It's hard to imagine anyone wanting to be martyr because of what they think awaits them im their martyrdom.
The Jihadists' Promise: Power over Death
by Louis René Beres
September 23, 2014 at 5:00 am
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Jihadi violence serves not only to advance the terrorist's delusion of immortality, but also to add, however perversely, an apparent and desperately needed erotic satisfaction, using religion as the justification.
Persuasive promises of immortality -- the desperate hope to live forever -- underlie virtually all major religions.
Washington and Jerusalem should finally address what needs to be done in addition to military remediation -- reinforcing efforts to convince these terrorists that their expected martyrdom is ultimately just an elaborate fiction.
Even after witnessing several beheadings and mass executions, American and Western strategists dealing with Jihadist terror still miss the key point. Whatever the particular terrorist group of the moment -- the Islamic State [IS or ISIS], Hamas, al-Qaeda, or some other kindred terror organization -- the core struggle is never really about territory, geography, or democracy. Always -- in Iraq, Afghanistan Syria, or Gaza -- this enemy seeks something far more important and compelling. In essence, Jihadi violence serves not only to advance the terrorist's delusion of immortality, but also to add, however perversely, an apparent and desperately needed erotic satisfaction, using religion as the justification.
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The Jihadists Promise Power over Death
The Jihadists' Promise: Power over Death
by Louis René Beres
September 23, 2014 at 5:00 am
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Jihadi violence serves not only to advance the terrorist's delusion of immortality, but also to add, however perversely, an apparent and desperately needed erotic satisfaction, using religion as the justification.
Persuasive promises of immortality -- the desperate hope to live forever -- underlie virtually all major religions.
Washington and Jerusalem should finally address what needs to be done in addition to military remediation -- reinforcing efforts to convince these terrorists that their expected martyrdom is ultimately just an elaborate fiction.
Even after witnessing several beheadings and mass executions, American and Western strategists dealing with Jihadist terror still miss the key point. Whatever the particular terrorist group of the moment -- the Islamic State [IS or ISIS], Hamas, al-Qaeda, or some other kindred terror organization -- the core struggle is never really about territory, geography, or democracy. Always -- in Iraq, Afghanistan Syria, or Gaza -- this enemy seeks something far more important and compelling. In essence, Jihadi violence serves not only to advance the terrorist's delusion of immortality, but also to add, however perversely, an apparent and desperately needed erotic satisfaction, using religion as the justification.
Continue reading at:
The Jihadists Promise Power over Death
