Islamic Radicals: Not More Fervent

NY Times ^ | November 25, 2006 | NA

[neverdem]

Reading File

In “What Makes a Muslim Radical?” in Foreign Policy magazine, John Esposito, a professor of religion at Georgetown University, and Dalia Mogahed, executive director of Muslim studies for the Gallup Organization, summarize the conclusions on a new Gallup World Poll based on more than 9,000 interviews in nine Muslim countries.

Because terrorists often hijack Islamic precepts for their own ends, pundits and politicians in the West sometimes portray Islam as a religion of terrorism. They often charge that religious fervor triggers radical and violent views. But the data say otherwise: There is no significant difference in religiosity between moderates and radicals. In fact, radicals are no more likely to attend religious services regularly than are moderates. ...

It’s no secret that many in the Muslim world suffer from crippling poverty and lack of education. But are radicals any poorer than their fellow Muslims? We found the opposite: There is indeed a key difference between radicals and moderates when it comes to income and education, but it is the radicals who earn more and who stay in school longer. ...

Whenever a suicide bomber completes a deadly mission, the act is often attributed to hopelessness — the inability to find a job, earn a living, or support a family.

[neverdem]

What Makes a Muslim Radical?

[Cindy]

Article Snippet: "Whenever a suicide bomber completes a deadly mission, the act is often attributed to hopelessness — the inability to find a job, earn a living, or support a family.">

OPINION: Of course, this is NOT TRUE in most cases.

ON THE NET...

Google - News - Search Term: "HUMAN BOMB"

MEMRI.org - Search Term: "Suicide (Martyrdom) Operations"

YAHOO! News - Photo Gallery: "Suicide Bomber"

GOOGLE - Search Term: "HOMICIDE BOMBERS"

"www.internet-haganah.com"

LittleGreenFootballs - Weblog: "IRAN'S SUICIDE BRIGADES" (November 24, 2006)

MEFORUM.org: "IRAN'S SUICIDE BRIGADES Terrorism Resurgent" by Ali Alfoneh, Middle East Quarterly (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The West sees suicide bombings as terrorism but, to Abbasi, they are a noble expression of Islam. So what is terrorism if not suicide bombing? To Abbasi, terrorism includes any speech and expression he deems insulting to Islam.") (Winter 2007)

WorldNetDaily.com: Jenin - "'Hi, my name is Ahmed and I want to be a suicide bomber' RECRUITED ATTACKER FOR TERROR GROUP TALKS TO WND about 'serving Allah by blasting unbelievers to hell'" by Aaron Klein (November 24, 2006) (Read More...)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - weblog: "DEATH CULT GRANNY BLOWS UP" (November 23, 2006)

HOT AIR.com - HOT AIR TV: "SUICIDE KILLERS" (November 21, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS): "NYPD WARNS BUSINESS OWNERS ABOUT FEMALE JIHADISTS EVADING SECURITY" (November 18, 2006)

Regarding Female Human Bombs (November 17, 2006)

YNET NEWS.com: "IRAN: 1,300 VOLUNTEER FOR SUICIDE BOMBINGS Finnish newspaper reports 1,300 Iranians sign up at suicide bombing recruitment center. Among volunteers: Doctors, lawyers and students, 30 percent are women" (Published November 5, 2006, 11:52)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 1346: "ISLAMIST WEBSITES MONITOR NO. 18 Jihad Video Encourages Suicide Bombings" (NOVEMBER 3, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "SUICIDE BOMBERS FOLLOW QURAN, CONCLUDES PENTAGON BRIEFING" (September 27, 2006)

IMRA.org.il: "PMW: VIRGINS OF PARADISE - MUSIC VIDEO RETURNS TO PA TV" (September 19, 2006)

PMW.org.il - PALESTINIAN MEDIA WATCH: "VIRGINS OF PARADISE - MUSIC VIDEO RETURNS TO PA TV" by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook (September 19, 2006)

JAMESTOWN.org - Terrorism Focus: "LONDON PLOT DRAWS ATTENTION TO POTENTIAL FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBERS" by Farhana Ali (August 22, 2006)

INTELLIGENCE-SUMMIT.blogspot.com (AKI) - Tehran: "IRAN SUICIDE BOMBERS JOINED HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON, MILITANT SAYS" (July 21, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "IRAN'S SUICIDE BOMBERS THREATEN TO STRIKE U.S. INTERESTS" (May 26, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AKI): Tehran - "'We have brothers who are ready to sacrifice their lives for the triumph of Islam in Great Britain, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and also the United States'" (May 27, 2006)

JPOST.com: "THE REGION: PALESTINIAN SUICIDE STRATEGY" by Barry Rubin (Updated July 10, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (JPOST.com): "AKSA BRIGADES ANNOUNCES FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBER UNIT" (July 10, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "'PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS' IN A CULTURE OF DEATH" (July 2, 2006)

PMW.org.il - TV Archives - Video Library: "PA INDOCTRINATION OF CHILDREN TO SEEK HEROIC DEATH FOR ALLAH - SHAHADA"

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No.1162: "ARAB INTELLECTUALS PRAISE MARTYRDOM IN DISCUSSION ON SYRIAN TV" (May 12, 2006)

MEMRITV.org - Video Clips: "INCITING CHILDREN"

MEMRITV.org - Video Clip No. 1107 - Transcript: "PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MAHMOUD AL-ZAHAR DEFENDS 'MARTYRDOM-SEEKING OPERATIONS'" (April 6, 2006)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 1111: Palestinian Legislative Council Member 'Umm Nidal' on Saudi Iqra TV: A Muslim Mother Should Raise Her Children for Jihad Interviewer Iqra TV Director-General Critical of Arab TV Channels That Don't Support Martyrdom Operations" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The following are excerpts from an interview with Palestinian Legislative Council member "Umm Nidal" Farhat, aired on Saudi Iqra TV, on February 19, 2006. TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1066" (March 10, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: "HAMAS WEBSITE ENCOURAGES KIDS TO BECOME MARTYRS" by Julie Stahl (March 8, 2006)

PMW.org.il - TV Archives - Video Library: "PA INDOCTRINATION OF CHILDREN TO SEEK HEROIC DEATH FOR ALLAH - SHAHADA"

PMW.org.il: "'ASK FOR DEATH!' The Indoctrination of Palestinian Children to Seek Death for Allah - Shahada" by Itamar Marcus, Director, Palestinian Media Watch

PMW.org.il: "A SELF-PORTRAIT OF SUICIDE TERRORISTS" by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook (March 2, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (YNETNEWS): "THE DIRECTOR OF 'PARADISE NOW' WOULD BE A SUICIDE BOMBER" (March 3, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (JTA): "SUICIDE BOMBING ENDORSED IN KIDS BOOK RECOMMENDED BY CANADIAN LIBRARIES" (March 3, 2006)

JAMESTOWN.org - Terrorism Focus: "THE FOREIGN MAKEUP OF AFGHAN SUICIDE BOMBERS" by Omid Marzban (February 21, 2006) (Read More...)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series No. 1076: "RARE FOOTAGE OF SAUDI COMEDIAN & AL-MAJD TV EMPLOYEE-TURNED-SUICIDE BOMBER MUHAMMAD SHAZZAF AL-SHEHRI" (January 24, 2006)

"www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1004"

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "FATHER OF SUICIDE BOMBING VICTIM: GOLDEN GLOBE TO 'PARADISE LOST' LEGITIMIZES TERRORISM" (January 23, 2006)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding a REUTERS article: "SUICIDE BOMBER FILM WINS HONOUR AT GOLDEN GLOBES" (January 16, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (SUNDAY MIRROR): "AL-QAEDA'S PLOT TO INFECT TROOPS WITH AIDS VIRUS" (January 9, 2006)

stepping back in time...NEW SCIENTIST.com:"SUICIDE BOMBERS MAY SPREAD DISEASE" (July 24, 2002)

EMS RESPONDER.com: "RECOGNIZING IMMINENT DANGER: CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUICIDE BOMBER" (Updated October 31, 2005)

JIHAD WATCH.org (GulfNews): "'THEY PROMISED US PARADISE THROUGH MARTYRDOM'" (December 22, 2005)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "SUICIDE KILLERS" by Jamie Glazov (December 12, 2005)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "CONVERTS TO TERROR" by Daniel Pipes (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Islamist terror organizations particularly prize converts. They know the local culture and blend in.") (December 6, 2005)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series No. 1032: "REFORMIST SAUDI AUTHOR: RELIGIOUS CASSETTES ADVOCATED JIHAD BY EMPHASIZING MARTYR'S SEXUAL REWARDS" (November 23, 2005)

FrontPageMagazine.com: "WHAT PARADISE?" by Pierre Rehov (November 16, 2005)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.US: "MR. SHAEED HAS A BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE" (November 1, 2005)

A discussion on FreeRepublic.com regarding The Jewish Journal article by Marc Ballon: "WHAT MAKES BOMBERS TICK IN 'PARADISE'?" (October 28, 2005)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP): "RESEARCHERS PROBE MOTIVES OF SUICIDE BOMBERS" (October 4, 2005)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 983: "COMMANDER OF HAMAS MILITARY WING WOMEN'S UNIT: 'Our Members Yearn for Martyrdom'" (September 9, 2005)

CORRIERE.IT/english: Turin - "TURIN IMAM DEPORTED -- "HE'S DANGEROUS" Accused of praising Bin Laden. Como-based Tunisian activist also expelled." (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The ten children taking part in the ring-o'-roses protest beneath the market clock in Porta Palazzo were all wearing suicide bomber belts. The year was 1997, and that was the first time Bouriqi Bouchta, whose idea it was, attracted Italy’s attention.") (September 7, 2005)

MEMRITV.org/Transcript - Video Clip No. 838 - 8/31/2005: " 8/31/2005 Clip No. 838: "Sheik of Al-Azhar Muhammad Tantawi Explains on Al-Hurra TV When a Suicide Bomber Becomes a Martyr and When He Is Not" (TRANSCRIPT SNIPPET: "Following are excerpts from an interview with Sheik of Al-Azhar Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi, which aired on Al-Hurra TV on August 31, 2005")

MEMRI TV.org - Clip No. 843 - Transcript: "SAUDI IQRA TV RAISES MONEY FOR PALESTINIAN INTIFADA" (TRANSCRIPT SNIPPET: "Caption: The Saudi committee for support of the Al-Quds Intifada. Account number 98, a joint account in all Saudi banks.") (August 29, 2005)

FrontPageMagazine.com: "SYMPOSIUM: THROUGH THE EYES OF A SUICIDE BOMBER" by Jamie Glazov (August 12, 2005)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "INTERVIEW WITH PIERRE REHOV, DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER, ON PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND SUICIDE BOMBINGS" (July 27, 2005)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 909: "BAHRAINI AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST: THE PROPONENTS OF THE SUICIDE IDEOLOGY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In an article that appeared in the Saudi daily Al-Yawm, titled "The Globalization of Islamic Suicide" author and journalist Sawsan Al-Sha'er wrote that the extremist Islamist groups are taking advantage of global communications to recruit suicide bombers, and predicted the spread of the suicide bomber phenomenon to Britain as well.") (May 17, 2005)

JIHAD WATCH.org (DAWN): "MAJORITY OF SUICIDE BOMBERS ARE EDUCATED" (January 13, 2005)

FOX NEWS.com: "TICKET TO HELL" by David Asman (December 9, 2004)

MEMRI.org - MIDDLE EAST MEDIA RESEARCH INSTITUTE Special Report - No.32: "MEMRI TV Project Special Report: Arab and Iranian TV Clips in Support of Suicide Bombing" (September 1, 2004)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "RATIONAL, EDUCATED AND PROSPEROUS: JUST YOUR AVERAGE SUICIDE BOMBER" (May 15, 2004)

SAAG.org - SOUTH ASIA ANALYSIS GROUP: "SUICIDE & SUICIDAL TERRORISM" by B. Raman (March 12, 2004)

JIHAD WATCH.org (HAARETZ): "10 SUICIDE BOMBINGS FOILED OVER PASSOVER HOLIDAY" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "One of two Tanzim activists caught at the end of March told interrogators the group that sent them had planned a series of other attacks, including one with a device to which blood infected with AIDS would be attached.") (April 13, 2004)

FrontPageMagazine.com: "AFFLUENT GENOCIDE" by Robert Spencer (October 14, 2003)

NEW SCIENTIST.com: "SUICIDE BOMBERS MAY SPREAD DISEASE" (July 24, 2002)

WTVT.com - FOX13 Investigative: "JIHAD FOR KIDS" (February 4, 2002)

[AmericanExceptionalist]

There is indeed a key difference between radicals and moderates when it comes to income and education, but it is the radicals who earn more and who stay in school longer.

So much for the old Marxist nostrum about poverty being the root cause of all social discontent.

Of course, anyone who has been paying attention--even of a cursory sort--since 9/11 already knew this. Al Qaeda's CEO, Osama bin Laden, is about as impoverished as, say, Donald Trump.

[RasterMaster]

If you worship the moon rock, you are an extremist. There are ZERO "moderates" among them.

The time for chosing sides has already passed.

[observer5]

"Because terrorists often hijack Islamic precepts for their own ends, pundits and politicians in the West sometimes portray Islam as a religion of terrorism."

Yadadada... you ignorant morons... read some history of Islam!

[BW2221]

John Esposito has been bought and paid for. A Saudi prince is fulding his Islamic Studies institute. If they told Esposito to start wearing a burka, his only question would be, "What color?"

[fortcollins]

Not to mention that he was a fool even before he was bought

[highlander_UW]

Because terrorists often hijack Islamic precepts for their own ends, pundits and politicians in the West sometimes portray Islam as a religion of terrorism.

Having given up on spin the NYT decides to simply lie about the nature of Islam.

We found the opposite: There is indeed a key difference between radicals and moderates when it comes to income and education, but it is the radicals who earn more and who stay in school longer. ...

The radicals understand and follow the quran more accurately than the less educated, more peaceful muslims. If the MSM were ever honest on this topic I'd quickly check to see if there is simultaneously a blue moon along with hell freezing over.

[Biggirl]

The answer : Koran and Hadith.

[GOPJ]

Cindy, you're right. It's the bored, somewhat educated, relatively wealthy, but useless Arabs who are drawn to terrorism.

[GOPJ]

Cindy, you're right. It's the bored, somewhat educated, relatively wealthy, but useless Arabs who are drawn to terrorism. And in a society that produces almost nothing, there's lots of bored, useless men.