I find it quite strange that "terrorists" are labelled extremist, crazy, etc for giving up their lives in defence of territory when allied soldiers doing the same in WW1 and 2 are referred to as heroes. I question our Political leaders motivations in attacking Iraq and Afghanistan. The Japanese increasingly used suicide planes to defend their homeland when faced with imminent invasion and that too was a war we could have avoided. The Japanese were at war with China two years before WW2 even started. The culmination of a rivalry that had lasted thousands of years. In WW1 they actually sided with the allies. In their most recent war with China they actually won and only faced some opposition from rural area's. The effort had exhausted them. America in it's "great wisdom" then issued an embargo against this rising nation which cut off essential fuel supplies. Japan was supposed to cower in defeat at this antagonistic move from a fledgling nation but instead chose to respond with a suitable warning to the Americans. They bombed Pearl Harbour. It appears we have learned nothing from those days and are still trying to impose our will on other countries. America was bombing the Middle East for decades before September 11. Why do they keep acting surprised that their interference in the affairs of other nations and brutal slaying of their peoples has repercussions. Like most Australian's and American's I believe we should leave the Middle East to find it's own path and stop trying to dictate to their leaders.

Wayne.... I have raised a similar point myself.. rather than call them 'extremists/terrorists' etc we should be describing people as our 'enemies' or 'friends', with perhaps a 'neutral' category as well.

GRAHAM.. an update on my last post.

I do note now (having heard a radio program interviewing Papes) that a number of Palestinians suicide bombings appear on the basis of his investigation to be 'political' rather than religious in motivation.

But I honestly think he fails to grasp the connection between the political and religious in the Muslim mind.

Here are some quotes from an SMH article which is relevant

"At the mobile-phone-lit meeting at Jabaliya, the seven from Islamic Jihad set out their own unambiguous position. They are fighting to the death for the liberation of all of historic Palestine - "this is a religious war against the Jews"

Another

Then Ribhi, the father of little Osama, demands silence because he has something to say: "You see this one-year-old? He will grow up to a bomber in Tel Aviv if the Israelis keep killing our people. He is my boy, but he is not as priceless as Jerusalem."

Jerusalem..aah..thats the key ... it has unparalleled religious significance.

So, I conclude that in the case of "Islamic" suicide bombers, the fundamental motive is an inseparable mix of the political and religious