Suicide Bombers Research Paper

Travis Click

Amanda Dambrink

English 151

26 September 2010

Suicide Bombers

In 2004, there were 400 attacks by suicide bombers, killing 2000 people. A suicide bomber is a person who attacks another or a group of people, knowing they will lose their life in the process. The U.S. takes a strong negative stance to the subject, but other countries, such as Pakistan, believe it’s a useful tactic in warfare and an honorable deed. Its important for people to know what a suicide bomber was raised to believe and how extensive training they go through to make an argument on if they are doing wrong. In David Brooks article, “The Culture of Martyrdom: How Suicide Bombing Became Not Just a Means but an End” he writes about suicide
bombing through a psychological viewpoint. Pakistan started the use of suicide bombers as a tactic in warfare back in 1983, and it was a success in their eyes. Training men between the ages of 18-38 to have the mental focus to become one took a lot of work. They first had to take the Pakistani into small cells and spiritually guide them into the right mindset. The bombers were promised their past family members will have a spot waiting for them in the afterlife, and their family left behind will be left in riches. They are, also, to be married to multiple “dark-eyed” virgins (Brooks 39). All of the bombers who were interviewed had no signs of depression or any mental problems, they were proud in a religious stance to become one. When telling the bombers parents that their son has killed himself, they are proud and not even sad. Suicide bombing, in their eyes of Pakistani, is an honor and privilege to serve their country in that way. Other countries don’t seem to have that outlook, especially the U.S.
What gives someone the will to strap a bomb to ones self and give up their life to kill others? Do they hate their lives? Are they forced to take such action? Pakistan started the use of suicide bombers and there are still plenty of them out there today. How can killing your own soldiers be a war tactic? In America, we take pride in keeping our soldiers alive and well.
When a man is missing in action, his brothers will do whatever it takes to find them. Soldiers unfortunately do lose their lives in battle but when they do, they get the highest honor and ceremony for their funeral. The thought of using suicide bombers in our armed forces has most likely never crossed the minds of the military. Our soldiers are born and raised, religiously or not, that it isn’t okay to kill your self to kill someone, or do any killing for that matter. They are taught in the service to only kill when you have no other option. The U.S. military brings in young men to serve their country. They can join 5 services: The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force. All of these branches of the military have tradition of brotherhood. The soldiers go through boot camp and get stationed together. Without each other being in the military would be close to unbearable. Our society respects and supports our soldiers. People donate to the forces; they do all they can to get our soldiers out of the Middle East and back home to their families. How can countries like Pakistan care so little for their soldiers and let them take their lives just to kill a few of our
soldiers? As in-humane as suicide bombing really is, it is part of their religion. Children in Pakistan are born and raised believing that suicide bombers families get left with many blessings once they have accomplished their mission, and that they will go to the afterlife with 70 virgins. Being a bomber is as honorable to them as a soldier in the U.S. getting a Purple Heart. Most people think being a bomber is a piece of cake. It’s not just putting a bomber under you clothes and running at someone then blowing yourself up. They go though extensive training both physically and mentally. Setting a bomb off on your self takes a lot of mental concentration and toughness. Their views on suicide bombing are a lot different from those in the U.S. The viewpoints on this rough subject all seem to revolve around what your religion is. Citizens of the United States, with religions like Catholic, Christianity, etc. will always believe suicide bombing is absolutely wrong. On the other hand, citizens of the Middle Eastern countries, with Muslim religions, will tend to feel that it is a good thing.