Judging by what we know about them so far, both of the white American female converts to Islam who were recently taken into custody (Jihad Jane in the U.S., Jihad Jamie in Ireland) were lonely, troubled individuals (see
here and
here). What's clear from these two cases is that international jihadists are redoubling their efforts to recruit disaffected, vulnerable--and quite possibly, mentally unstable--U.S. citizens via the Internet. If these outcast types are white females who don't fit the typical terrorist profile and are capable of slipping detection in Western countries, even better. If the "Jihadi Chicks" (as a friend labeled them this weekend) weren't lured in by Islamic extremism, they probably would have found another dangerous outlet or death cult among the endless array of choices presented in cyberspace. Unfortunately, they and a growing number of others like them have been seduced by the message of jihad--suckered in by online sweet talk and a sense of belonging, then quickly radicalized. And there appears to be no shortage of fresh--and seemingly unlikely--converts lining up to take their place.