Yes, brainiac, they're people too. Doesn't make them "good" people, sure, but they're people too. Everyone gets born into some fucked up system, brainwashed into believing whatever he needs to believe so he thinks he's the good guy doing the right things.
Once you start dehumanizing, you won't stop dehumanizing. Eventually only people you agree with will be considered "people", and boom, you're a fascist.
Most terrorists aren't born into some fucked up system. They cultivate those feelings slowly by letting themselves exposed to the wrong set of people, values, etc.
The Glasgow bombers were doctors who studied with my cousin in Saudi Arabia back in the day. My cousin didn't go around making bombs though.
What you call "assets" are people too, by the way.