It doesn&39;t seem right to talk about credit and personal finance on this solemn anniversary. But there are important connections between credit and terrorism that deserve mention on September 11th.

The 9/11 commission report includes several comments about the close connection between identity theft and terrorism:

For terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons. Terrorists must travel clandestinely to meet, train, plan, case targets, and gain access to attack. To them, international travel presents great danger, because they must surface to pass through regulated channels, present themselves to border security officials, or attempt to circumvent inspection points.

In their travels, terrorists use evasive methods, such as altered and counterfeit passports and visas, specific travel methods and routes, liaisons with corrupt government officials, human smuggling networks, supportive travel agencies, and immigration and identity fraud. These can sometimes be detected.

Experts have also suggested that Al Qaeda trains operatives on how to steal identities and commit credit card fraud.  "The threat is made more serious by the fact that terrorists have become experts at identity theft and SSN fraud to enable them to obtain cover employment and access to secure locations. There is virtually no means of obtaining identification that has not at some level been exploited by these groups."

Keeping a close eye on your identity is a good way to stop identity theft, and possibly terrorism, in it&39;s tracks. Do your part by checking your free credit reports at least once a year and reporting suspicious identity theft behavior to the proper authorities. You can read more about preventing, reporting and stopping identity theft online here.