The story of ‘Jihad Jane’ has been all over the US news. Now, she has company. Another American convert to Islam, Jamie Paulin-Ramirez, is in custody of the Irish police (along with others), accused of playing some role in the hair-brained plot to kill a Swedish cartoonist. Again, her story seems to be of a pretty messed up woman, searching for some meaning in her life, being recruited for her looks, looks that don’t fall within the range of racial profiling for would-be terrorists.
Is it now going to be the case that blonde American women who convert to Islam are going to be profiled? Or is it just those with little apparent control over their lives? How with those two classes be distinguished, if at all?
The Wall St. Journal has the story…
A Second American Woman Is Arrested in Cartoonist Case
VANESSA O’CONNELL in New York, STEPHANIE SIMON in Colorado and EVAN PEREZ in WashingtonLast Easter, Jamie Paulin-Ramirez, a 31-year-old mom with a $30,000-a-year job as a medical assistant, announced to her family that she had converted to Islam. A few months later, she began posting to Facebook forums whose headings included “STOP caLLing MUSLIMS TERRORISTS!”
On Sept. 11, she suddenly left Leadville, Colo., a small town in the Rocky Mountains, for Denver, then for New York, to meet and marry a Muslim man she connected with online, her family says. Ms. Paulin-Ramirez, who is 5-foot-11 and blonde, phoned her mother and stepfather in Leadville, providing them with an address in Waterford, Ireland, they say.
Now, she is in the custody of the Irish police, along with six other individuals, arrested as part of an investigation into a conspiracy to commit murder, according to officials familiar with the case. The nature of the authorities’ suspicions about Ms. Paulin-Ramirez couldn’t be determined on Friday.
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March:12:2010 - 23:38
This seems to be only the tip of the iceberg. It appears from this that the phenomenon of White people brainwashed into Islamic terrorism is growing and needs to be checked. John is right that racial profiling won’t work here. For one, if after conversion they don’t change their name, it is impossible to know that they have even converted.
March:13:2010 - 09:03
John–as we discussed on an earlier thread behavioural profiling including activity online would be more helpful than racial or other demographic profiling. The article says those arrested range in age from 20′s to 40′s and are of a variety of nationalities. International cooperation, such as that used by police for child pornography rings, would be essential. Grannies are up next!
Daisy–any epidemiological stats on those observations? 2 of the number of white people in the US is hardly a deluge, though they have flooded the media with it.
March:13:2010 - 11:01
[...] A 'Jihad Janet' - Crossroads Arabia [...]
March:13:2010 - 15:15
[...] Christine Mott said she was informed of Paulin-Ramirez's arrest by the FBI and other federaJamie Paulin Ramirez – In Leadville, Colorado, a woman identified the woman held as her daughter, 31-year-old Jamie [...]
March:13:2010 - 16:03
Thanks for the info. Now I will be eyeing every blond American woman in my area with suspicion.
March:13:2010 - 16:12
Susanne–aren’t you glad you are not a blond! LOL
March:13:2010 - 16:29
Yes, especially since I regularly communicate with a Syrian and have been there. Ha,ha! Boy, isn’t that suspicious behavior?
Funny (to us) story from Syria…one of the guys (Barea) we met joked with his dry humor: “Now you will have to plan trips to Iran and North Korea so you can visit all the Axis of Evil.” I still laugh about that to this day!
March:13:2010 - 16:29
[...] Washington: 31-year-old Colorado woman has been arrested by the Irish… http://bit.ly/brvzf7@newsunJamie Paulin Ramirez – http://wp.me/ptjOS-1RQ@newsunwrapped.com2 minutes ago; Jamie Paulin Ramirez: Jamie Paulin Ramirez [...]
March:13:2010 - 16:49
Susanne–that is hilarious! But I dare not laugh too loudly as I am married to an Arab Muslim with multiple passports who once took ONE flying lesson. LOL
March:13:2010 - 16:52
Uh oh, Chiara…you may be in grave danger, Sweetie.
I guess all this hoopla about Jihadis Jane and Janet have kind of ruined that whole blondes-have-more-fun thing!
March:13:2010 - 17:11
Susanne–yes, think of it as the revenge of us brunettes and redheads!
March:13:2010 - 17:17
We live in an increasing dangerous world. Events of terrorism, murder/suicide and combatant-like murder that are regularly seen on the nightly news overseas are now encroaching on our shores. Don’t believe this? We have had the Fort Hood Shooting, the Christmas Day Bomber, the Pentagon Shooter and now let me introduce you to Jihad Jane! What is it that is different about these events and individuals, they don’t fit the profile. We have billions of our dollars tied up in identifying individuals with recognition software and “watch lists” that none of these individuals are on. Last night I heard one of our government officials stating that our “watch lists” are so large and cumbersome that our government is no longer able to use it effectively.
We have only been lucky that passengers took control of the Christmas Day Bomber or all passengers would have died that day. We were less lucky with Major Hasan at Fort Hood. The question we should ask ourselves is, “Are we getting better at this?” The sad answer is no! In 2008, 19 airports were threat tested by their Inspector General, all failed! In every case decoys were able to make it through airport security with weapons and explosives undetected. Our most elite Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, who is responsible for finding new methods of protecting the American citizens, take a leadership role and evaluate these methods is still stuck on a method commonly referred to as Deception Detection, which neither works nor will it pass the scrutiny of the ACLU.
We hear our government advise us about the “Lonewolf” or self-proclaimed terrorist within the United States that can and will attack without warning or reference. When we see men in handcuffs who frankly look like terrorists we gain a certain degree of comfort that, “We can identify these people.” Yet now we hear about Jihad Jane, a blue eyed, blond American woman in the suburbs of Philadelphia who has been radicalized and now wishes to effect her terror.
We are told by our top governmental officials, the heads of CIA, FBI and the Director of National Intelligence that within the next six months an attack on the homeland is “certain;” and that was a month ago! What are we doing to better protect ourselves? Five years ago I approached the Science and Technology Directorate, Human Factors Division with a method to identify an emergency aggressor, a means to distinguish an angry adrenaline-driven Primal Aggressor from the far more lethal intent-driven Cognitive Aggressor enabling government to identify any murder/suicide terrorists. Individuals like Major Hasan, the Christmas Day Bomber and the Pentagon Shooter all could have been identified with this method prior to their violence.
Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate’s is focus on Deception Detection, they had no interest in my method. Deception Detection is flawed because different cultures deceive differently, there are over 2,000 cultures; therefore their method of Deception Detection was far too complicated for those who were expected to use it. Furthermore, any program being used by the Federal Government will need to pass a cross-examination by the ACLU; if it can’t pass this test, it will never reach the people and this program will not pass this cross-examination. In the end, they simply changed the name to “Project Hostile Intent” and continued down the same Deception Detection path. Wouldn’t you think that our Government would explore every reasonable opportunity to make our citizens safer? Are we being lulled by our government into thinking we are safe, instead of actually being safe.
With all of the money our government is spending on stimulus shouldn’t we be focusing more on this subject? I have noticed that our Director of Homeland Security look a little overwhelmed? If you would like to learn how to identify the murder/suicide before they effect their violence visit our blog, http://blog.AggressionManagement.com
March:13:2010 - 20:36
This is not a moment for misplaced political correctness for the US. Those who think of it as a joke are not well-wishers of the Americans.
There is a serious need to devise a strategy to curb this infiltration of the Islamic extremism in the American society. And those who think only blonde women are involved forget the man caught in Yemen who is a African American.
John Byrnes, you are right and thanks for all that information.
March:13:2010 - 21:47
Daisy–I fail to see where there is an political correctness well-placed or misplaced. Those of us sharing a joke here, Susanne and I, are an American and a Canadian respectively. I have no doubt that Susanne wishes well for her country, as do I for the US–if only in the interest of self-preservation, since, as Ann Coulter pointed out, the US allows Canada to exist, and as the high alerts on 9/11 made clear, major Canadian cities are potential targets as well (not to mention Bin Laden’s speech that included Canadians for their nasty habit of following the US to war, at least in Afghanistan, though not Iraq this time).
I also fail to see where Susanne and I sharing a light-hearted moment spells doom for the free world. Once again, no one here said anything about blonde women being the only target of recruiters.
You may wish to catch the exact same comment from John Byrnes at The Daily Beast here.
March:13:2010 - 22:28
Yes, I was only teasing. It’s not like anyone here can’t be a blonde or red head or even have jet black hair with purple highlights with all the concoctions out there.
I was only attempting a bit of humor since I’m not wanting to succumb to this state of fear-mongering which often drives us to do irrational things and strip people of freedom for the sake of “security.” My security is not in my government anyway.
Chiara, I’m so glad ‘we’ let ‘y’all’ exist! Ha! *rolling my eyes*
Btw, I read your Doha Debate on the Israel/US thing…enjoyed it, too. I’m too tired to comment now. Hopefully tomorrow.
Good night. Losing an hour of sleep already because of DST starting here tomorrow.
March:13:2010 - 22:47
@ John Burnes why not show us faces which have lost animation. Like examples. Dude you are freaking me out. I see those faces all the time. LOL
March:13:2010 - 23:18
Susanne–so true about needing antidotes to the fear mongering. Also humour is the highest of the positive psychological defense mechanisms.
Thank you for allowing us to exist, even when we don’t join in all your wars (Coulter also insisted repeatedly to a Canadian interviewer on the CBC that Canada sent troops to Vietnam no matter how he tried to help her out of her error).
I’m glad you enjoyed the Doha Debate on my blog on the US getting tough on Israel, or not. I am looking forward to your comment!
I hope others will read there and comment as well.
Night, night!
March:14:2010 - 00:15
Good thing the US stepped in to stop those Fenians! A Fenian Plot in Canada Discovered
March:14:2010 - 00:20
Yes, nice job arresting after the fact. Hoping the Irish would weaken the Brits?
March:14:2010 - 04:33
The first example of the thousand yard stare
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/2501991428_3946cde798.jpg
Would it be advisable to approach a fellow colleague at work and say, “I have noticed you have the thousand yard stare…would you like to talk about it.”
March:14:2010 - 05:37
My bad! I did’t perceive the linked article until just now on Google Reader, where the contrast is sharper and I am more awake. My comment was for the whole raids affair. The way we learned it in school the US were complicitous in sending/allowing the Fenians across the border.
As to the article, yes, thank you, find job of stopping those, raider insurgent terrorists in their diabolical tracks! Overthrow our monarchy–I think not!
The Toronto Leader–a fine if now rare newspaper!
March:14:2010 - 10:56
As I learned it, through my Irish relatives, the idea was to hold part of Canada hostage in order to force the British out of Ireland. No real animus toward Canada–benighted as its affiliation with the Crown might be. Too, the story deeply involves the chaos and disorder that followed the American Civil War, with arms aplenty and government attention focused rather more southernly than the northern border.
I’m willing to bet, though, that 99% of Americans never heard of the affair. It’s certainly not covered in any textbooks.
March:14:2010 - 11:02
I don’t think so… unless you’re suggesting battle-weary stress on the part of the eagle! That bird appears to me to be paying pretty good attention to what’s going on around him/her.
March:14:2010 - 11:21
@ 23 Exactly, that is why it is the first example of the thousand yard stare.
I’ve yet to come up with the second example
March:14:2010 - 12:54
The second example is found in the right hand picture at the following site:
http://blog.aggressionmanagement.com/
Honestly does he not have the thousand yard stare also?
March:14:2010 - 13:12
It seems like my second example got lost somewhere? Anyways!
March:14:2010 - 15:17
For some reason, your comments are sometimes getting diverted to the spam folder. I’ve recovered two already today. I’ll make sure you’re pulled out whenever I see you there.
March:14:2010 - 15:25
The reporting oozes political correctness. The media trips over themselves to tell us that terrorists can come in any size, shape, race, nationality and, in this case, hair color.
Except for one small detail. It seems that they almost belong to a certain religion. Perhaps, then, who knows, it would be logical to focus on people of that religion. Oh heavens, I am stereotyping. Maybe also the people of that religion should ponder why it is almost always them that do these things. Perhaps they should consider why the name “mohammed” is by far the most common name on the “no-fly” lists.
This is not just about a “messed up woman” but a messed up woman that joined a religious group and for 3 years lived in that environment yet couldn’t find anybody to convince her that killing infidels was wrong. I don’t know about you folks, but if I were a member of a group or association that continually was linked to hate, discrimination and violence, I would have been out of there on the second day. Muslims however, in the face of all evidence to the contrary, persist that this phenomena is but a misinterpretation of the ‘real’ Islam. This is not about white people brainwashed into Islamic terrorism, but about Muslims doing what they believe their religion teaches.
And while I am at it, the word ‘stereotyping’ really pisses me off. People, particularly of the liberal persuasion, use it as if it were evil, akin to running over baby pandas with a SUV while beating your wife and smoking, or something. Stereotypes are an essential aspect of life and serve a very useful purpose.
March:14:2010 - 15:30
John–Yes I learned in history classes about the Fenian raids, either in Canadian History, or American History, or both but obviously taught in Canada. As I recall, at least some Americans were encouraging the raids, and that the Fenians were profiting from Britain’s preoccupation with wars elsewhere. Much like the War of 1812-14, which was however a bona fide war not just a series of raids, all went back to the “status quo ante” as Condi loved to say (most leave it at status quo in public speech, not sure about in treaties).
March:14:2010 - 16:10
Stereotypes are an essential aspect of life and serve a very useful purpose.
Except when you are at the receiving end, when it becomes mighty annoying.
March:14:2010 - 17:51
No, a ‘thousand yard stare’ had dead eyes. That photo has aggressive eyes, IMO.
March:14:2010 - 17:54
No, in ‘diplomatese’, status quo ante is the preferred term–’that which went before’. Status quo by itself could too easily refer to ‘as it is now’, which is not always the desirable state. ‘Wind it back’ is another way of putting it, unless it’s impossible to ‘unring the bell’.
March:14:2010 - 18:35
No, olivetheoil, I don’t have any problem with being on the receiving end of a stereotype. If it is true and the accusation (stereotype) is bad, then it is a problem and maybe I should do something about it. If it is untrue, well, like Scarlet, I don’t give a damn. You can label or stereotype me in any way you like (racist, old, bald, mean, bigot, hunk, sex-machine, terrorist, gay, idiot, etc…) and I won’t lose any sleep.
Who came up with this silly idea of not offending anybody? or only not offending certain people? I think people need to grow a thicker layer of skin, maybe 2 layers. Sometimes people need to be offended. Like Lars Vilks, I believe there is an important principle at stake, not to even mention the basic facts of the case.
March:14:2010 - 18:42
John–Thanks, I certainly did appreciate the difference in formal contexts, but she seemed to be the only one using it in the settings she did, eg Sunday morning talk shows etc. It probably speaks to her precision as well as the correct diplomatic term. Indeed the 2 are very different, and one wouldn’t want to confuse the two!!! Your “wind it back” translation is excellent and memorable. Thanks again!
March:14:2010 - 20:23
No, olivetheoil, I don’t have any problem with being on the receiving end of a stereotype.
Well, you are more broadminded than me.
March:14:2010 - 21:10
Or just plain cantankerous.
But then again, being against everybody and everything has its own virtues.
By the way, Oliveoyl is now 91 years old. Most people don’t know it, but she has a brother named Castor Oyl. Actually, Olive Oyl’s life is very interesting, not to mention her relationship with HamGravy, Bluto, the one-eyed runt and Scooner, better known as Sweepea.
March:14:2010 - 21:27
Jay,
That’s what I argued. More than her colour it’s the fact that she converted and joined an exremist outfit that is important. Colour is secondary here. Those who want to divert people’s attention on her colour are in a way supporting extremist Islamic activities because they have a misplaced notion that it is politically correct to do so. You should be equally worried about such so-called politically correct people. Their support is fuelling Islamic extremism. I think you have overlooked this aspect so far.
March:14:2010 - 22:17
Daisy–who here is trying to divert attention from violent extremism to colour? I understand Jay conflating Islam and violent extremism, because that is just the kind of guy he is, and he is consistent about it, but are you doing the same?
March:14:2010 - 23:34
“Those who want to divert people’s attention on her colour are in a way supporting extremist Islamic activities because they have a misplaced notion that it is politically correct to do so.”
Not the first time I’ve heard you accuse others who see things differently than you do as “supporting” extremist Islam.
I suppose since YOU think her colour isn’t important that MUST mean people who do are using misplaced political correctness. There couldn’t be any other possible explanation (or explanations. Who knows? Maybe THREE different people have THREE different reasons why they think colour is relevant here- too bad it makes them all supporters of extreme Islam)
March:15:2010 - 10:19
Yeah that photo does have aggressive eyes.
I put my devil face on at work today.
I don’t believe judging by faces is sufficient, but it may help somewhat. Crappy faces are not good predictors of future behavior.