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Thread ID: 7284 | Posts: 14 | Started: 2003-06-12
2003-06-12 02:13 | User Profile
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
WWU student accused of plotting bomb attacks
By PAUL SHUKOVSKY SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
[url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/126083_bellingham11.html]http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/126083...llingham11.html[/url]
The FBI has arrested a Western Washington University student on charges that he was planning to bomb a Coast Guard station and an Army National Guard facility in Bellingham.
Paul Revak, a 20-year-old history major who has no criminal history, faces up to life in federal prison if found guilty of threats to use a weapon of mass destruction. A search of Revak's dormitory room did not turn up any explosives and, although the investigation is continuing, it appears that Revak was acting alone.
The native of Snohomish was also charged with solicitation to commit a crime of violence for allegedly seeking the help of another student in his plot.
An attempt to draw another person into his fantasy was Revak's undoing, according to a vivid picture painted by court documents.
Revak sought the help of the fellow student May 9 to join him in the plan to bomb the Coast Guard base, according to a complaint from FBI agent James Powers. Revak, a self-proclaimed anarchist, told the student that the bombing would "make a statement" and "have an impact" on starting a revolution against the U.S. government, according to the complaint.
Revak showed the student a diagram of the Coast Guard station. He drove the student to the station to point out where he would cut the fence and enter with a bomb like the one that devastated the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995.
He presented the student with a copy of a grandiose manifesto. After a preamble that criticizes the U.S. government, the document lays out the option of "unrest, protest, and if need be, revolution. You need not worry about Osama or Saddam or the boogeyman, but if you are part of this empire, you should fear us. Our will is strong, our message is just, and we will prevail."
The alarmed student sought to dissuade Revak, and "when it became apparent that Revak was not going to be talked out of his plan," the student began working with the FBI.
Last Thursday, Revak and the student met with an undercover agent at the student's apartment, where the FBI secretly made audio and video recordings. Revak asked that the special agent help him obtain a powerful military explosive called C-4. He also wanted hand grenades. Revak told the agent that he had recently driven by an oil refinery at Cherry Point near Bellingham and had found it to be "so friggin' tempting."
Revak asked the agent whether he had heard of the abolitionist John Brown, whose raid on an Army arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Va., in 1859 was a step on the road to the Civil War. He then raised the specter of a possible assault on the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island with "all those EP-3s sitting there on the tarmac. I would be like a kid in a candy store."
On Monday, when agents tailing Revak spotted him emerging from a store with a pellet gun that is a replica of a semiautomatic pistol, they arrested him. He was ordered jailed, pending a bail hearing Friday.
A shocked family member said last night that "he has always been a good kid" and has not shown any signs of mental illness.
2003-06-12 14:08 | User Profile
PaleoconAvatar,
Thanks for posting this article. It looks like government has tricked one more foolish kid.
But how the hell did the Feds come up with this:
**Paul Revak, a 20-year-old history major who has no criminal history, faces up to life in federal prison if found guilty of threats to use a weapon of mass destruction. A search of Revak's dormitory room did not turn up any explosives and, although the investigation is continuing, it appears that Revak was acting alone. **
For God's sake the only thing the kid had was a pellet gun!
I think guy is odd, but seems pretty harmless. He had no idea how do any of these things, I bet he comes from some prinko Yuppie family. The FBI arrested him after he bought pellet gun? What did guy think he was going to do with a pellet gun? What are these "weapon of mass destruction" are the Feds going on about? C-4 is just an explosive(He does not like ANFO?). If he gotten some C-4; he Probably would have been the most likely thing blown up by the explosives.
Odd that he wants to attack EP-3 ORIONs. They are not an attack aircraft.
EP-3 ORION Fact File [url=http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/aircraft/air-ep3e.html]http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfi...t/air-ep3e.html[/url]
EP-3 ORION Picture [url=http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/aircraft/ep3.gif]http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfi...ircraft/ep3.gif[/url]
Google search EP-3 ORION [url=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=+EP-3&btnG=Google+Search]http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-...G=Google+Search[/url]
2003-06-12 14:27 | User Profile
Under the Patriot Act a pellet gun qualifies as a WMD.
2003-06-12 15:21 | User Profile
An attempt to draw another person into his fantasy was Revak's undoing....
Which is it -- a fantasy or a plan?
2003-06-12 20:39 | User Profile
Sounds like this kid was really asking for it! Others have been arrested and charged for far less.
2003-06-12 21:53 | User Profile
Revak, a self-proclaimed anarchist, told the student that the bombing would "make a statement" and "have an impact" on starting a revolution against the U.S. government, according to the complaint.
As one who knows, I can tell you that WWU and Bellingham in general are simply San Francisco in microcosm.
Once, the town was a blue-collar working class burg as well as a place to stop and scarf a burger and take a leak on the way to the slopes, but now, with the jobs gone it's simply a college town, and a granola one at that, though you can still grab a bite and use the local restrooms of course. They did have a cool theater there, called the Mount Baker, that was architecturally the neatest place to catch a flick I've ever seen, especially compared to the cattle-boxes most modern theaters are. I'm sure it's been razed to make way for the social services office.
But I digress. This kid was a big talker, like most campus crusaders against "the man" are. As recently as ten years ago, he'd have wiled away his explosive fantasies harmlessly in a cloud of pot smoke, but these days, a big mouth and a pellet gun are really all that's needed for an otherwise-harmless idiot to land in the slammer, to be the target of LaVon's amorous desires. Most of us had stupid ideas at this age, such as being "self-proclaimed anarchists" but we grew out of it (though some just go on to become Libertarians). Unfortunately, this kid won't get that chance.
2003-06-12 22:25 | User Profile
Revak asked the agent whether he had heard of the abolitionist John Brown, whose raid on an Army arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Va., in 1859 was a step on the road to the Civil War.
Obviously a wing nut. he thinks abolition not states rights was the root cause. Never learned history thus cannot understand current reality. He'll probably end up in some nice padded treatment room on Uncle Sams (read taxpayers) dime.
2003-06-12 22:37 | User Profile
MadScienceType,
You are most Right!
** This kid was a big talker, like most campus crusaders against "the man" are. As recently as ten years ago, he'd have wiled away his explosive fantasies harmlessly in a cloud of pot smoke, but these days, a big mouth and a pellet gun are really all that's needed for an otherwise-harmless idiot to land in the slammer, to be the target of LaVon's amorous desires. Most of us had stupid ideas at this age, such as being "self-proclaimed anarchists" but we grew out of it (though some just go on to become Libertarians). Unfortunately, this kid won't get that chance.**
I recall when I was in High School; lots people talked about building bombs and killing people. Some liked to draw pictures stuff and talk about who they wanted to kill. Kids would read Paladin Press books and old military booklets. I remember one student making plans to kill Janet Reno with a Potato Launcher. I would go crazy if I were in High School thses days!
The Soviet-Gulagism that has taken over High Schools may now be coming to Colleges too!
2003-06-13 01:04 | User Profile
*Originally posted by Faust@Jun 12 2003, 18:37 * ** I remember one student making plans to kill Janet Reno with a Potato Launcher. **
That's hilarious. I think he could have saved himself the trouble of building it and getting it into position, though, since a much more effective and stealthier way would be to smuggle some Holy Water into a place where she's making a public appearance and splashing it on her. A necklace of garlic could nicely do the trick as well. [Yet more items to add to the Weapons of Mass Destruction category]
2003-06-13 01:58 | User Profile
*Originally posted by eric von zipper@Jun 12 2003, 08:27 * ** Under the Patriot Act a pellet gun qualifies as a WMD. **
Of course it does. They can't find them in Iraq so they have to find them somewhere. Besides this reminds the public that "terrorists" still exist. How much longer before they replace "WMD's" or "terrorist" with racist, conservative, or even White?
2003-06-14 02:12 | User Profile
M1488D,
I fear not too long from now!
They can't find them["WMD's"] in Iraq so they have to find them somewhere. Besides this reminds the public that "terrorists" still exist. How much longer before they replace "WMD's" or "terrorist" with racist, conservative, or even White?
2003-06-14 04:07 | User Profile
*Originally posted by Faust@Jun 13 2003, 20:12 * ** M1488D,
I fear not too long from now!
They can't find them["WMD's"] in Iraq so they have to find them somewhere. Besides this reminds the public that "terrorists" still exist. How much longer before they replace "WMD's" or "terrorist" with racist, conservative, or even White? **
You nailed it Faust. It seems everyone I tell this to blows it off. It is truly an unbelievable occurance that will become a grim reality.
2003-06-14 08:23 | User Profile
It's what this article doesn't mention that intrigues me. Obviously the kid's computer was glommed. I wonder if a few unsavory political bookmarks, plus a pellet gun, equalled 'domestic terrorist'.
A man, a plan, a pellet gun - 20 to life. Gee, Dad - it's a Daisy!
2003-06-14 21:42 | User Profile
*Originally posted by heritagelost@Jun 12 2003, 14:39 * ** Sounds like this kid was really asking for it! Others have been arrested and charged for far less. **
I have to agree. The kid is an idiot, and although I do pitty him and do not agree that he deserves 20 to life, he has no one to blame but himself.