mtpolitics.net

Interview With Shannen Rossmiller

Back in May, I posted a quick blurb about Shannen Rossmiller, the city judge in Conrad, who was testifying against a National Guardsman who was seeking to aid Al-Qaeda.

I found this fascinating, to say the least. Here is someone in Conrad, MT, tracking down jihadi wanna-be’s. My brief posting was vague, and I was, as usual, surprised to find that Shannen had left a couple of comments on the post.

I followed up with an email, and asked her some questions.

Craig: How did you get involved with 7-Seas, and how would someone else go about it?

Shannen Rossmiller: I became involved with 7Seas when I was approached by another member who knew me and was aware of the counterintelligence work I was doing on my own. Prior, to joining 7Seas, I worked by myself in the areas of profiling persons of interest based on their internet activity-threat based communications in the area of extremist ideologies and terrorism. I target and communicate undercover with these individuals in order to obtain any information from them which might be threat related.

Interested parties can provide a letter of interest and resume to the attention of Admin -at- 7-seas -dot- net.

C: What kind of work were you doing on your own? Now that you’ve been “outed,” do you worry about being targeted?

SR: When I was operating on my own, I was doing the same work as I do with 7-Seas at the present time. Primarily, I engaged in commumications with persons of interest and performed threat analysis.

The only reason I would be worried about being targetted for the counterintelligence work I do would be if one of the operational identities I use were to be exposed and subsequently linked to me. However, I will say one thing that 7-Seas takes very seriously is its members’ security first. When operating online, all tracks which would trace back to me are eliminated and replaced with tracks that would lead someone to believe that I am in any given country, other than the US.

C: What are some successes you have had, aside from the Andersen case?

SR: As is the case with counterintelligence, the information and materials obtained in any given case does not usually result in an arrest. Intelligence gathering is always an on going process. Some examples of successes to date, include 7Seas being credited for obtaining the “Weapons of Mass Destruction Judgment” prepared by the al Qaeda terrorist network, which has been able to aid intelligence authorities across the world. In March 2003, 7Seas obtained intelligence communications and related materials indicating that al Qaeda was planning to use cell phones as bomb detonators in future operations. In particular, 7Seas obtained and provided intelligence authorities the schematics and instructions for the cell phone detonator bomb plans. Unfortunately, on May 12, 2003, al Qaeda was able to use the cell phone detonator plans in the terrorist car bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia which killed 34 people.

C: After these successes, are the “powers that be” paying more attention to your organization now?

SR: I would say that the level of attention being paid to 7-Seas by “the powers that be” is at the same level it was prior to the Anderson case. The only difference would be that there is public knowledge that a group such as 7-Seas exists.

C: What technical skills are required to join?

SR: Some helpful skills that a person should possess for doing internet counterintelligence work include, but are not limited to: foreign language skills; on going knowledge of terrorist groups and individuals associated with those groups; ability to analyze information for threats and apply critical thinking skills; profiling of behaviors related to persons predisposed to engage in extremist and terrorist activities; knowledge of the internet and research skills; basic word processing skills; as well as an ability to detail a summary of threat related materials particular to a terrorist group and any associated person of interest. All of the aforementioned skills can be expected to be applied in the counterintelligence work performed by 7Seas. It is not necessary that a person be wholly proficient in all of these skills, as good skills are usually developed “in the field” in my experience.

C: Can you tell us anything about the Anderson case that didn’t make the news?

SR: The testimony I gave in the Article 32 hearing in US v. Anderson on May 12-13, 2004, is still subject to an order to not discuss until the general court martial for Spec. Anderson is concluded sometime this summer. However, I can say there is plenty of news worthy details in the Anderson case which will come to light during the court martial process. You will have to stay tuned and follow the case. I feel that this case is important for all Americans to follow and be informed about. When the time comes where I am at liberty to fully discuss the Anderson case, I will be happy to do so.

C: We’ll take you up on that! Thanks for your time.