Contrary to popular beleif it does not mean "Holy War" that is right, those commercials lied to you. It's an Arabic word that means to struggle for a greater good.
Jihad in Islam means "struggle" either struggle of being a good muslim i.e not drinking or having pre marital sex or jihad as in 'holy war' IF and only IF non muslims are out to murder muslims and destroy Islamic beliefs. Then it is permissable in Islam to do holy war...
A muslim country living a peaceful life and if the enemies come to disturb the Islam religion(murder, enforcing their religion and beliefs) and peace can they fight and do Jihad
Arabic Translation = Holy War somehow they get "kill americans and jews and canadians and christians and europeans and clowns and doctors and soldiers and crippled people and computer technicians and coal miners and blind people and infants/toddlers and children and pre teens and teenagers and young adults and adults and women going through metapause and old men/all senior citizens..."
Iraqi 1: Jihad!
Iraqi 2: Down with the Americans, and clowns and doctors and computer technicians...