Introduction: Suicide bombers in historical and theoretical perspective -- Pt. 1. Insurgents and their strategies. Nationalists and Baathists -- The jihadi Salafis -- Suicide terrorism in the Iraqi insurgency -- Pt. 2. The alchemy of martyrdom: ideology, theology, and mythology of suicide terrorism. The ideology and theology of martyrdom -- Martyrdom mythology in Iraq -- Pt. 3. Martyrs without borders: transnational networks and volunteerism in Iraq. Arab fighters in Iraq -- European Muslims in Iraq -- Implications for theory and policy -- Appendix 1: List of Sunni insurgent groups in Iraq, 2003-2006 -- Appendix 2: Names and nationalities of known suicide bombers in Iraq -- Appendix 3: Zarqawi's men -- Appendix 4: Al Qaeda's evolution in Iraq.
Summary:
Understanding the phenomenon of suicide bombing in Iraq is vitally important for U.S. national security, foreign policy in the Muslim world, and the war on terrorism. This study draws extensively on open-source intelligence and papers of record, primary sources from insurgent groups including online documents and videos, and interviews with U.S. servicemen who have served in Iraq. It examines the history of suicide bombing in Iraq and many other countries, theoretical perspectives on suicide bombing, the varied factions that comprise the insurgency, the ideology and theology of martyrdom supporting suicide bombers, their national origins and characteristics, and the prospects for a "third generation" of transnational jihadists forged in the crucible of Iraq.--From publisher description.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.