By now, many people have heard the story of the “Saudi national,” a young man who was injured at the Boston Marathon bombing–and then found himself being treated as a suspect. His apartment was searched while he was receiving medical treatment.
But why was he considered a suspect? It seems like the mere fact that he was Saudi Arabian was considered by investigators to be grounds for suspicion. But there appears to be more to it than that.
Enter “terrorism expert” Steve Emerson, who continues to make the media rounds despite a checkered history that most notably included the assessment that the mass casualties inflicted by the Oklahoma City bombing were “a Middle Eastern trait.”
The day after the Boston attack, Emerson appeared on C-SPAN‘s Washington Journal (4/16/13) with host Greta Wodele Brawner, where he appeared to claim responsibility for the investigation of the Saudi national:
EMERSON: On the Facebook page of the person of interest, there were interesting entries that showed an animus toward the United States. Again, he has not been convicted, but the burns on his skin match the explosive residue of the bomb that exploded.
WODELE BRAWNER: Is this the Saudi national, or those two different people?
EMERSON: The Saudi national.
Emerson claimed that “we found the Facebook page of the person of interest last night before the FBI did.” The apparently incriminating evidence? “There were lots of pictures of his friends. Some of them showed anti-American animus, such as support for the Muslim Brotherhood.”
Emerson went on to claim that “ball bearings are a highlight of…the jihadist type of suicide bombing in the Middle East.” As journalist Ali Gharib (Open Zion, 4/16/13) noted, Emerson made a similar claim on a Fox News show as well–“nails and ball-bearings, which is a hallmark, by the way, of jihadist suicide bombings.” But, as Gharib points out, non-jihadists like the Unabomber also put nails into bombs.
Will this latest incident have any effect on Emerson’s media career? If the past is any guide, probably not.
Let’s say he said we have to wait and not jump to conclusions. Would FAIR report that? Just curious.
what is big deal ? Every time I go into McDonald’s I tell them to put my tab on the white house as I am with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Is Emerson trying to “get it right”
Or is he attempting to sow fear and hatred in the furtherance of a policy that requires them?
The Saudi National you write about is being deported on National Security grounds. The bombs were typical of IED’s used in Afghanistan and Iraq. Steve was not so far off. I think I’ll take Steve’s info more serious than yours on this issue.
Actually he got it right! Jihad videos on both brothers you tube postings. Maybe you will apologize.
He’s talking about the “Saudi national,” and self-aggrandizing numbnuts jackass Steve Emerson got it wrong–again. What the two men who actualy did the deed posted on Facebook or not is irrelevant. The bombs used were typical of bombs in use everywhere and anywhere. Did some of you even read the article above? And no, FAIR would not report something that Emerson did that indicated Mr. Emerson were something other than a hack and a poseur–that would mean Emerson would actually be an honest and reliable journalist or newsmaker. “FAIR” is an acronym for “Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting” –does that help any?
Peter Hart please create an ARCHIVE link on your site entitled, “Terrorism Events” and keep score whether major news networks misreport whether terrorist bombings are ‘Jihadist inspired’. It appears that the Boston massacre was and that the media is very reluctant to say so. This reluctance is something that FAIR should also monitor.
I’m more bothered by the fact that the news wasn’t really talking about anything else BUT the bombing. Who cares what they said about it? The real crime is media distracting us from stuff like CISPA and drones, and i dunno what because they didn’t tell me. It’s not news IMO, it’s just drama, and the people who stay tuned into it more than 5 minutes are just rubber-neckers not citizens trying to be informed. I didn’t hear much about the fertilizer explosion, but I suspect industrial accidents are more likely to touch my life than crazy bombers – just for example.