In 1997, Demi Moore played a rough and tough female soldier in the movie G.I Jane. Well, it’s time for G.I. Jane to make way for the real life terrorist Jihad Jane, a blonde, blue-eyed American woman from Pennsylvania. You just can’t make such stuff up.
Colleen LaRose was arrested in October 2009 in connection with a plot to kill Swedish artist Lars Vilk. LaRose, popularly known as Jihad Jane, is the third woman to have been charged in the US with terror violations in recent years. However, her plans to “scare the nonbelievers into submission” by waging violent jihad in South Asia and Europe never came to fruition.
LaRose is said to have been radicalised once she began to mingle with extremist elements around the world through the internet. She was involved with terrorist networks, soliciting funds, forging travel documents, and recruiting American and European women for extremist organisations.
The guys at Al Qaeda would probably have been patting themselves on the back after having successfully recruited a US-born woman who could easily “blend in.” With her solid American credentials, Jihad Jane was the ultimate terror weapon. Under the stealth of her Caucasian cloak, she could plot, plan, and execute the most devious of schemes without ever being detected. She was untraceable, practically immune to the racial profiling used to screen out suspected terrorists.
That was until she decided that a MySpace page would be the best way to further her cause. The blonde stereotype stands, and yet again saves the day!
LaRose caught the attention of internet sleuths as early as June 2008 after posting comments online that were perpetuating the cause of terrorism under the user name JihadJane on YouTube and MySpace. “She was a fun-loving woman. Pennsburg is a small town, a quaint Pennsylvania town; maybe she was looking for a little excitement online,” a reporter who interviewed Jihad Jane’s ex-boyfriend told CNN. It wouldn’t come as a surprise now if the Al Qaeda manual for terrorists has been revised to include a special section on internet discretion.
One wonders about the state of affairs when people begin to embrace terrorism and openly come out with their views on public forums. It seems as if American trepidation about all things terror-related seems to have mutated into a fascination. At the rate things are going, it won’t be too long before we see children dressed up as Super Suicide Man or Captain Jihad on Halloween.
Video game merchants would pick up on the trends as well. I can see it now, Jihad Jane and the Hidden Caves of Afghanistan followed by the much anticipated sequel, Jihad Jane and the Tora Bora Mystery.
Chances are in a year or so we may even get a heart-wrenching movie on Jihad Jane, perhaps starring Charlize Theron. A true story of a woman who juggles a career while raising three children in suburban Pennsylvania until finally overcoming insurmountable circumstances to blow herself up in a crowded Walmart. Oscar glory awaits.
But here’s the real clincher. Jihad Jane had posted the following on YouTube: “I am desperate to do something somehow to help suffering Muslims.” She unwittingly might have succeeded in doing so.
The LaRose situation has cast serious doubts over recent US surveillance trends. Racial profiling at international airports and accounts of harassment, abusive treatment, and unjustified arrests of countless citizens of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent have caused a global ruckus. The governments of many Muslim countries have complained that terror screening is discriminatory and offensive to the majority of Muslims who have no links to terrorist organisations.
The emergence of Jihad Jane will drive home the fact that there are no easy ‘tells’ that can help intelligence officials identify those with extremist leanings. As one US Justice Department official put it: “Colleen LaRose’s case shatters any thought that we can spot a terrorist based on appearance.” Indeed, Jihad Jane completely defeats the concept of an ‘identifiable terrorist.’
Perhaps now, the US security set-up will be willing to revisit its policy of racial profiling. In the context of serious human rights violations under the guise of terror screening, Jihad Jane’s case should validate the call for expanding the profiling process.
A change of attitude in this regard could help mainstream Muslims feel less targeted and persecuted when living or traveling in the West. Such a shift could help improve relations between Muslim and western communities, which would, in turn, reorient the ‘war against terrorism’ as a security problem, rather than a religio-cultural attack. Ironically, then, it seems as if Jihad Jane has succeeded in her goal of helping “suffering Muslims.”
Zeresh John is a multimedia content producer for Dawn.com.
The views expressed in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Took me a while to look through all the comments, but I really loved the article. It seemed very enlightening to me and I am sure to all the other members who have seen this blog, It’s always awesome when you’re not only informed, but also entertained! I’m sure you had fun creating this post. I’m going to grab your rss feed so I don’t miss anything important that you guys may come up with in the future, Thanks…
When I was in US a few years back, I used to have a beard similar to one normally sported by Muslims .. Once I was sent through some special screening at an airport, when I arrived a little late for the flight and argued with the airlines staff that I should be on the flight .. Perhaps my beard and the fact that I argued, led them to screen me separately .. But they were very polite throughout the process ..
Honestly I didn’t really mind it .. After all they were doing their jobs .. Their job is to make sure that no one carrying arms or explosives can enter the aircraft .. And since they cant special screen everyone, they go by probability .. And if u go by the history in US, they have no choice but to pay more attention to Muslims from South Asia .. We should be really thankful they are trying to do a good job .. After all if something goes wrong .. Nothing happens to them .. But you end up dead if you are a co-passenger with a person carrying explosives ..
Jihad means inner spiritual struggle. She calls herself Jihad Jane, because .she is waging constantly wages war at her inner self. She should be praised for her name really. She should be proud of it.
It is good news that our Foreign Minister Qureshi will have “strategic” talks in America. As we have severe power shortages, we are trying for a deal for nuclear energy similar to the deal signed between India and America. But our not so friendly neighbor has already started interfering in this. India says, America should not sign any deals with us as we are a “rogue” state with bad track record of nuclear proliferation by our scientist AQ Khan. May our govt. please respond? Also America is now going to open an Auditing office in Islamabad to see that their funds to us are not “diverted” but spent on welfare of our people for poverty, education, etc. May our govt. please reply to this.
Meanwhile US senators are now trying to pressure our govt. to clamp down on Lashkar e Taiba (LET) which India syas carried out 26/11 Bombay attacks. Our beloved country always gets bad image and publicity!!
Khuda hafeez
Khalid Alam
Yes strong profiling should be there for anyone and everone in US, and the need to make there home strong instead of fighting wars with every second nation.
I will say to complety stop to give a visa to muslims but for GOD’s sake stop these war.
Colleen LaRose has taken Vanessa Redgrave’s campaign further. Vanessa a well known actress supported the Palestinian cause – film studios boycotted for as long as they could. She understood what the British government had done, carving out a state of Palestinian land. Colleen is described as insane, another American woman also spoke out against the wars the US government refused to listen to her. Such are marginalised or are called the lunatic fringe. Hollywood has made several movies against the war. But no one really cares what Hollywood thinks. People are speaking out. In USA it is not a democracy, people who are unpopular, corrupt and downright stupid do not get voted out, they remain in office till they have ruined the country. That has exactly what has happened calling Colleen – Jihad Jane, does not change the fact that the USA has decided war comes before the welfare of its own country. As long as bankrupt companies such as AIG pay bonuses to its top executives who cares how the rest of the Americans faring. The USA is using its money to fight wars, not benefitting its own people. People want to be helped but the government is against that because that would turn the USA into a Socialist country not a Capitalist one.
For your information, no one, but Coleen herself adopted the name JihadJane for herself.
There is no use railing against Democracy because we have been doing so for centuries and we have yet to find a better system. Democracy is a dynamic process. It changes and adapts according to the situations it wants to correct. This is not a system directly handed down by Allah, such as Islam, which is found impractical in all of the 45+ Islamic (in name only) countries and thus not adopted by them.
Unfortunately, we the muslims are responsible for the way this term “jihad” is being used . Its becoming difficult to prove that Islam is not a radical religion or it was not spread through sword. The thing needed most amongst us is the tolerance. we have to mend our ways before pointing fingers towards others.
Tolerance is a rare virtue among the muslims.
Racial profiling is valid. One has to consider the factor of probability.
Who is more likely to turn out to be a Terrorist a white woman or a brown skin Muslim? Ofcourse the later.
Very well written….its sad how people are targeted for expressing their opinion even in US but also ironic that now on what basis will the Middle Eastern & South Asian Muslims be targeted by US or other countries when their profiling has gone all wrong!
As far as terrorism is concerned, civil aviation has to be 100% safe because the only other alternative is 0% safe. When a passenger is about to board an aircraft he wishes everyone, crew and passengers, who is going to board that plane to be searched to the maximum without limits because all he wants is to reach his destination because there are only two options, reach or not reach. However there are a few who wish everyone to be examined/searched except himself/herself because he/she knows he/she does not pose any threat. But this is how every other passenger thinks too: search everyone, except ‘me’.
I have come across lot of people who have never boarded a plane and have no plans to board a plane denouncing the flight safety measures. I wish all that energy was directed against terrorism. There were no searches and profiling till there was threat of terrorism. I hope the safety procedures will always stay one step ahead of the terrorists who keep devising new ways to prevent innocent fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and friends to reach their destinations.
Anyone who finds the safety procedures too restrictive or offensive has the option, of not flying as exhibited by the senators from Pakistan who chose to return to Pakistan than go through body-scanners. I respect them and thank them for setting an example.
Its just the way create hype against Muslims or in other words propaganda against Muslims, which is being happening since 19th century.
It’s not just propaganda though-most of these terrorists are unfortunately Muslim-we can’t deny that fact. Even worse, they claim they are working in the name of Islam! Their actions are just fueling negative sentiments and racist policies toward Muslims all over the world.
Very Sad Sahar,1 million muslims are being killed in Iraq war, i do’nt know but number should be in lacs in Afganistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, and Palestine.
So what they suspect after so much killing, thats what the topic is all about.
Have you ever heared of DR Afia?
A very good example of how extremists are now manipulating and trying to win the sympathies of people from other faiths. The phobia they create about them being the sufferers is a lie.
Article is funny. Jokes apart, the misery of muslims today is due to the wrong doings of the some, call them whatever you like. Terorist is a terrorist, no religion, no race . no color & not human.
99.99% happen to be Muslims.
You cannot paint all the Muslims with the same brush….
If Muslims do not want to be painted with the same brush, shouldn’t they restrain the few that bring so much misery to them and the rest of us?
True, it is not fair on the majority of muslims. But the problem is how you are seen in the world. Intolerant, and obsessed for religion, with no respect for other people’s feelings and culture.
Its true that every Muslim is not terrorist but its also true that almost every terrorist is Muslim. can you deny that??
Measures such as pat down searches, profiling etc are claimed to be implemented to deter terrorism. In part it might achieve that objective, however, and perhaps more importantly such measures help to give the perception to a wider audience (society) to show that the state is on the ball and willing to take any and all measures to protect its citizens. The US government or indeed any Western government that views Muslims with suspicion are responding to societal demands that call for securing its borders. As long as society views the stereotypical bearded young male as a threat, governments will act indirectly, trying to aggregate societal demands to been seen as acting tough against such individuals. While the arrest of Jihad Jane might serve as an eye opener, it will only help to fuel anti-immigrant rhetoric (led and encouraged in no small part by opinion makers on Fox News) who will claim how fragile Americans are being turned against the country they love.
At the end of the day – the wake up call that the author above is pointing towards may not come to pass. As long as Western societies remain uncomfortable with and deem a certain segment of society as a threat, profiling is likely to continue.
First of all, this article has no basis to claim that muslims are being profiled in US. For crying out loud, look how many blasts have taken place in US since Sept 11? It is the resposniblity of governament to protect it’s citizens. It is articles like this that are making rest of the world to be wary of Muslims. The way I look at it one potential act of terrorisim has been prevented, independent of any religion. I am not sure, if you would have written this article if this women wasn’t a Muslim? Articles like this are making rest of the world to be careful about Muslims. Instead of commending the stopping of potential terriorist, you are complaining about muslims being profiled? Grow up. I am all for any arrest that would spare the lives of innocent citizens, who cares if these terrorists are Hindus, Muslims, Jews or Christians?
The terrorism that is going on in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is not Jihad. Every Muslim should protest the use of the term “Jihad” for the acts being perpetrated by terrorists who are killing innocent men, women and children. Men and women of all races and religions can be misled and misguided. This should not surprise anyone except to feel sorry for those who are confused and misled. We should pray for guidance of those who are on the wrong path. We should also pray for those who mislead innocent men, women and children into acts of terrorism. God’s name is being used in vain in these acts of terrorism which is certanly NOT Jihad. Using God’s name in vain is sinful.
@ Vasa & Raja Hindustani: Please read again. Ms. John says, “Perhaps now, the US security set-up will be willing to revisit its policy of racial profiling. In the context of serious human rights violations under the guise of terror screening, Jihad Jane’s case should validate the call for expanding the profiling process.” EXPANDING, not stopping. And yes, the U.S. is known for its racial profiling.
She doesn’t seem very smart putting her intentions up online like that.
I can’t say I agree 100% regarding some points, but you sure got an interesting way of writing things. Anyway, I appreciate the quality you bring to the blogosphere and that this isn’t just another abandoned, made-for-adsense site! Take care…
Kindly do not associate terrorism with JIHAD. Why do we follow the false labels the west has given us without even thinking for a moment what damage we are doing to our religion?
Its time we wake-up and use our own brains.
A really nice read. Good effort by the author.
This is a great post-thanks!
I think everyone here will find this report interesting: http://csis.org/publication/growing-terrorist-threat
The report basically shows that there are no trends to a terrorist-anyone who believes the ideology can turn into one no matter where they are from. The one common thing the researchers did find was that each terrorist (in the five cases they analyzed) was somehow influenced by the al Qaeda narrative, which is that the West is against Islam.
While Jihad Jane’s case certainly shows that the United States needs to review its profiling strategy, it also highlights the complexities involved when the Internet is used as a means to spread radical thought.
The US has increased airport security for 14 countries that arguably have a significant record for terrorist activity. The author believes this is race based but that’s not true. Pakistan’s on the list but India is not and having your own country for 60 yrs doesn’t make you a separate race. Not all African countries or middle eastern countries are on the list. The qualifications for being on the list is terrorism not color.
Question is: If she was going to carry out this attack in the name of some other religion would she be labeled a terrorist. Oklahoma bomber Timothy Mcveigh, una bomber Ted Kzinsky and the Atlanta Olympics bomber never got that label. I think all it’s going to do is make life a bit difficult for white converts to Islam.
I think racism can never be rooted out from the human societies. One example of the racism is even clear from the comments within this blog. Look, the original articles discusses racism against ‘Muslims’ from Middle East and Southasia. It has generally talked about the whole ‘Muslim’ community. But our Indian neighbours have picked up the ‘Paksitani’ element out of it. Why? Because they tend to look at things form their own perspective. This peculiar mindset is not restricted to Indians, it prevails everywhere. It is with the Americans, it is also within Arabs who look down upon people from Southasia who are working in Middle East. German Nazis did the same with Jews. Jews are doing the same with Palestinians. Hindus from higher strata of Indian society do the same with Dalits (both Hindus and Muslims). In my opinion we all need to come out from this menace.
Because of the Taliban the entire brown coloured race has to undergo insulting screening in US and in other European countries. But it is frightening to note that now their circle includes the white people also. I would say it should give more worries to the US than to anybody. Nobody knows whether there are more of such women/men. As far as we are concerned it is just a small news because we have so many of such jihadis blowing themselves, killing countless people of all ages, to get free ticket to heaven.
if you read carefully you will realise the author called for an expansion and not a reduction in profiling. It is quite explicit – I am not sure where or how you got confused:
[quote]Jihad Jane’s case should validate the call for expanding the profiling process.[/quote]
also the statement that pakistani men are terrorists is childishly simplistic, leave alone plain false in a world that i like to think uses logic. firstly, pakistani women can be terrorists too; secondly, and more importantly, not all pakistanis are terrorists. making such sweeping generalisations is what leads to racial profiling to begin with.
Has anyone considered that she could have been a double agent, inflitrated the network, got the names, procedures, etc.? And when her role was done or near to be compromised she wrote a stupid posting to get herself arrested and make it look like she was a genuine rebel. By now she could be in a safe house with a new identity with the network thinking of her as a white martyr when actually she’s compromised their agents!!
If its the stuff of movies the writer is talking about then how about the above as a concept and a last minute twist in the script. Happens all the time in Hollywood spy thrillers. Truth is stranger than fiction, isn’t it?
Samba, Your theory looks very much plausible if the lady was serious about the terrorism business. Were she a genuine “revert”, she would have headed to the nearest Islamic Center to get more information about Islam before getting to such an extreme.
Actually Zeresh, you are completely wrong about this being a case for Americans to ‘stop’ profiling; I am not sure if they are actually profiling. But assuming they are, if anything, this makes a case FOR profiling every American who has converted to Islam – especially white Americans.
If I follow your argument, it is that Americans should stop thinking Pakistani men are jihadis because now, a white woman is also a jihadi. What sense does that make? All it means is that Pakistani men are now able to recruit white people as jihadis.
It is a case for expanding the circle of profiled people, not reducing it.
HAHAHAH hi dear, you didn’t get the point of the writer, the writer says not to differenciate the profiling on racial basis, instead everyone should be in the profiling, read it carefully.
…
Secondly American think that a terrorist can be from Iraq, Afanistan, Pakistan, instead any Muslim from anywhere, and you narrowed down it only to PAKISTANIS
That’s right buddy!
You did not get point of the article. Point of the article is that racial profiling is not necessarily going to help American Border Agency to find terrorist, as racial profiling is not done on people of Caucasian background and also they cannot racially profiled everyone.
There also has been other cases. One of Al Qaeeda top man in American convert, Similarly in Germany about 2 men of German ethnicity were arrested for terrorism.
It’s hard to judge whether the author is ‘completely wrong’ or not; but based on your comments, I can assure you that your gross generalization of ordinary Pakistanis is very typical of people like you who have succeeded in spreading such hatred against these Pakistanis. Again, exactly how many of the hundreds of Pakistanis who travel to the US every week have blown themselves up on US soil or been caught before they could do so?
You’re completely condradicting yourself. The article calls for an expansion of profiling. Which means everyone should be included.
pay attention!
I think that is absolutely correct, they should expand the circle of profiling and not single out someone who no matter is a big star and a very frequent traveler to the US but since has a last name “Khan” is singled out at a very popular Airport.
They should then also increase the profiling to all white people since Richard Reed was white, if we go by the book then in my opinion every needs to be singled out, since every nation around the world has done something terrible in the past.
So lets start punishing everyone for the crimes only a handfull have committed.
Nasir, I want you to imagine being in charge of protecting your family. then pretend you have been given the power to profile as you like against the taliban. who would you or your common sense tell you to profile heavily over others?
well said.
Vasan, I believe what Zeresh is trying to ask here that the “US security set-up be willing to revisit its policy of racial profiling”. Being a Muslim or a Pakistani does not make one a terrorist. The screening should be broadened, because as is evident in the case here, the Al Qaeda is getting smarter and recruiting people who blend in under the “stealth” of a Caucasian “cloak”. Its harder to defend oneself against one of your own, because they look just like you. Al Qaeda’s taking infiltration to the next level and the US needs to be prepared for this.
@Vasan:
I follow you completely.very sound reasoning. Lets also get everyone to wear white bands and mark everyone with bar codes, thats easier actually if we are going to profile everyone. while we’re at it, why not introduce profiling as a course for high school students. Your reasoning will take us back hundreds of years, exactly where these terrorists want the world to be. its very easy to point fingers and its also usually the most hateful of all acts.
I think we should profile people who like profiling others. what do you think? want to get in line? we’ll all follow you back to the stone age.
No not really, what the author means is to not discriminate obsessively with people from a muslim descent rather to be an “equal opportunity” harasser!! irrespective of colour or origin!
The whole concept of profiling is based on “probability”. Probability is always expressed in percentages. Including “all” does not make any sense in profiling. The basic reason why one takes recourse to profiling or probability is to economize on the process. If it were inexpensive to screen every one, believe me there would be no profiling.
“Colleen LaRose’s arrest should validate global calls for the US to review its racial profiling policy.”
…….and instead start religious profiling??
I don’t think that is what he means. I think he means that the authorities should not just rely on past stereotypes of johadis-which Jihad Jane just proved to be wrong. Anyone can be a terrorist.
If religious profiling continues, converts will stop changing their names and religion officially. This has already started.
I am told is also happening in India where people who convert to other religions continue to use their Hindu identity for sake of their life and social status.
All checks must be totally random and non-profiled to let everyone rest assured of still being a part of the same society. Most such cases are (over)-reactions to specific events. Like Mr. Nidal would have continued to work uneventfully for the whole of his carrier had he not been forced to go to Iraq.
Profiling by the name of ,say, Khan and Pakistan is as absurd as profiling all Texans sharing the name with the person who crashed his plane with the IRS building or those sharing the name with the student who sprayed bullets on his schoolmates.
If at all, sincere efforts at all levels should be made to remove gross irritants like these cartoons and films as far as possible, or at least not be supported by Governments and sections of society on flimsy grounds. They are at least more obnoxious than rejecting the holocaust.
It is true that in sharia countries the punishment for apostasy is death. Not so in India. People can preach openly and convert openly. Zakir Naik and many many more like him convert people to Islam everyday, Christian organizations convert people to christianity, there are mass conversion rallies, that are held peacefully. Whoever ‘told’ you that hindus who converted to other religions continue to use their Hindu names for the sake of their life is simply bullshitting. Maybe they continue to use their hindu names for other benefits such as popularity in film industry, even then, it would only be an open secret. Being a religious minority is beneficial in India (so nobody tends to hide it in India), there are quotas for religious and ethnic minorities in schools, universities, public sector jobs and even in the parliament and legislature.
If you know of any such family that is suffering opression because they are converts, pls pass on the information and I can help them directly.