A very interesting interview in Time with a young man who claims he will soon be an Iraqi suicide bomber. Most of those who blow themselves up (Time, I note with approval, actually uses the term "suicide murderer.") are foreigner, so he is an exception.
Was he suffering and under-privileged? No.
...Marwan's journey toward suicide murderer began just a few weeks after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Before the war, he had been one of Fallujah's privileged young men: his father's successful business earned enough--even during the difficult years when the West imposed economic sanctions on Iraq--to provide a good life for Marwan and his six brothers and four sisters. In high school, he was an average student but excelled in Koranic studies at the local mosque.
Unlike many other Sunnis in Fallujah, Marwan had little love for Saddam's Sunni-led regime. Yet once the dictator fell, he turned against the Americans...
Are the Jihadis not true Muslims?
For the deeply pious Marwan, his colleagues in Attawhid are now closer to his heart than his family or former friends. "The jihadis are more religious people," he says. "You ask them anything--anything--and they can instantly quote a relevant section from the Koran." Like them, Marwan works Koranic allusions into his speech. He has also embraced the jihadist worldview of one global Islamic state where there is, in Marwan's words, "no alcohol, no music and no Western influences." He concedes that he has not thought deeply about what life might be like in such a state; after all, he doesn't expect to live long enough to experience it. Besides, he says, he fights first for Islam, second to become a "martyr" and win acceptance into heaven, and only third for control of his country. "The first step is to remove the Americans from Iraq," he says. "After we have achieved that, we can work out the other details."
Don't worry, Marwan, there are a plethora of Western "Intellectuals" coming up with all sorts of justifications for what you do.
Are suicide bombers made on their own initiative -- a spur of the moment decision of desperation? No, there's an infrastructure to support them.
...According to TIME's contacts close to insurgent groups, the bombers have little or no say in planning their operations. The logistics--choosing targets, checking out the site, preparing the bomb-laden vehicles or vests--are left to field commanders and explosives specialists. It is not unusual for a bomber to be told about the details of a mission mere minutes before launching the attack...
They view themselves as Freedom Fighters, though, no?
..."I AM A TERRORIST" Marwan seems certain he is on a "pure" path. Unlike many other insurgents, who reject the terrorist label and call themselves freedom fighters or holy warriors, Marwan embraces it. "Yes, I am a terrorist," he says. "Write that down: I admit I am a terrorist. [The Koran] says it is the duty of Muslims to bring terror to the enemy, so being a terrorist makes me a good Muslim." He quotes lines from the surah known as Al-Anfal, or the Spoils of War: "Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the enemy of Allah and your enemy."...
I have been very hard on the press and their closeness to the terrorists. Even this article talks about Time's "contacts close to insurgent groups" -- they can't even call them here what they call themselves...terrorists -- if the reporters have such contacts, why don't the authorities who might be able to do something about it? Well, anything for a good story.
There it is: Inside the Mind of an Iraqi Suicide Bomber
