The FBI cleverly arrested another Walter Mitty terrorist in Kansas on Friday, April 10, 2015.
For attempting a suicide car bombing of Fort Riley.
Sounds impressive doesn’t it?
But if you call up map of Fort Riley:
saying you are going to car bomb “Fort Riley” seems a bit vague doesn’t it? I mean you wouldn’t construct a car bomb and start driving around a base that size looking for targets of opportunity. But that was what the defendant, John T. Booker, Jr., a/k/a “Mohammed Abdullah Hassan,” was going to do.
If you read the complaint against John T. Booker, it quickly becomes apparent that Booker needed a mental health referral, not assistance “FBI Confidential Human Sources” to “plan” and construct a car bomb.
For example, Booker enlists in the United States Army in February of 2014. A few weeks later he posts on his public Facebook page:
“I will soon be leaving you forever so goodbye! I’m going to wage jihad and hopes that i die.
Someone who hasn’t read Ann Landers MYOB (mind your own business) advice reports the post, which eventually results in the FBI interviewing Booker before the car bombing plot.
From the complaint:
On March 15, 2014, Booker publicly posted on Facebook: “I will soon be leaving you forever so goodbye! I’m going to wage jihad and hopes that i die.” On March 19, 2014, Booker publically posted on Facebook: “Getting ready to be killed in jihad is a HUGE adrenaline rush!! I am so nervous. NOT because I’m scared to die but I am eager to meet my lord.” (Complaint, paragraph 4)
Then of course he is accosted by the FBI:
That same day, the FBI became aware of Booker’s postings based on a citizen’s complaint. The FBI was able to identify Booker based on the publically available content on his Facebook account. On March 20, 2014, Booker was interviewed by FBI agents related to his Facebook postings. After being advised of and waiving his Miranda rights, Booker admitted that he enlisted in the United States Army with the intent to commit an insider attack against American soldiers like Major Nidal Hassan had done at Fort Hood, Texas. Booker stated that if he went overseas and was told to kill a fellow Muslim, he would rather turn around and shoot the person giving orders. Booker stated that he formulated several plans for committing jihad once enlisted, including firing at other soldiers while at basic training at the firing range or while at his pre-deployment military base after completing his initial military training. Booker clarified that he did not intend to kill “privates,” but that he instead wanted to target someone with power. Booker also said that he did not intend to use large guns, but instead a small gun or a sword. Booker was subsequently denied entry into the military. (Complaint, paragraph 4))
All of this is prior to any discussion of a car bombing of Fort Riley.
I don’t know that anyone has seen the recruitment records for Booker but it looks like the Army didn’t take his attempt to enlist to kill fellow soldiers very seriously. Maybe they realized he is just a sad case but then didn’t follow through with a mental health referral.
But the FBI didn’t forget about Booker.
It isn’t clear from the complaint how Booker came into contact with “FBI Confidential Human Source (CHS 1)” but aside from videos and a number of outrageous statements, the basic facts are as follows:
- CHS 1 goes with Booker and assists in the purchasing of material to make a bomb
- CHS 1 and CHS 2 build the Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (“VBIED”).
- “CHS 1 and CHS 2 then provided Booker with a map of the area of Fort Riley at Booker’s request.”
- Booker circles three buildings (isn’t indicated which ones)
- CHS 1 and CHS 2 supply the required vehicle.
- CHS 1 goes with Booker (I assume to insure he can find Fort Riley)
- Booker is arrested while trying to “arm” the inert device
Without the assistance of the FBI, Booker doesn’t have:
- A vehicle as the basis for the Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (“VBIED”).
- The materials necessary to build such a bomb, aside from the vehicle.
- The knowledge or training to build such a device.
- A map of Fort Riley to plan possible detonation locations.
Without FBI assistance, Booker was just a troubled young man who tried to enlist in the Army in order to kill fellow soldiers. And bragged about it on Facebook.
Of course, a mental health referral would have denied US Attorney Barry Grissom to opportunity to wrap up in flag and intone very solemnly about the grave perils the FBI and US Attorney’s office battle every day.
That’s the real problem isn’t it? The FBI and US Attorney’s office do combat serious crimes that would diminish the quality of life in the United States for everyone. But, they also create street theater for publicity purposes that victimize the disturbed, the incompetent and the inane.
PS: Cleric: Man charged in Kansas bomb plot is mentally ill by Nicholas Clayton and John Hanna (Associated Press).
If you think I was speculating about Booker’s mental health:
Imam Omar Hazim of the Islamic Center of Topeka told The Associated Press that two FBI agents brought Booker to him last year for counseling, hoping to turn the young man away from radical beliefs. Hazim said the agents told him that Booker suffered from bipolar disorder, characterized by unusual mood swings that can affect functioning.
Hazim said he expressed concerns to the FBI about allowing Booker to move freely in the community after their first encounter.
Hazim said he later heard that two others were involved in a bombing plot with Booker. He said the FBI told him they were undercover FBI agents and that the sting was arranged to get Booker “off the streets.”
“I think the two FBI agents set him up, because they felt at that point someone else might have done the same thing and put a real bomb in his hands,” Hazim said.
He said he has come to the conclusion that the sting was the right thing to do. He said Booker admitted to him on Tuesday that he had stopped taking his medication because he didn’t like the way it made him feel and it was expensive.
Saying it doesn’t make it so but Hazim’s account fits with all the facts in the complaint.
Victimizing the mentally ill, for offenses that carry life sentences, doesn’t sound much like “Fidelity – Bravery – Integrity.” (The FBI motto.) Notice the complaint fails to say anything about Booker being mentally ill. I know, mental disease is an affirmative defense to be raised by the defendant, but prosecutors, even ambitious US prosecutors, have an affirmative obligation to not seek injustice.