What motivate suicide bombers?

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The idea of killing oneself for a cause is unimaginable for most people; however, for some individuals, it is a heroic act. Young men, women, and even children have taken their own lives enacting this fatalistic practice. Suicide bombers truly define the meaning of the word terror. This phenomenon is far from new to the world, in World War 2; Japanese pilots called kamikazes voluntarily committed suicide by slamming their planes into American war ships in a last-minute effort to avoid losing the war. Similarly, suicide attackers strap their bodies with explosives and explode their selves in crowds, hotels, marketplaces, and embassies throughout the world. Alarmingly, there are many people willing and committed to carrying out such missions. The driving force behind suicide attackers is not solely based on religion; in fact, it has just as much to do with revenge, humiliation, and indoctrination.

In some cases, suicide bombers decide to take such actions as an act of vengeance. Paul J. Smith, Author of “The Terrorism Ahead” notes that revenge is the driving force behind certain suicide attacks as a direct response to an event, such as a death of a family member (142). In the Middle East, this scene plays out daily. On May 19, 2003, Hiba Daragmeh detonates herself at Amaquim shopping mall in Alfula, Israel to retaliate against her brother’s imprisonment in Israel (Smith 142).The ageless land conflict between Israel and the Palestinians have led to many casualties on both sides. A suicide bomber detonates a bomb in Israeli territory and kills Israeli civilians. Israel retaliates, and attacks suspected terrorist cites, during these skirmishes Innocent Palestinians and Israelis are killed which drives the thirst for revenge mutual...

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...ned. The handler’s job is to prepare the bomber for a trial run of the attack, and to foresee any potential disruption that can hinder the plan (68). Once the suicide bomber completes the mission, the family of the suicide bomber receives compensation and becomes a celebrity in the community.

The reasoning behind suicide bombings is various and wide-ranging. Many factors come in to play such as retribution, degradation, and propaganda. Terror groups justify this action as the only way to respond due to the fact they may not have sophisticated weaponry or military. The fact remains there are constantly gaining new candidates to replace every suicidal mission, which compels terrorist groups to believe it is the right action to take. Furthermore, fear, terror and death caused by suicide bomb explosions can devastate people psychologically and alter sociatal life.

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