[Wordsmith]

Don't think a money request rules out AQ. Someone on these threads a couple of weeks ago pointed out that the jihadist pattern of being tight with money (ie...trying to get the truck rental deposit back after the first WTC bombing) might have contributed to the choice of method here. One rifle, one bullet per shooting, because they are working with very limited financial resources and have been cut off from access to more.

[WillVoteForFood]

The ransom angle definitely does not exclude Islamic extremism. Abu Sayeef in the Phillipines is proof positive of that. Different approach in that they were big into hostage taking, then asking for money to be used to fund other activities. No hostages taken here, although one could argue that the reaction of the public in the D.C. area amounts to an area being held hostage.