An LGF reader emailed to tell me that the Syrian musicians who acted very oddly on the flight described by Annie Jacobsen’s article were a band called Kulna Sawa. (I have no corroboration on this yet, but the group is on tour in the US.)

UPDATE: Before we all assume this is a paranoid overreaction, I recommend reading the article again to refresh your memory on the full details of how these Syrians acted. To pick one example: standing up after the “preparing for landing” announcement is, purely and simply, odd and frightening behavior. People on that flight would have been very remiss in their duties if this didn’t arouse suspicion.

In all of my outrageous touring escapades, one thing I never did was stand up after the landing announcement. I can’t believe this Syrian band (if it was them) would not be aware how alarming this action would be; they’re on tour; they’ve been flying a lot; they know the drill.

I think it’s possible (knowing how sarcastic and cliquish musicians can be, which probably goes triple for Syrian musicians) that they were deliberately acting weird to “terrorize” the “stupid Americans.”

And I think it’s also possible, if Annie Jacobsen’s description is accurate, that there was something much more sinister going on.

UPDATE: Power Line also has this story.

UPDATE: Now that the band’s Geocities web site has recovered from the barrage of hits, it should be noted that the site claims the group’s US tour is scheduled to begin in November; so apparently the group is not now “officially” on tour in the US.