Of COURSE it's clear what he was up to. I don't want the media to omit the fact. I would like them to stop stressing it in every paragraph of every article. It's being used as a keyphrase to obscure any other facts which come to light later in the case. I can only speak for myself, though.
I disagree. I think it is extremely important that we get it in our heads that all the hyperventilating over the border (yes, I am for securing the borders) and here is (yet another) a born and raised American who set off to join al Qaeda. Ignore this salient bit of info at your peril.