Jessica Stern's new book, "Terror in the Name of God : Why Religious Militants Kill," has about 8 pages on Jim Bell, in a chapter called "Lone Wolf Avengers," which is shared with the Pakistani Kansai, assassin of CIA employees. Stern says that while Bell is not a religion-based terrorist he is included in the book as an example of the solo individual with a private agenda that smacks of religion. This appears to be a stretch, but Stern stretches her material to fit an agenda. A Stern footnote says the Bell material is based on the forthcoming publication, "James Dalton Bell." She says she had numerous telephone interviews with him beginning in 2000 after making a request in 1998 during Jim's first imprisonment. Her capsule version of Jim's "crimes" and punishment is a bellweather of what may be in store for other miscreants who are fodder for terrorism careerists. To be sure, Jim may get a movie made about him, and I guess that would be his finest hour. Stern says Jim's leadership potential has so far led only to inspiring Carl Johnson to get himself thrown into prison.
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John Young