I concur.

It should be like prostitution. i.e There should be a charge for soliciting someone for WMD…

17 3. He was being watched 24/7, so he was basically a moot point before he started

As was mentioned previously, this reminds me of “The Bonehead Seven”.

He was trying to trade a pair of speakers for them…

25 Here is a link to the press release…

Thanks, Curmudgen.

From the link:
“While these are very serious charges, at no time was the public in any imminent peril as a result of the defendant’s activities.”

But we are charging him as if there was “peril”, aren’t we?? Even if it wasn’t “imminent”….

The only bright side is that the words “imminent peril” make me think of Monty Python & the Holy Grail.

And it is not just the defendants who decide to plead at the last minute, the State sometimes gets real about its plea offer at the last minute.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2006/pr1208_01.pdf

From the horses mouth!

Well, at least being charged with something doesn’t mean they will be able to win a conviction on those charges.

And, I can’t overlook the fact that our plea-bargain system means that they are probably just “throwing the book at him” so they can get him to plead guilty to lesser charges.

I had jury duty 2-weeks ago, and we were reminded during the welcoming speech that it was important for us to show-up – even if we didn’t get called-up for a trial – because a lot of defendants decide to plea/settle when it finally comes down to selecting a jury.

Not if you understand the physics of explosions. Even a plastic garbage can would deflect some of the blast upwards. Second, those surrounding the garbage can would absorb any blast from those further away. Third, because most garbage cans are near wall, much of the effect would be absorbed by the wall.

While there would probably be some injuries, and possible even some deaths, they would not extend to more then a few people. The most fearful aspect would be the panic rush to evacuate the building. The stampede would more likely cause more injuries then the explosion. If he let off one grenade, don’t expect him to be letting off any more.

And Traaxx – it’s good that you never allow truth to stand between yourself and a paranoid delusion.

fucking waste of time

1. From the press conference with the FBI, the grenade is classified as a WMD because it’s explosive. I don’t remember if it was someone in the FBI or the US Atty. in Chicago who basically said that anything explosive could be considered a WMD.

2. His plot, iirc, was to blow up some garbage cans in the mall. I don’t see how that would have blown up the mall, but hey, I’m no explosives expert. Now, CherryVale is the most popular mall in Rockford, so you could reasonably guess that had this gone off, the injury toll would be in the hundreds. I doubt that anyone would have been killed if he’d have succeeded.

3. He was being watched 24/7, so he was basically a moot point before he started

4. Before some of you go knocking the mass media and ‘mass media’ graduates, I want you to try and deal with the “controlled chaos” of the newsroom today. You try coordinating 2 live shots while directing, punching, rolling tapes, and keeping track of a newscast. Do that and then we’ll talk.

(1) he did not actually have the grenades;

(2) he could not have obtained the grenades, since the people he was trying to get them from were Feds;

does not prevent him from being charged with an “attempt” to whatever.