Untoward Christian Solider

In my litany of military and former military killers, spies and terrrorists who are not Muslim, I inadvertantly overlooked one Christian "freedom fighter":

"I am not a terrorist. I am a freedom fighter," bellowed Dwight Ware Watson of Whitakers, North Carolina, as he was being forced out of the courtroom by security officials.

....

Watson leaped to his feet and began screaming. "You put us tobacco farmers out of business," Watson yelled. Much of his outburst was unintelligible to others in the courtroom.

"I wanna represent myself," Watson yelled as federal Magistrate John Facciola was hustled out of the courtroom by a marshal.

Referring to a package he had apparently sent, Watson said the word "germ" referred to "germination not germ warfare."

Watson, a large broad-shouldered presence standing well over 6 feet tall, and a veteran of the 82nd Airborne, was not easily controlled. He was finally led away.

....

Watson had repeatedly threatened to detonate explosives as he drove his tractor around in a small pool near the reflecting pool on the Mall.

During testimony in court Wednesday, Park Police Detective Todd Reid explained why Watson's threats forced the closure of streets and buildings.

"He repeatedly said he had organic phosphates in the yellow trailer and on his tractor," Reid said. "He said he had 82 pounds of explosives. Our bomb techs estimated if he detonated that it would have a 500- to 700-foot impact area," Reid said.

During the standoff, law enforcement authorities determined Watson had military experience with anti-personnel mines of the kind he claimed to have with him that could ignite the explosives.

"He said he was willing to die for the cause," Reid said, without describing the cause.

"He said he wanted to bring Washington to its knees. He wanted to make a mark on the Mall that people wouldn't forget," Reid testified. Reid said officials attempted to negotiate with Watson over a cell phone for two days, but he continued to warn he was "ready to fight."

Still smirking, Tony?