The growing problem of “American” terrorists

Peter H. sends an article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Minnesota connection? Experts warn that Somali extremists are radicalizing Americans,” along with this note:

What could be motivating these (no doubt blond-haired, blue-eyed, football-playing) “American” boys from Minnesota to blow themselves up in Somalia?

Also notice how, in the last paragraph, FBI Director Robert Mueller compares Somalia to Ireland, in that both countries have a terrorist problem, and Irish terrorism hasn’t been a big problem here, so these boys likewise probably pose little threat here!

LA replies:

Yes, it’s a great puzzle, isn’t it, how Muslim terrorist groups are successfully recruiting “Americans” to their cause! How do they do that? And how is it that terrorism is now “homegrown”?

However, the statements in the article are not completely silly:

The extent of Al-Shabaab’s reach into the U.S. Somali community, estimated at up to 200,000 foreign-born residents and their relatives, will be the subject of a Senate homeland security committee hearing today.

U.S. officials give varying assessments of the problem. On Feb. 25, CIA Director Leon Panetta said the relationship between Somalis in the United States and in Somalia “constitutes a potential threat to the security of this country.”

So they’re recognizing (to some extent) that immigration is creating a dangerous connection between a Muslim country and the United States.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at March 12, 2009 01:28 PM | Send