The Curious Case Of Hussein Zorkot

How a Hezbollah link can transform a normal criminal into a terrorist.

All Hussein Zorkot wanted was a wife.

The 26-year old son of Lebanese parents was arrested in Dearborn Michigan last month. He was clad in a dark overall and he painted his face black. It was at dusk, he was on a rooftop, and he had an AK-47 rifle in his hand. He was prepared for a perfect crime.

Investigations reveal the portrait of a troubled man who was sick and tired of his step-mom spreading rumors that he was gay. He told the investigators that he wanted to be seen with the rifle to prove to everyone that he was a real man (it seems prospective wifes are more interested in criminals than in gays).

The excuse was crappy, but then somehow along the lines of the investigation (and its coverage) came Hussein’s sympathy for “Iranian backed terror group” Hezbollah. As anyone from Lebanon would tell you, it is normal for a Hezbollah fan to pose for pictures next to Nassrallah posters. It is also normal to for them to have personal sites (which in Mr. Zorkot’s case is more of a link generating mashup of opposition slogans, banners and web links) dedicated to Hezbollah.

The man is a criminal no doubt, but when the coverage of his crime focuses on his “relationship” with Hezbollah, he officially becomes a “terrorist”.