Suicide Bombers

Thanks for reading a modest attempt of mine to present my thoughts and views in written on this subject. I duly acknowledge all interactors and am grateful for the feedback – negative and positive alike. Prompted by the replies I would nevertheless like to add as follows:

a) There is no agreed definition of terrorism. The difficulty of arriving at one is underlined by the old adage that one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter. Palestinians have been denied every right to a decent and dignified livelihood, a civilized existence, development, civil liberties, the list is long and can go on and on. What alternative modes do they have then after 50 years of humiliation and sufferings, if I may ask?

b) pmishra2:
Sir, I respect your right to disagree with my views and analysis of the underlying causes of the menace, but you have no right to accuse me for justifying “senseless and mindless violence”. Please, go back and read the write-up once more and see for yourself that I have time and over again pointed out the wrongness of this practice – religiously as well as morally/ethically.

Correct, 100 % correct, I (and I am sure that neither anyone else) would like to be a target/victim of these suicide (I have no reservations calling them homicide either) bomber. But may I ask, in response, would you like to be one of those Palestinians being besieged, humiliated and kicked around at Jenin, Hebron, Ramallah etc? I FULLY understand the agony of the Israeli victims (and their loved ones) of Palestinian suicide bombers. Do you have any sympathy for the Palestinian victims of Israeli fascist tactics??

c) arjun_m:
I wouldn’t disagree that in many cases, poor commit crime out of necessity nor due to lust/habit or hobby. To some extent best crime prevention strategy is to provide minimum level of living conditions. Yes, many low level crimes would go down, if not disappear altogether, by making the life of perpetrators worth living.

d) stuka jee:
cool down, please. The ratio came down from 25 to 3:1. It seems that for you stone throwing lads being picked up by Israeli tanks and snipers creates no moral problem but the same boys with wounds of dozens of Israeli bullets on their bodies one day strapping dynamite to their waist become an ethical issue. Not very fair, Sir. By the way, have you ever heard or read about any Palestinian blowing himself up in Norwegian, Swedish or Belgian café, restaurant or buss? I really DON’T believe in blowing cafes, restaurants and busses. I condemn it wholeheartedly. But I demand Palestinians’ right to live as well.

#19 Yantric

You are on the money here. This will only change when the supporters of the use of suicide bombing are themselves targets of techniques of mass murder. We have begun to see this a little bit in Pakistan, but not enough to change attitudes.

This is quite similar to support for jihad in Pakistan pre-9/11. The pakistani *elite* was quite happy to justify taliban, kashmir killings, whatever. After 9/11 once they began to be strip-searched in airports and the western powers made it clear that they would personally target them, they suddenly changed their tune. Once the brother-in-law couldn`t get his visa for medical residency in USA because of their support for violence, they began to have second thoughts.

I cant understand some volatile reactions here.
I dont see anywhere, the writer condoning and patting the suicide bombers at the back. He has clearly stated that `its an immoral and illegitimate act to an immoral and illegitmate occupation`.
He is simply pointing out why it happend and how it can end.

This article points out to the fact why the Gap exists between islam and the rest of the world. There are certain acts that can never be justified. By trying to justify ``suicide`` or ``homicide`` bombers, the author has justified the reaction of Hindus in Gujrat, America`s takeover of Afghanistan and Iraq etc. By killing innocent non combatants, the palestianians will never be able to budge Israelis and the Westerners.

It is very commendable if someone gives up his life for a cause but it is deplorable if innocent bystanders are hurt. By fasting unto death, a few Indians got Britain out of India. By the acts of self immolation a few Budhist Monks stood upto and in time won over the Americans and the French. Palestinians by suicide bombing have not achieved an iota. As a matter of fact their cause has slid down.

What has been achieved by the most audacious suicide bombers, the 9/11 guys? Two islamic countries have lost their independence (Iraq and Afghanistan), one islamic country has lost its defacto sovereignity ( Pakistan). The rulers of the richest Islamic country are now running like chickens with their heads cut off ( Saudi Arabia). The other consequence of 9/11 for Islam is now being analyzed and its adherents are now suspects. I used to see so many men with embroiderd caps and women in Hijabs in Chicago before 9/11. Now weeks go by before I see anyone proudly wearing his islamic identiy. Mohamads have become Michaels, Yusufs are calling themselves Joseph and Ali Jans have become Al Johns.

Suicide bombers are not only killing themselves and the innocent bystanders but they are killing any sympathy for their cause. When one hears about a suicide attack, who the hell considers about the justification of the cause for which the suicide bomber died. One only feel pained for the innocent victims.

Waqar

Brave article--which has resulted in good pre-lim discussion. Write on...

My two cents: I know where you`re coming from--and I agree with the reasoning you resort to. Critics of this article just need to spend time understanding where this act of desparation rises from. But we can`t compare them to those who committed the mindless violence witnessed in Bombay today...simply because the latter have a sick, wretched belief system, bent on avoiding peace in the sub-cont. Paradox it may be, but the suicide bombers probably believe they fight for a better life for those they leave behind.

Furthermore, in answering yogiraj (11)...please don`t even start...a country which can boast a butcher and devil incarnate like Sharon as its democratically elected leader will always, always suffer...mate, just take a look at what this man and his colleagues have done in the past (read Fisk, Edward Said, Eqbal Ahmed, Chomsky, Roy, some press in Israel, unbiased press, etc etc ) and then reflect on why this happens...even (some) Jews blame the Jews in this fight! (and I agree, Zia did more than his fair share of ruining Pakistan.)

Well said, Urstruly 17.

S

I think it is a very balanced article. Judging from the posts so far, I see that the opinion of is divided on very sharp lines:

Opinion # 1: Suicide Bombings must stop regardless of whether it is a reaction to a brutal opression or not.

Opinion # 2: Suicide bombing cannot stop, no matter how immoral you think it is unless you eradicate the oppression that caused it in the first place.

I think the common denominator in both cases is brutal oppression.

#12 anzar

You can try any of your standard language tricks. They are not going to work. Deflecting the discussion by discussing WHY and this or that or the other are games you can play with gullible liberals. I am not of them.

BTW, I asked you the question: HOw is your position different from Narendra Modi? You are unable to answer. That is because there is no difference between them. Both of you believe in brutal, community-based murder of civilians for ``just cause``. So enjoy your high status...

Suicide bombing against civilians, as happened in Bombay yesterday, is a crime of mass murder. People who fund this type of activity should be tried as accessory to murder. I hope that this will be part of laws in all civilized countries soon.

Targeting civilian areas is legitimate. It always has been, always will be. The recent tendency to avoid this is more a happy coincidence of modern munitions, rather than a major shift in the rules of war. If you don`t like this aspect of war, then don`t support it.

Drawing a distinction between non-state actors and states in this regard is disingenuous at best.

anzar #12

Sorry, I still don`t have an answer. If a genuinely aggrieved and oppressed individual
blows himself up, are you willing to be his victim or offer up your family members
to be his victim ?

If we agree that Hamas, IRA and Al-Qaeda are products of oppression, are you willing
to compromise your life to help them make a statement ? This is a zeroth order
question. Political nuances and arguments can follow.

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Timely artical Waqar Talib. Just as I am trying to figure out where my two friends are in south Mumbai.

As long as crime, any crime, is done by a misled muslim, it is justifiable. As long as a misled muslim is in a minority or in lesser power where he/she does it, it is ok. Same crime by any one else is a dasterdly act. It is Zionism, Nazism, Neo-conservitism, W the Idiot, Hindu the Bania....

You wrote a whole artical blaming jews. Spend some more time to answer these two questions.

The arabs that you love so much, had the part of the palestine land for 20+ years before it was taken away in a war. Let us not even go into who started it and why. They (the arabs) never even thought of giving it to these suicide bombers then. Why?

As far as I know, Pakistan (your own great savior called Zia-ul something) actually send troops to kill and/or throw away these suicide bombers out of (this world or) Jordan. Why?

Not very hopeful. Actually, I know you will not answer.

Yogiraj Patil

Re: #8 pmishra2, #9 plats8

ah Mishra Jee...lets start over. there is no JUSTIFICATION behind what a suicide bomber does but there`s always a REASON!

nobody wants to die: provided they can live happily. a suicide bomber is not born; he/she is MADE. shouldnt a more rational approach to the problem at hand be to address the party that created the circumstances that conceived the suicide bomber, and tell them to take a break?

the IRA, the Hammas and Al-Qaeda are all products of oppression. lets not try to justify what they do, lets just look at WHY they do it. i`m sure you will agree that most if not all suicide bombings could have been avoided had these people been dealt with justice if not equality.

unless the invasion, the oppression and the injustice is discontinued the suicide bombings will never end.

about time we pulled our heads out of the sand.

On Suicide Bombings

...there is...there was...there can be no justification...

reminds of what have said many times earlier:

...there can be no justification of any deliberate viloent act agains civilians..none whatsover...be they by individuals, organistations or states....