One of Abousamra’s distinguishing characteristics is his higher-pitched voice, which can be heard on the FBI’s website. He also has dual U.S. and Syrian citizenship, is fluent in English and Arabic, and has a college degree in computer technology.

Abousamra’s co-conspirator, Taerk Mehanna, was convicted of terrorism charges by a federal jury in December 2011. He was sentenced last year to more than 17 years in prison.

“Both men were radicalized and used the Internet to educate themselves,” said Special Agent Heidi Williams, a member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in Boston. “They came to it independently, but once they found each other, they encouraged each other’s beliefs.”

Both Abousamra and Mehanna were inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, she said.

“They celebrated it,” Williams said.

That was the assessment of a terrorism advisory organization inside the U.S. Army called the Asymmetric Warfare Group in 2011, acquired by Danger Room. Its concern about the warning signs of internal radicalization reflects how urgent the Army considers that threat after Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan shot and killed 13 people at Ford Hood in 2009.

There is no way to be 100% certain that an individual is becoming radicalized to the point that they may be considering violent action. However, recent experiences show that there are certain warning signs, or early indicators, worth review. The information below is a general guide for military personnel and leaders at every level to give the user a basic understanding of when further action might be warranted. This guide requires the user to understand the fine line between the protection of one’s rights to privacy and the need to protect others. It should be used in the same judicious manner one uses a chart with indicators of suicide. The graphic on the left shows possible indicators of radicalization from the inception of the thought increasing up to the level of violent action. The indicator decision chart on the right outlines a step-by-step process for identifying, evaluating, and responding to possible indicators at each level.

Dr. Randy Borum is a Professor in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida. He conducts strategic analyses and research focused on armed groups, countering extremist violence, and complex operations/irregular warfare.

Over the past decade, analysts have proposed several frameworks to explain the process of radicalization into violent extremism (RVE). These frameworks are based primarily on rational, conceptual models which are neither guided by theory nor derived from systematic research. This article reviews recent (post-9/11) conceptual models of the radicalization process and recent (post-9/11) empirical studies of RVE. It emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between ideological radicalization and terrorism involvement, though both issues deserve further empirical inquiry.Finally, it summarizes some recent RVE-related research efforts, identifies seven things that social science researchers and operational personnel still need to know about violent radicalization, and offers a set of starting assumptions to move forward with a research agenda that might help to thwart tomorrow's terrorists.

If underreporting suspicious behavior is a problem within the U.S. military, soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan probably won’t have a problem reporting their suspicious about Afghans now that over 50 U.S. and allied troops have been killed by their Afghan counterparts this year. Marine Gen. John Allen, the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, told 60 Minutes on Sunday that he’s “mad as hell” at the attacks, and while his troops are willing to sacrifice for the war, “we’re not willing to be murdered for it.” Woe to Afghans deemed “reclusive” or engaging in “peculiar discussions” in the eyes of troops who don’t share their culture.

a terrorist who will soon kill your co-workers, according to the U.S. military.

• You’ve recently changed your “choices in entertainment.”
• You have “peculiar discussions.”

• You “complain about bias,”
• you’re “socially withdrawn” and
• you’re frustrated with “mainstream ideologies.”

Your “Risk Factors for Radicalization” include
• “Social Networks” and
• “Youth.”

These are some other signs that one of your co-workers has become a terrorist, according to the U.S. military.
He “shows a sudden shift from radical to ‘normal’ behavior to conceal radical behavior.”
He “inquires about weapons of mass effects.”
He “stores or collects mass weapons or hazardous materials.”