The Basic Terrorist Profile for U.S. Attacks

Unidentified men walk in front of the house of Alhaji Umar Abdul Mutallab, the father of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the alleged Christmas Day terrorist. (AP Photo/ Muhammad Salisu Rabiu)


Every time a Western-educated, middle class fundamentalist participates in a terrorist attack, we are told that an accurate terrorist profile does not exist. This is obviously not the case. For attacks and attack attempts against the United States, there are a few things the suspects have had in common.

1. Western educated
2. Middle Class
3. Devoutly religious/political
   
4. International travel

This is obviously not a catch-all, but intelligent security practices would apply this template to suspects. Instead, I expect many of us not fitting this profile to be harassed by TSA for the next few years.

Here is a list of terrorism suspects over the past 4 months that fit the profile above:

The Christmas Day Bomber
Abdul Farouq Abdulmuttab

The Virginia YouTube Taliban Five
Ahmed Abdullah Minni
Umar Farooq
Aman Hassan Yemer
Waqar Hussain Khan
Ramy Zamzamand

Chicago Local & Denmark Paper Bombing Plotter
David Coleman Headley

New York Subway Bombing Plotter
Najibullah Zazi



NOTE: I purposely did not mention specific races, religions, or genders since these profiles are VERY easy for terrorists to work around.