A woman from Pennsburg in Montgomery County has been charged with trying to aid and abet terrorism while using the online moniker "JihadJane." Blonde and blue eyed, she conspired to travel to Sweden and kill a cartoonist. She said she was prepared to be a martyr. Pennsburg isn't far from me and I travel through there frequently on my way to Bucks County. It's a nice, small little burgh with a McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts and a little ice cream parlor on the main street where you walk up to a window and place your order. I imagine the news which broke today about Colleen LaRose is shaking the community to its roots. "JihadJane" shows us that terror can exist anywhere and anyone can be radicalized.
Terrorism has been on the front burner lately as anti-government domestic terrorists radicalized by radical right wing talk shows and channels fuel resentment, anger and frustration for ratings. Extremists of all kinds are stirring the pots for personal profit without regard for the consequences. People are being killed as these foreign and domestic terrorists wreak their havoc. I see no difference between a JihadJane and someone flying their plane into an IRS office or someone tries to shoot their way into the Pentagon. Terrorism is terrorism and those who fan the flames should be held accountable.
