It's certainly a good sign if people can only be convinced by force and threats to go on suicide missions. It would be naive, however, given the large numbers who have signed up for such missions in Iran and Egypt, to dismiss the ideological appeal of such missions because of stories like these. From AP, with thanks to Jeffrey Imm:
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A suicide bomber captured before he could blow himself up in a Shiite mosque claimed he was kidnapped, beaten and drugged by insurgents who forced him to take on the mission. The U.S. military said its medical tests indicated the man was telling the truth.Mohammed Ali, who claimed to be Saudi-born and appeared to be in his 20s, said he managed to flee after another suicide attacker set off his bomb, killing at least 12 worshippers Friday as they left a mosque in the northern city of Tuz Khormato.
In confession broadcast on state television later that day, Ali told Iraqi interrogators he did not want to bomb the mosque and hoped to go home.
Results from medical tests on Ali were "consistent with his story and characterization of his treatment," Col. Billy J. Buckner, a U.S. military spokesman said Sunday.
Ali said insurgents kidnapped him from a field near his home earlier this month, then drugged and beat him.
His story was similar to those recounted by other captured militants. The captives routinely claim they were either coerced or fooled by insurgent leaders who promised them a role in the holy war against the U.S. military, only to find themselves as would-be suicide bombers sent to attack civilians.
What the hell?
So the story is this: this not-quite-suicidal suicide-bomber had hoped to be sent to attack Americans, but discovered that he was being sent as explosive-fodder to bomb the mosque of "Rafidites" (Shi'a) whom Zarqawi and other Sunnis, practicing their sport of Extreme Islam on the playing-fields of the Land of the Two Rivers, consider to be not merely as Infidel as the Americans, but even worse, and he balked, and was drugged, and now he just wants, please please please, to go home.
IS this one of the poor Iraqis Galloway was referring to ?
I don't think there is any reason to be even barely optimistic about this one. I really don't think he was 'forced' to become a suicide bomber against his will. After all, wouldn't a believeing Muslim yearn to stand before the Creator as a hero and enjoy those drunken orgies with hot virgins?
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dolphin, CAGE co-founder
http://www.acage.org
I recall reading a translation in MEMRI that alluded to exactly this. What is happening is that few of the foreign-born recruits really want to detonate themselves. They come looking to be warriors and are prepared to risk death in battle, but they ain't looking for certain death. Then, they find out what their masters have in mind for them and they ain't too keen on it. Hence the stories about "drivers" lashed to the steering wheels of vehicles carrying bombs, their gas-pedal foot weighted down.
When you go to make a pact with the devil, you had better read the fine print. Satan has some sharp lawyers.
A bit off topic...but how come no one gets all up in arms about them blowing up mosques? Or more so, why should we go out of our way to respect buildings that they obviously have no respect for themselves?
When you go to make a pact with the devil, you had better read the fine print. Satan has some sharp lawyers.
Posted by: texan at September 19, 2005 03:42 PM
ROTFL!!
Gold Star for you today!!
Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel
Hunter
Spider Killer
GOD BLESS THE USA AND HER FIGHTING FORCES AND ALL WHO FIGHT WITH HER GIVE THEM STRENGTH, WISDOM, SIGHT, AND COURAGE TO STAY THE COURSE TO VICTORY[FREEDOM] TO DESTROY ALL ISLAMIC TERRORIST AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THEM LET NOT THE WORLD BE DECEIVED BY THEM OPEN THE WORLDS EYES TO THEIR THREAT GIVE THE WORLD STRENGTH TO STAND UP AND FIGHT THIS EVIL AMEN
The US automobile enthusiast magazine, Car and Driver sent one of its reporters to Baghdad to write an article about, what else, military Humvees, entitled War Wagons. The story contains some interesting observations (such as this appearing on the fifth page of the web article):
It does appear that some suicide bombers are, at best, "compulsory" volunteers who are not allowed to change their mind once they realize that volunteer work means work without pay.
The word `shanghaied` somehow does not seem appropriate. A new one is needed.
texan:
I don't know if you'll check back to this thread, but I'd like you to be a part of our private-member JW email database. No addresses given out without specific authorization if a request for contact is made, one-time basis only. if you'd agree to participate, contact susan_b356@yahoo.com, give her the email address you'd like to use and your screenname. I keep the database backup - and I'm the one who'd like to be in contact with you!
CGW