[Hail Caesar]

Could be ex-military, what about terrorist? Al-Qaeda? Don't know which it is but is someone with lots of training methinks.

Could be. After all, the Al Qaeda/Taliban fighters, including Osama Bin Laden, got their first set of .50 calibar sniper rifles compliments of the U.S. government way back in the 1980s.

[El Gato]

After all, the Al Qaeda/Taliban fighters, including Osama Bin Laden, got their first set of .50 calibar sniper rifles compliments of the U.S. government way back in the 1980s

Probably not. While some .50's were sent to the Afhgans fighting the Soviets, the Talibunnys weren't a big part of that, nor was OBL. They hung around and picked up the pieces after the Soviets left and the various factions had at each other. Very much like the Bolsheviks or ChiComs under Mao, husband your forces, let somebody else do the real fighting, and then take over from them by taking advantage of their weakened condition.