Thoughts on Middle Eastern Terrorism and Suicide Bombings

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Middle Eastern terrorism, especially suicide bombings, has become a major issue in world politics in recent years. The Palestinian suicide bombers, Al-Qaeda and state-sponsored terrorism may have different origins and goals, but they equally puzzle and annoy Western thinkers and policy makers.

Escalation of terrorism is a major problem for humanity. It is a problem for rich nations as well as poor nations, as lives of rich human beings are just as vulnerable to violence as lives of poor human beings.

Terrorism never solves any of the problems faced by its perpetrators, which they point to as justification. It often harms the community of the terrorist more than the community he attacks. The fact that terrorism has become so prevalent in the Middle East despite its inadequacy as a solution clearly points to a phenomenal sense of desparation among the perpetrators. Religous fervor and indoctrination may make it easier to recruit suicide bombers, but it is hard to imagine that they can be effective without a deep sense of desparation in society.

The first step in solve any problem is understanding the fundamental dynamics of the underlying issue. We need to understand the causes of terrorism to address it and to eliminate it. My sincere belief is that understanding the causes of terrorism in not very difficult, as long as one has common sense and an open mind.

A major misunderstanding lies at the foundation of the Western puzzlement and anger towards Middle Eastern terrorism. The same misunderstanding is also one of the main causes, if not the most important cause, of Middle Eastern terrorism. I will analyse this issue generally first, and then address Palestinian suicide bombers as a specific example.

Because of the nature of their political regimes, Westerners tend not to pay too much attention to the contrast between the governments and people of Middle Eastern countries. However, the situation of Middle Eastern people in relation to their own governments, Western governments and Western people is a fundemental element of the identity of Middle Eastern people.

I will attempt to review this issue from all possible angles, covering the relationships between:

- the governments of the West and the governments of the Middle East

- the governments of the West and the citizens of the West

- the governments of the Middle East and the people of the Middle East

- the governments of the West and the people of the Middle East

- the governments of the Middle East and the citizens of the West

- the citizens of the West and the people of the Middle East

It should be noted that I am not calling the people of the Middle East "citizens" - one can hardly call people of the Middle East “citizens” given their political condition.

First, let us review the relationship between governments. Governments of the West are strong, and governments of the Middle East are weak. Governments of the Middle East envy and also depend on the governments of the West. Governments of the West can afford to ignore governments of the Middle East most of the time, and are strong enough to either arm-twist or manipulate them when needed.

The relationship between peoples is also assymmetric. Middle Easterns envy Westerners. Most Westerners just pity Middle Easterners. In general, when Westerners encounter Middle Easterners, Westerners make their sense of superiority felt to the Middle Easterners. Even among themselves, Middle Easterners are very much aware of their inferior conditions relative to Westerners, and ask themselves (at least subconsciously) “what is wrong with us, our countries and our culture?”

The Western citizen has his rights both in his own country and in the Middle East. In his own country, he can rely on the law. In the Middle East, he can rely on his government to protect him.

The Middle Easterner is often treated like an animal by his own government. He wants to run away, and live in the West. If he manages to live in the West, he is often treated as a second class human being by the Western government. And sometimes, a Western government who has a problem with an Middle Eastern government just chooses to bomb its people. The Middle Eastern people who have no say in what their government does are therefore punished by Western governments nonetheless.

Looking at this cold reality, one can understand why terrorists are bred in the Middle East. Hundreds of millions of people who are treated like animals by their governments, Western governments and Western citizens alike have a totally different understanding of the world than Western citizens in their prosperous and happy lives. Their world is a harsh place, in which everyone beats up on them relentlessly. They have nothing to gain by keeping quiet, because what they are asked to keep up with by their governments and Western governments alike is not a life as a decent human being.

Having looked at the general picture, let us now concentrate on a specific example.

Westerners often ask why Palestinian suicide bombers do not value their lives. And some put the blame squarely on the Palestinian government. However it is not only the Palestinian government who attaches very little value to the lives of Palestinian people. Other Arab countries, Israel and the Western world also attach little value to the lives of Palestinian people.

We must consider what message the Arab governments are giving to the Palestinians when they engage in endless rhetoric but refuse to give Palestinians any tangible support politically, economically or in humanitarian aid. We must consider what message Israel is giving to the Palestinians when it demolishes the houses and deports the kin of suicide bombers. We also must consider what message the government of the United States is giving Palestinians when it bombs civilian targets around the Arab world with impunity and does not even apologize when it makes mistakes and kills innocent people.

The Palestinian youth is hearing a global message loud and clear. The world does not care for you. The world would be happier if you just did not exist. So they accept not to exist, but take along with them the only other lives who are vulnerable to their actions - their Israeli neighbours’.

If we want to eliminate terrorism we must understand how the young men who become terrorists think and feel. Otherwise, however many terrorist we succeed in capturing or killing, new ones will take their place.