[livius]

No, I don't think so. Few details on this have been released so far, and I don't understand why you think that the person involved was an "ordinary American." In general, I think the authorities have been pretty good on revealing the nationality and ethnic background of those involved, although not immediately, until they have determined their immigration status. Sadly, there are many non-ME/SE Asian folk who seem to be rushing to get in on the jihadi bandwagon.

[twntaipan]

Actually I didn't think the Chicago thing was an ordinary American. I had in mind how quick the story about dynamite in the luggage of the student returning from Argentina was fully known. Had the returning student been anything other than a white guy from Connecticut, the news would have trickled out.

My theory was simply that little news slowly leaked equals an incident involving a Muslim of some type, not necessarily a terrorist. If you hear of an incident like the Chicago flight, with little news out, it could have a higher likelihood of terrorism involved.

I just think the pc media and/or security officials go way way out of their way to downplay any incident with a Muslim angle of any kind.