# How serious a threat were the three alleged terrorist plotters arrested in Ohio? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 22, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572 "2006-02-22T03:06:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/1 "2006-02-22T03:06:21Z")
[http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13927844.htm](http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13927844.htm) We really needed to know nothing more about the three “jihadi” sleepers arrested in Ohio than the charge that amongst their misdeeds was downloading a suiicide bombing tape from a jihadi website… Not to prejudge, they may be some badass muthafuckers… But on the evidence so far, may we not conclude that they are not the guys we should really be worring about, given that only someone on a silent religious retreat in the desert doesn’t know by now that the internet is not a trackless desert, but more like a big arrow pointing at a motel that says vacancy (in this case pointing at Mo’s cranial area). So, what I wonder is, are these chumps the worst 'Sama has to send at us, or is Gonzales blowing smoke up our ass, yet again? Or are these just (pace, Joe Louis) the “bums of the month”? That is to say, the designated quarry, the capture of whom only barely averted, yet again, arma-jihad-gedin? ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/2 "2006-02-22T03:11:46Z")
ONE IS MO’ FOR SURE, BUT WHICH ONES ARE SHEMP AND CURLY?(“OH HABIB, M\Y SLOW MODEM TAKES FOREVER ON THESE TRAINING TAPES”) correct title, not sure what went wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/3 "2006-02-22T03:25:52Z")
Shemp is the one with the black hair that was originally with the group and then later, after Curly. Curly is the one with the shaved head, who’s most commonly known. Both Shemp and Curly were brothers of Moe. ---
**Author:** ![Squee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@Squee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squee)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/4 "2006-02-22T03:34:17Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > Shemp is the one with the black hair that was originally with the group and then later, after Curly. Curly is the one with the shaved head, who’s most commonly known. Both Shemp and Curly were brothers of Moe. Yes, this makes sense, unlike the OP. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/5 "2006-02-22T03:34:28Z")
Allow me to be the first to say I have no clue what you are going on about. The first two paras of the linked article state: > [@San Jose Mercury News](#): > > Three northwest Ohio men studied the use of suicide belts and improvised explosive devices in a plot to carry out terror attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and other overseas targets, according to a five-count conspiracy indictment unsealed Tuesday in Cleveland. > > The plot also included plans to set up a dummy foundation to raise money for the terrorist operation, funneling funds and computers to co-conspirators in the Middle East, and recruiting at least two people, both from Chicago, for jihadist training, court papers state. There are numerous specific references to concrete plans to construct explosive devices, and testimony to this effect from a cooperative witness. Seems pretty clear the evidence consists of much more than downloading suicide bombing tapes, and in this specific case I don’t see any particular problem with a court proceeding to consider the evidence. Anyway, it’ll all come out in the wash, right? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/6 "2006-02-22T03:39:57Z")
What’s the debate? Are you saying they shouldn’t have been indicted? As for your false dichotomy… No one has said these are “the worst 'Sama has to send at us”, so the only ass out of which smoke seems to be emanating is, well, yours. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/7 "2006-02-22T03:41:51Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** Thread title edited for clarity. **Alaricthegoth** , please try to give your GD threads titles which [give a reasonably decent idea of the contents of the thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=106060). ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/8 "2006-02-22T03:44:51Z")
My previous post was directed at **alericthegoth** , of course. ---
**Author:** ![Squee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@Squee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squee)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/9 "2006-02-22T03:49:14Z")
[QUOTE=El\_Kabong] Allow me to be the first to say I have no clue what you are going on about. [QUOTE] This is patently untrue! I was the first. You, sir, are an intellectually dishonest poster! A pox on your house! = ) ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/10 "2006-02-22T03:57:46Z")
they may well have done, and planned all as stated. It just seems to me that the reallly sharp arrows in 'sama’s quiver and probably not downloading training tapes frfom jihidi websites–that was in the briefing, not really sure if it was in the article. ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/11 "2006-02-22T04:04:23Z")
what part of “the three stooges go to jihadi school” didn’t you underst ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/12 "2006-02-22T04:07:15Z")
> [@alaricthegoth](#): > > what part of “the three stooges go to jihadi school” didn’t you underst that was fur buckner, needless to say… ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/13 "2006-02-22T04:09:35Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > Shemp is the one with the black hair that was originally with the group and then later, after Curly. Curly is the one with the shaved head, who’s most commonly known. Both Shemp and Curly were brothers of Moe. actually, without benefit of really close reading of the article, I was willing to bet that if three muslim men are together in one room, at least one mohammed is in there, and I se that, in fact, one was… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/14 "2006-02-22T04:39:20Z")
IOW: Ooh, Ooh. I just read something about Bush. How can I create a GD thread that makes him look bad? We used to have a guy here like that… and \*\*reeder \*\*was his name, oh! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/15 "2006-02-22T05:12:29Z")
> [@Squee](#): > > This is patently untrue! I was the first. You, sir, are an intellectually dishonest poster! A pox on your house! = ) Well, that’s fine. My poxy house needs a new coat of paint anyway. ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/16 "2006-02-22T06:43:06Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > IOW: Ooh, Ooh. I just read something about Bush. How can I create a GD thread that makes him look bad? > > We used to have a guy here like that… and \*\*reeder \*\*was his name, oh! I said nothing bout no bush… I really was dissing 'sama, if his yokels are downloading jihadi tapes and thinking they are anonymous. ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/17 "2006-02-22T06:47:21Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > IOW: Ooh, Ooh. I just read something about Bush. How can I create a GD thread that makes him look bad? > > We used to have a guy here like that… and \*\*reeder \*\*was his name, oh! hey, mace. How many more days do I have before I need to score the discount mitchell bros tix? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/18 "2006-02-22T06:51:57Z")
> [@alaricthegoth](#): > > hey, mace. How many more days do I have before I need to score the discount mitchell bros tix? You never took the bet. Remember that thread where you dared me to put up or shut up? I put up, and you shut up. ---
**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/19 "2006-02-22T07:07:56Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > You never took the bet. Remember that thread where you dared me to put up or shut up? I put up, and you shut up. qu contraire, 01-22-2006, 11:30 PM #18 alaricthegoth Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,741 Location: The Barbary Coast I think he will try and trim, but to no avail… It does not look as if he will be able to enforce his mandate vis-a-vis further incursions, and I think that will be the measure of his fate. So it’s a bet. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572/20 "2006-02-22T14:48:29Z")
Let me try: I think Alaric is saying that any Al Qadea members/potential terrorists that are so dumb as to download a suicide bombing tape (whose downloads authorities will be watching carefully) are incompetent morons and therefore not a real threat. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572.md?page=2)