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He is also a European Muslim convert, which might pose some concern to investigators. "The blond-haired, blue-eyed Al Qaeda terrorist is an investigator's nightmare because he does not fit the typical profile," Col. Nick Pratt, a professor at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, said in an interview.

Excellent example of a reason to screen beyond "middle eastern looking."

Long before 9/11, during the height of all the hijackings, I was waiting for a coast to coast flight and noticed a man who immediately got my attention.

He was 40/50ish, dark, bearded, dressed in dark unpressed clothes and had a small satchel. He kept that bag close, between his legs, and sat straight up in his seat, looking straight ahead or down. I mean, he really stood out! My mind was filled with all kinds of scenarios. On the flight, he sat quietly and I never saw him get up. I didn't see the bag.

When we got to San Francisco, I last saw him surrounded by family (who looked just like him) and he was smiling and talking away! LOL! My fertile mind had judged a perfectly innocent traveler. Lesson learned.