Suicide Attacks: weapon of the future?

[Stan]

From Forbes, "As more women perpetrate successful suicide attacks worldwide, the burden has increased on governments to craft innovative strategies to mitigate a threat that is both malleable and unpredictable."

Marc, You are light years ahead of these folks ! The article only came out today...did you draft it or what

I certainly hope your paycheck matches your intellect and keen sense of observation

Women have always played an important role in violent jihadist circles, providing support, emotional preparation and encouragement to male terrorists. However, in recent years women have begun to themselves serve as suicide bombers, posing major challenges for international counter-terrorism efforts.

These women are driven by a variety of motivations, usually based on the adoption of a "collective identity" -- religion and community "stardom" are less significant motivators. Countering the threat will require non-traditional counter-terror strategies, including: involving more women in counter-terror roles, increasing community outreach and providing Muslim women with alternative means of self-expression and roles in the public sphere.

Recent arrests of Muslim women across Europe indicate a growing movement there towards violent jihad. Most of the women detained for terrorist offenses have subsequently been tried and convicted of supporting global jihadist movements:

--Netherlands. A Dutch-Moroccan woman named Bouchra El Hor is currently standing trial in London for writing a letter to her husband encouraging him to pursue martyrdom. In the letter, she said, "You and I have to separate for the sake of Allah."

--Switzerland. A Swiss-based Muslim woman of Belgian-Moroccan descent, Malika Al-Aroud, was charged in June with managing a terrorist Web site, al-minbar.sos, which displayed beheadings, kidnappings and extolled violent jihad. Al-Aroud has publicly declared her love for bin Laden and the Taliban's spiritual guide, Mullah Mohammed Omar.

--United Kingdom. Other women likely to stand trial in the United Kingdom include sisters Yeshiembet Girma and Muembembet Girma, who are accused of helping the male jihadists involved in the July 21, 2005 attempted bombings escape; Samina Malik, a woman from West London accused of possessing information likely to be useful to a terrorist; and Mehreen Haji, who with her husband is suspected of terrorism fundraising.