News

The FBI used undercover agents posing as Islamic militants to ensnare a Somali-American teenager who'd been identified as a potential al-Qaida recruit. The agents helped Mohamed Osman Mohamud plan the car-bombing of a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland, Ore., before arresting him on Friday. How does the FBI train undercover agents to act like Islamic militants?

 With a few catchphrases. There is no organized jihadi network in the United States—most aspiring terrorists discussed in the media, like Mohamud, have been young, inexperienced, solitary actors. Prolonged infiltration of a criminal enterprise under deep cover therefore isn't required, and agents only need to be convincing enough to hoodwink one or two novice criminals. Moreover, since jihadis come from many parts of the world and speak different languages, the undercover agent doesn't necessarily have to speak fluent Arabic without an accent. The bureau does prefer agents who could pass as South Asian, East African, or Middle Eastern, but if they can't, that's not a deal-breaker. Training boils down to educating undercover agents in a certain brand of radical Islamic theology, and teaching them expressions—like the traditional Arabic greeting As-Salamu Alaykum.