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.