to act with impunity emboldens criminal minds.

Exhibit A: The Bush White House.

[jayfish]

13. Only If It's Couldn't Move. -NT-

Jay

[JayS]

14. It looked to me like they only had on not much more than...

...standard issue "bulletproof" vests. It was amazing how long these criminals were allowed to continue firing at random and how often the officers had to go into the line of fire, at close range, to apprehend these criminals.

[Parche]

5. TERRA

If I knew those terra ists were in Iowa, I would have moved
heaven and earth to stop them.

[Itchinjim]

9. IOWA?! TERRARISTS IN IOWA?!

Holy shit I'm outta here! Nebraska here I come!!

[DeadHead67]

10. Fruitcake anyone?!!!

:crazy:

[struggle4progress]

15. A bizarre tale: he was stopped for speeding ...

... (or was that a seatbelt violation?), allegedly armed with military equipment, arabic language papers, and knowledge of terrorist plans. The California press notes his alleged terrorist connections don't seem to be panning out, but the Iowa press hears the convicted sex offender was still a danger because he threatened to kill police.

(Does anybody remember a recent thread on bogus Administration reports of thwarted heartland terrorist plots? Egg on the Administration's face etc? So I wonder how much of this case will bear scrutiny?)



Man Claims He Knows Of Terrorist Plans
... Michael Wagner, 44, ... was stopped for speeding along an Iowa freeway earlier this month ...

http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/news/3587187/detail.html


Authorities Discredit Local Terror Claims
(07-28-2004)

<snip>
Forty-four-year-old Michael Wagner was arrested in Iowa, earlier this month, after what began as a traffic stop for a seat-belt violation.

Court papers say the Muslim convert told state troopers he had knowledge of al-qaeda operatives and plans to shoot up trolleys here in San Diego.

... But San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne says many of Wagner's claims have been discredited by federal authorities.

Wagner pleaded not guilty Tuesday to weapons charges. He was convicted in 1988 of lewd acts with a child and is a registered sex offender in the state.

http://www.kfmb.com/topstory27685.html


Investigators doubt man's claims of terror-plot knowledge in San Diego
Posted on Wed, Jul. 28, 2004
Associated Press

<snip>
Agents from San Diego's Joint Terrorism Task Force last week searched the Santee home of Michael Wagner.

<snip>
Wagner, a 44-year-old Navy veteran and Muslim convert, claimed to have knowledge of al Qaida's plans to shoot up commuter trolleys in San Diego.

The San Diego task force "has investigated those statements, and based on the investigation we do not find them to be credible," said Michael Skerlos, head of the terrorism unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office.
<snip>

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/9263597.htm


Wagner indicted on federal charges

DES MOINES - Michael Wagner had al-Qaida connections and knew of a plan to shoot trams and trains in San Diego when he was stopped by an Iowa State Patrol trooper just outside of Underwood earlier this month.
That stop put the trooper's life in jeopardy when the 44-year-old San Diego man allegedly talked with his companion about killing the officer, according to testimony heard in federal court Tuesday.
<snip>

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12513348&BRD=2554&PAG=461&dept_id=507134&rfi=6