Dead Men Can't Talk

Trey Smith

I'm sure that most of you are aware that another Chechen Muslim (aside from the two alleged perpetrators of the Boston Marathon Bombings) had a recent run in with the FBI and would up dead. Conor Friedersdorf of The Atlantic has written an article which details the many reports on this incident and shows very clearly that those details have changed significantly over time.

From the moment I heard of this incident, I was damn suspicious. The reason for my suspicion is that the individual killed -- Ibragim Todashev -- supposedly was in the custody of several law enforcement officials. Initially, we were told that Todashev had a knife and he lunged at the FBI man. How does a person in custody have access to a knife? The usual protocol in such situations is to pat down the person before you question them!

Later, the allegation of a knife disappeared from the narrative. In its place, we are being told that Todashev became upset. Is becoming "upset" now a reason for law enforcement to use lethal force? If so, then almost anyone in custody for ANY reason can be taken out at any time.

More recent reports indicate that Todashev was shot 7 times, including once in the head.

All of this information/disinformation makes it look like something else was going on here. Why did they want this particular guy dead?