Suicide Attacks: weapon of the future?

[Sarajevo071]

That's not my point at all. A large portion of the world believes in treating women like property, tribalism and revenge/honor killings. They also believe in a form of conservatism that values chastity, among other things.

The "communications revolution" combined with the amoral (anti-moral?) content being imported into their cultures whether they want it or not, is destroying their culture.

In effect, the corrosive effect of Britney Spears and Animal Sex on the internet, available 24/7 is damaging to their culture. And while they consume it willingly, I don't think they believe that it is willing consumption.

My point is not that I don't think that the US is imperial. I don't think we KNOW that we are imperial.

And as far as wanting "our side" to win, no, I don't want my head sawed off with a rusty knife, and I don't want my wife put into a sack and stoned to death. THAT is what I call Primitive Behavior.

I would be willing to let folks in the part of the world (that is undefinable, because the Definition Nazis on the board will jump all over me) "just live their lives", but that is not the nature of humanity.

They don’t care what you posting or watching on Internet… One just DOESN’T need to look of it and he will not see it. That’s not problem. Problem is when “your” culture, values and rules are FORCED on “theirs”. Simple.

You say it’s not “nature of humanity” to let others "just live their lives"!? Did I understand you well here?

Once again… Beheading, full covering of woman, stoning are customs of SOME people/tribes/sects and not part of real Islamic thought and culture.

Same like one would say that random killings of kids in schools, sexslavery and prostitution, racism, etc is not part of real “western culture”. One would say it is part of collective Primitive Behavior.

I dare to say, there is no difference between “western” or “eastern” Primitivism.

[Merv Benson]

Human bomb attacks are acts of impotence and they are rarely aimed at invading forces. The vast majority are aimed at non combatants. In Iraq the victims are almost all Shia Muslims. The recent attack in Afghanistan killed one US soldier and 22 others, which suggest that if were targeting "invading forces" he was a poor shot.

A brief comment on the "cultural" battle. One of the significant difference between western culture and the culture of the jihadi is that we do not glorify the depravity that sometimes occurs. By that I mean that people who go on a killing rampage in a high school are not considered someone to emulate and put on posters.

[Sarajevo071]

Human bomb attacks are acts of impotence and they are rarely aimed at invading forces. The vast majority are aimed at non combatants. In Iraq the victims are almost all Shia Muslims. The recent attack in Afghanistan killed one US soldier and 22 others, which suggest that if were targeting "invading forces" he was a poor shot.

A brief comment on the "cultural" battle. One of the significant difference between western culture and the culture of the jihadi is that we do not glorify the depravity that sometimes occurs. By that I mean that people who go on a killing rampage in a high school are not considered someone to emulate and put on posters.

And I don’t say that they should be put on posters… I was just saying that “primitivism” is multicultural thing.

And about other thing. I agree with you but also wonder…

How will they play “game” if they have all those toys and gadgets? Would they be called heroes flying planes and bombing villages and doing “collateral damage” or they will still be “impotent”?

I don’t know. Seams to me, suicide bombings coming from desperation and lack of real weapon systems rather then impotence.


PS.
I was talking about western and islamic culture. Not jihadi.

[Jedburgh]

...figured I'd put this here as well, because of the subject matter - although it has it's own thread in the OEF-Afghanistan forum:

Cheney Attack Reveals Taliban Suicide Bombing Patterns

...Iraqi suicide bombers from such jihadi groups as Ansar al-Sunnah and al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia frequently seek to inflict high casualty rates by attacking soft targets, such as crowded markets. Their objective is to cause as much bloodshed as possible, incite sectarian violence and destroy U.S. efforts to construct civil society in Iraq. Afghan suicide bombers, on the other hand, appear to have different objectives and have focused almost exclusively on hard targets (government, police, military). In 2007, for example, the Taliban have attacked foreign or Afghan military/police targets in 16 of their 22 bombings (in three cases the target was undetermined).

This in-depth analysis of 158 Afghan suicide bombings since 2001 shows that this is no anomaly and demonstrates an important point: in only eight of the 158 suicide attacks from 2001-2007 did civilians appear to be the direct target of Afghan bombers. Further scrutiny of these eight civilian attacks reveals an important fact. In two of these instances, the Taliban apologized for inflicting civilian casualties and in one case a Taliban spokesmen actually denied involvement. In four other cases the suicide bombers seem to have been targeting passing military convoys or governmental representatives in crowds; therefore, the high civilian casualties appear to have been unintended "collateral damage." In only two instances were civilians clearly the target of Afghan suicide bombers.

These findings tell us volumes about the Taliban's overall strategy in employing suicide bombing as a tactic. Far from imitating Iraqi insurgent tactics, the Taliban are trying to avoid losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the Afghan people by needlessly killing civilians....

[120mm]

They don’t care what you posting or watching on Internet… One just DOESN’T need to look of it and he will not see it. That’s not problem. Problem is when “your” culture, values and rules are FORCED on “theirs”. Simple.

I don't think you understand the mindset. The reason they kill women that were raped, is because women FORCE men to do sexual things and therefore the WOMAN committed the real crime. They are witches who entrap men with their "wiles". Therefore, if they view porn on the computer, the west FORCES them to do so. 10 out of 10 mid-eastern males that I've known believe this, and they are EDUCATED people only.

You say it’s not “nature of humanity” to let others "just live their lives"!? Did I understand you well here?

Ummm, yes. If it weren't, why have we fought so many wars? Why would we have a Small Wars Council?

Once again… Beheading, full covering of woman, stoning are customs of SOME people/tribes/sects and not part of real Islamic thought and culture.

Oh, really? The impression I get, is of a very few sophisticates who have sufficient power to repress the tribal urges of their "subjects".

Same like one would say that random killings of kids in schools, sexslavery and prostitution, racism, etc is not part of real “western culture”. One would say it is part of collective Primitive Behavior.

At last we agree on something. All humans are primitive, and all societies are primitive, in their own way. In a lot of ways, Arab culture, for instance, is much, much more sophisticated than typical American culture.

I dare to say, there is no difference between “western” or “eastern” Primitivism.

Except that I am a member of the "western" primitivism, and do not wish to be subject to the whims of "eastern" primitivism.

[120mm]

Back to the subject of suicide bombing: I believe it is the natural outgrowth of being continually embarrassed on the field of battle by opposition forces. Warriors who cannot succeed on the battlefield are forced to adapt different tactics, of which suicide bombing is one.

I do not see suicide bombing as an unnatural progression of warfare. When it's all you have, it's what you use.

[Sarajevo071]

Except that I am a member of the "western" primitivism, and do not wish to be subject to the whims of "eastern" primitivism.

I see. Well, at least you admitting your "western primitivism". But, realizing there is no much room for reasoning here, I will stop. Bias is just too big clouding the reality, fair judgment & truth. But, I am not surprised at all. Whatever.

Time will tell.

[120mm]

I am somewhat guilty of "thinking out loud" on my keyboard. Please forgive me if I've given offense, but I think that a failure to support my own "in-group" in favor of an "out-group" doesn't make much sense.

Now, if my "in-group" can find a way to sustain a state of peace with other "out-groups" that would be fine. I'm just not holding my breath on this happening.

[davidbfpo]

I recall Saddam Hussain provided large cash sums to Palestinian suicide bombers. Now it is a widely used tactic in Afghanistan and Iraq, are the bombers influenced by alternative pension providers?

I assume there are plenty of rich supporters of the cause, individuals or institutions, with a variety of motives.

Anyone aware of open source research on this aspect?

davidbfpo

[120mm]

All I know is that funding for the Afghanistan insurgency is said to be, by various sources, fundamentally "unlimited". The typical Taliban is paid very handsomely for his "work." It's one of the issues that we are facing in Afghanistan, today, and one of the reasons the Afghan government has been forced to raise wages, recently. I cannot believe that his (TB) family is not taken care of, as well.

[Sarajevo071]

Are you two serious!?

You really believe that insurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq are influenced (and can be changed or stopped with more or less money to the individuals or groups)!?

You really believe that if you pay Afghans they will stop resisting to the ocupation!? Of if you didn’t fire so much Iraqi soldiers (or if you hired them back) that will made difference in they wish to defend they country!?

Did I understand you right?