Within the context of the emerging threat of homegrown Islamist militants in Europe and the continued global atomization and viral expansion of al-Qaeda terrorist cells as covered in recent TRC analyses, the Washington Post article highlights a particularly dangerous Islamist terrorist ?pathway? and ?profile?: the European convert. As noted, the European Islamist terrorist convert presents a number of operational advantages that counterterrorism agencies must recognize and to which they must develop defenses and ripostes.
As highlighted in this case, the apparent ?indigenous? European physical characteristics, European passport and papers, and intrinsic knowledge of, and likely connections within, European and ?Western? societies allows for a more discrete profile vis-?-vis security agencies and greater operational faculties and reach within these theaters. Further, a somewhat unique and fascinating characteristic of the Islamist militant convert is the compensatory urge to ?prove? his/her commitment and mettle as a fighter by taking on more dangerous and ambitious operations.
Taken together with reports that converts are assuming higher level leadership in both strategic guidance and in operational planning within al-Qaeda and al Qaeda-associated groups, these characteristics make the Islamist militant convert a highly dangerous operative?more operationally capable and discrete in Western societies and with a propensity for more daring operations. Leveraging these operational advantages, the growing activities ?homegrown? terrorists from Muslim immigrant communities or from converts from ?indigenous? societies, present a daunting and dangerous threat that draws into relief the eroding utility and potentially calamitous approach of terrorist ?profiling? based centrally upon physical, ethnic, or national characteristics. Rather, modeling and surveillance of terrorist behavior in its various forms and at various levels of operation seem to be increasingly advantageous. Thus, it is critical that counterterrorism agencies develop intelligence and early warning frameworks that legally monitor the potential venues, dimensions, ?pathways,? and behaviors of radicalization and militant activity?to include within jail systems. Further, it remains crucial that counterterrorism strategies be fashioned and calibrated to temper the particular ?root causes? of the various contexts in which terrorism flourishes around the world.
