Much has been made of the type of phrases being used by the killer in various phone calls, letters, etc. If the phrases being referred to are ones like "just shut up and listen," "hear me out," "I am God" and "I'm in charge", none of those point one way or another to a domestic vs ME terrorist.
The phrase most used to discount ME terror is the use of "I am God", with the reason being that no Muslim extremist would ever utter such blasphemy. A huge assumption is being made in this case. Muslim extremists would seem to not be the type to go out an booze up and indulge in strip clubs, yet we know the 911 terrorists did exactly that. Not exactly the actions of a devout Muslim. In so doing, what this says to me is that these terrorists see Islam as nothing more than a tool to move the masses and recruit followers. Calling themselves Muslims, using "Allah be praised" in every other sentence, is simply a means to an end. Posts here have stated that Muslims only use the word Allah when referring to God, yet I have known many Muslims who use God interchangeably with Allah and seem not trouble with doing that. Assuming that Muslim extremists are actually devout makes an assumption seemingly not supported by the evidence at hand.
As for the other phrases we have seen, what about them makes them likely to have been stated by a domestic terrorist v an international terrorist? Its only been a few weeks since an accused Al Qaeda cell was arrested in Buffalo, primarily made up of Americans. Also, we have been told time and time again that these sleeper cells, such as the ones who attacked the WTC would have been here for a while, melding into society. The phrasing pointed out above would not be out of line for someone who has been here for months or years.
Finally, the ransom. We've seen it posted here numerous times that the use of ransom is out of character with ME terror. That flies in the face of facts as well. Abu Sayeef is notorious for kidnappings and ransom to raise funds for other terror activities. No question the angle of a domestic account is strange, but I've not yet seen that in print. Not discounting the folks who have posted that info, but I've not seen it.
Bottom line. Nothing reported leads me to believe either domestic or international terror can be discounted.
I'd give some weight to the shooter having had time in the area and on many routes.
Possibly was a bus driver, a limo driver, a taxi driver, a short-haul freight driver, or a member of a protection services team ... over the many back roads (as well as main roads) of Northern Virginia --- in the quadrangle from Winchester, VA to Lancaster, PA to Annapolis, MD to Petersburg, VA.
The shooter knows most of the back roads and very well.
The Northern Virgina area is full of protection services personnel and transport; they know how to get around; many of them are the support people for Middle-Eastern powers (gov't and private).
I would not underestimate the infiltration of this avenue, so to speak, by a terrorist, foreign or domestic.
Exactly! I got the impression that the suicidal mission, the fact that they would volunteer for this, would save their lives for living such a "sinful" life.