Suicide bombers, or martyrs to some, are the product of not just evil, but inept leaders that are a disgrace to human kind.
These horrid acts of violence are one of the worst possible crimes against humanity. And leaders such as Yasser Arafat and Saddam Hussein are to blame.
Many Muslim extremists, particularly Palestinians, are taught from birth that their enemies don’t deserve to live. And as they grow in this belief, they find that their God expects them to sacrifice themselves for religion. Case in point: after Sept. 11, 2001, many citizens in the Middle East took to the streets dancing and throwing candy in what appeared to be a wonderful celebration of American death. This growing trend is breeding a whole new species of heartless souls.
Most of the bombers are affiliated with the Palestinian militant groups Hamas or Islamic Jihad. They are usually single men in their 20s, recruited from mosques, schools and religious institutions, and have displayed a great dedication to the principles of Islam.
Whether they become suicide bombers as an act of heroism or because they believe there are benefits to dying for their faith, they are certainly disturbed people.
Furthermore, how can a family support their suicide bombing relatives? Maybe they support them because suicide bombers are told that their families will be well taken care of after they commit their act of violence. Or maybe they are just heartless souls. Either way, family members ought to love their kin, not send them off to death.
Unfortunately, the suicide bombing trend is spreading to Americans. Last Saturday our troops got their first taste of a suicide bomb in Iraq. A soldier who appeared as a taxi driver in need of help waved down some U.S. soldiers. As four of them approached the vehicle, it exploded, killing the soldiers as well as the bomber. This attack expresses an on-going dilemma that Israeli citizens have had to face for over two decades and one the United States now has to face with the increasing chances of peril.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Hussein has been encouraging suicide bombers. In the past, he has rewarded families of Palestinian suicide bombers who have carried out attacks on Israelis with a hefty $10,000. Moreover, about a month ago a recorded tape made by Osama bin Laden suggested suicide bombs as a tactic that Iraqis should use against allied forces.
For now the only thing Americans and Israelis can do is proceed with caution. For the future however, new leaders, ones that actually have the capacity to feel, need to take over and discourage as well as punish such evil behavior.