I think the article's second part is missing the point [where a bunch of tools are recommended to remove metadata from eg. pdf files]. I suspect by "metadata"

I think the article's second part is missing the point [where a bunch of tools are recommended to remove metadata from eg. pdf files]. I suspect by "metadata" the general meant: A is a verified terrorist, B communicates a lot with A or maybe is often co-located with A, fits the demographic of a terrorist and some other coincidental "metadata" is enough to put a high-ish probability on B being a terrorist and target B; or at least treat him/her as acceptable collateral damage.