Do we really need to deploy military spy drones to find a sniper who's killed a relatively small number of people? The deaths are certainly tragic, but I don't think it's either necessary or wise to use the military in this case. Good detective work, plus taking proactive steps like trying to figure out likely spots where the sniper will strike next and staking them out, should be able to do the trick.

Unless the sniper disappears immediately, this is probably not going to go on much longer. It will probably end in a final gun battle, the shooter being killed along with his exact motive and his knowledge of whoever helped him.

While I still think this is most likely just one or two psychos without a political motivation, I have to admit that there's a moderate chance this could be a terrorist attack. But, does that mean it has to be al Queda? I don't think so. Aren't their plans usually a bit more ham-handed? According to an al Queda training tape, one of their plans was to have shooters in the back of pickups. Then, when the first responders arrived, shoot them too. That's pretty far removed from sniping and then successfully fleeing, no? Whoever's doing this doesn't want to be caught, at least right now. And, they've apparently put some thought into how they're going to get away. None of the attacks so far appear to have been the work of someone who's suicidal. Could this be the work of a more intelligent, devious organization, such as a state's secret police? Say, Iraq? If this is an Iraqi agent, he would most likely not be suicidal, and he would most likely want to be able to get away so no suspicion would fall on Iraq. However, with each passing incident, the chance of him getting caught increases. It would seem like a wise spy would have stopped well before now and faded back into the woodwork.

Even if this is terrorism, I don't think calling out the military is a wise or necessary move.