: US Wipes Up Alleged ‘Dirty Bomb’ Terrorist

In the latest salvo of wacky converts to Islam attempting acts of terrorism, the US has announced the capture on May 8th of Jose “Abdullah al-Muhajir” Padilla, an American citizen with alleged ties to al-Qaeda, on suspicion of plotting to build and detonate a radioactive “dirty bomb” in the United States. The so-called “dirty bomb”, which consists of conventional explosives wrapped around radioactive material, would mainly cause panic and confusion, depending on the target (weapons of mass disruption?). This case, like that of Richard Reid, highlights the vulnerability of some who convert to Islam, where pre-existing anger toward America can be manipulated into carrying out acts of terrorism. It also illustrates the futility of racial profiling, which would not have caught either Reid (Afro-British), Padilla (Mexican-American) or John Walker Lindh (Marin County hot-tubber).

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.