A story published on the
Women Wall Street website about a possible new terrorist threat has been setting the blosophere abuzz. The story, written by Annie Jacobsen, describes her experiences on a four-hour plane ride during which a group of 14 Syrian men began to act suspiciously (in her eyes), whispering to each other and making frequent trips to the bathroom. After the plane landed, Jacobsen did some investigating and learned that authorities are worried about gangs of terrorists separately carrying aboard the parts needed to make a bomb, and then assembling the bombs onboard in the bathroom. However, the Syrians on Jacobsen's flight were apparently just a group of musicians. A
lot of
people are suspicious of Jacobsen's story... not that she necessarily invented it, but that she exaggerated it. Some details seem a bit unlikely. For instance, the stewardesses on her flight seem awfully willing to divulge passenger information as well as the location of federal air marshals. I guess people are suspicious because no one ever heard of Annie Jacobsen before this, and
Women Wall Street is an odd place for an article like this to appear. But
preliminary research by Michelle Malkin seems to indicate that the story is basically true. Though this doesn't mean that Jacobsen wasn't being a bit paranoid. Would it really require 14 terrorists to assemble one bomb?
Comments
As for anti-arguments... well, the story is implausible on a whole host of easy to spot reasons. Time will tell, and considering how much attention this has received by major bloggers (Reynolds, Lileks, Malkin), it won't be much time to wait at all.
If this woman is for real, she's an idiot. A racist idiot.
Um... in what religion is it considered Kosher (pardon the pun) to single out a toilet as your spot for daily prayer? Not to mention, those airplane potties are much too small to roll out the ol' prayer rug.
Heavens, I'll never understand how anyone can join the mile high club in one of those things.
Do tell, though. What are the "easy to spot" reasons?
In the process of forming, People Against Annie Jacobsen. P.A.A.J will provide a fair and balanced response to the Annie Jacobsen's of the world who turn baseless speculation into cold racism.
I have read many of the posts here. I have read a few who claim paranoia and the like. Call it what you will. Humans have a natural sense to heightened awareness when threatened or feel threatened. We can sit back safe behind our keyboards and type away. For the few who know what their reactions would be, good for you. We in America are under a real threat. And a true fact is, we don't know who the enemy is. We just read about them in newspapers and hear about them on the radio and TV. But, don't worry. These feelings will soon pass. We will once again feel comfortable in our surroundings. And that's what the terrorists want. It's more effective.
Should anyone want a copy of the article, feel free to send a blank email with the subject "Terror In The Sky" to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). I will reply with all three articles.
Rick
The worship requires ablutions (washing). The only place to do that on a plane is in a restroom.
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The following is just a few lines. You can read the rest in the newspaper.
Almost all of the Syrian musicians who were questioned by law-enforcement officials after exhibiting suspicious behavior aboard a Northwest Airlines flight were traveling on expired visas.
The 14 men in the band were questioned by several agencies that make up the Joint Terrorism Task Force after the pilot aboard Flight
327 from Detroit to Los Angeles on June 29 radioed for law-enforcement assistance.
As someone said, "Thou will always have stupid ones amongst thou"...or something like that...
This is the only reason the flight made it to safe landing.
Furthermore I would like to point out that any stewardess telling who the airmarshalls are and were they are seated ought to be shot on the spot for they are plainly helping and abiding terrorists.
We must all be very hard on those types.