FBI: Suspected Dealer Sought 50 Missiles

[newyawker99]

The international sting operation that led to the arrest of a suspected arms smuggler should serve as a warning that the government is aggressively pursuing terrorist cells and black market weapons dealers, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said.

Hemant Lakhani, a Briton described by a federal prosecutor as a "significant international arms dealer," was ordered held without bond Wednesday.

According to an FBI affidavit, Lakhani had arranged to sell a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile he believed was intended to shoot down a commercial airliner, and planned to smuggle 50 more.

Experts said the weapons, which weigh about 40 pounds, are capable of shooting down a jetliner. But the one used in the sting was inoperable, authorities said.

Missiles

[Fovea]

1. No it doesnt

For me is suggests that the government is agressively entrapping known small time crooks with offers of big moola.

But hey, entrapment won the war on drugs, didn't it?

[realFedUp]

2. but giving AK-47s to Iraqis is ok...

wake me up when it's over.

[Snellius]

3. Isn't the FBI threatening to compromise their own case?

By giving these hourly press conferences detailing their case -- and congratulating themselves on what a wonderful job they're doing protecting us from terrorism -- aren't they just prejudicing any possible jury? But maybe the real fight against terrorism isn't really the point.

[hang a left]

4. Excuse Me

But I smell bushshit!

[Cocoa]

5. that's 50 fewer imaginary missiles in the U.S.

I feel so much safer.

[stilpist]

6. All bushshit?

Listening in my car half an hour ago on NPR, to Peter Landesman (sp?), a journalist?, being interviewed, said that it's well understood in the arms-dealing community that the "sting" was totally set up because the administration "needed some good news."

I think he said that he's got an article to that effect coming out this weekend.

[gratuitous]

7. Yyyeah, he was gonna smuggle in 50 missiles, that's the ticket . . .

And . . . a nuclear bomb! Yeahhh, that's what I think.

Why does Jon Lovitz have more credibility than these schmoes?

[esquivel]

8. that is so crazy!

shees!