Walid Phares of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies observed that "The real common denominator is the ideological commitment (present) in every single case I've seen over the past few months and over the past few years." Noting that most converts to Islam are peaceful, but there is a clearly defined element with common background characteristics who are attracted to extremist ideology.
In an interview with FOX News terrorism expert Niall Livingstone said "Most of these guys...are misfits, they believe they've suffered injustice...they basically are striking back at society." He went on to explain that this is why so many seem to come from criminal backgrounds or to have been converted to Islam in prison.
Although police stated that Muhammad is believed to have been acting alone, files discovered on his home computer suggest that he may have been in contact with other potential terrorists and had a plan to attack additional targets, including other military recruiting centers, schools and Jewish synagogues.
Although there have been very few successful terrorist attacks within the United States since the attack on the World Trade Center, the number of American converts traveling to Islamic nations for training is significant, and the number of plots which have been uncovered and the suggestion of networks tying them to international terror activity raises serious concerns.
The FBI has been very successful at uncovering plots and deporting suspects who are not United States citizens, but although that may disrupt some activity by these groups, many of the potential terrorists are US citizens like Muhammad, and when they act alone and give off few obvious signs of involvement with radical groups they are very hard to track.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
I know they are slightly deranged so there's no sense looking for sense in their actions, by why don't we hear about Muslims' anger over the deaths of Muslims at the hands of other Muslims in the Middle East?
2 - Dave Nalle
Because then they'd have to engage in self-examination and question the tenets of their faith and no one likes to do that. So much easier to blame the outsider and the faceless enemy infidel.
Dave
3 - zingzing
does anyone know this guy's background? the four in nyc all came out of prison, where they were indoctrinated by radical islamic prisoners. it's no surprise that prisoners would hate their country, or at least it's no surprise that radical islam would take on this form in prison.
of course, that's not to say that because it's a black guy who shot two people after converting to islam, he had to have been in prison... but i'm wondering if that is part of the "pattern."
4 - Cindy
Because then they'd have to engage in self-examination and question the tenets of their faith and no one likes to do that. So much easier to blame the outsider and the faceless enemy...
Something truthful I think Dave has here...whether one applies it to Muslims or just everyone.
5 - Dave Nalle
Zing, he's only 23 and apparently converted to Islam when he was 17. Juvenile records are sealed and they aren't saying anything about it in the news -- initial reports didn't even mention that he was a muslim -- but I bet he was in Juvie when he converted.
Dave
6 - Dave Nalle
The backstory on Muhammed is guilding up. He was arrested on drug and weapon charges in Knoxville in 2004 but the charges were dropped. There's some suspicion he has a juvenile record which was expunged. I'm giving the press about 24 hours before that becomes part of the story.
Dave
7 - Fawnstock
Also troubling is the act of terror carried out on Dr. Tiller.
8 - Dave Nalle
Fawn, we have several other threads for that. The subjects are really unreleated.
Dave
9 - Jordan Richardson
why don't we hear about Muslims' anger over the deaths of Muslims at the hands of other Muslims in the Middle East?
Because the MSM (both "sides" of it) is helping fight a propaganda war against Muslim countries. It's easier to develop hatred and mistrust when you don't hear about the humanity of your "enemies."