The supply of suicide bombers exceeds demand

This Economist article would like us to think that enthusiasm for jihad among British Muslims is waning: "These days, though, long-faced Islamists are surprisingly subdued. 'Even the collections and the preaching feel more restrained,' moans an Afghan war veteran."

Nonetheless, buried at the end of the piece is this detail: "the supply of bombers exceeds demand."

Why would that be? Why would it be so easy to recruit suicide bombers, even for money?

This recruitment is international in scope: ". . . and British bombers are too expensive. 'For the cost of equipping and transporting a British fighter into Iraq—about $2,000—we can shift 20 guerrillas into Iraq from neighbouring Arab states and Chechnya,' says a retired jihadi field officer."

Where did the Economist find a "retired jihadi field officer"? Did the Economist reporter track him down through his pension plan or something?

"Arabs, he says, are also less likely to have visa problems. Yemenis, like Wail, need no visa to enter Syria, although, according to the retired jihadi, at least one Arab embassy is doing its best to accommodate by issuing passports to other nationals willing to thwart America's war in Iraq." (Thanks to Cormac.)

Posted by Robert at November 29, 2003 5:05 PM
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