When writer Annie Jacobsen noticed 14 Arab men acting strangely on a flight from Detroit to Los Angeles, her fear brought near panic to the airline and staff. The airline landed safely and all concerned parties were questioned and released. But the article Jacobsen wrote and her subsequent fire fueling follow up documented the incident as a potential terrorist "dry run" (although why terrorists would use the same m.o. twice is unclear), despite the fact that no one was held or charged. Arab and Muslim groups, naturally, were concerned. "Even those who are good people with good intentions cannot help but look at things in a very suspicious way," said Imad Habib, of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. "We've got to be vigilant as citizens, but we also have to be calm."

Soon enough, the lead musician was identified as Nour Mehana, a well known Syrian musician (Syria's Wayne Newton?), who flew in first class. His backup band, later accused of flying without visas, was the subject of the piece (returning to Washington DC on one way JetBlue tickets before leaving the country). Although the groups alleged on-board behaviour was odd (note to Arabs flying in groups in the US: don't play out your worst stereotypes), Jacobsen still seems convinced of the worst. "If terrorists can learn to fly planes, couldn't they learn to play instruments?" Ah, those terrorists. They'll always be smarter than you think.