Think of all them virgins those ded irakies are gettin up thar in heven. Strap a couple 'nades on your belt, charge the gate (or walk into the schoolyard, whatever), collect yer reward.
It struck me today during some mission planning that we'll never come to an agreement with some of "those people". We spend a great deal of our mission planning time ensuring that we have the best chance of making it home, while the average jihadi spends an equal amount of time planning on getting himself killed in a manner spectacular enough to attract his prophet's attention so he gets his virgins when he blows himself to bits.
I've talked to instructor pilots who've seen it firsthand... Islamic exchange student pilots from middle-eastern countries who scare themselves during training and release the controls and begin praying, completely comfortable with the idea that their last seconds are better spent praying instead of trying to save their own lives. Although I understand it on an intellectual level, that behavior goes against every "instinct" I have and I do not know if there will ever be enough common ground to bridge that gap.
I read a report on a fighter aircraft mishap recently... The pilot (from a hardcore islamic nation) lost control at low altitude, but still high enough to eject. Instead of ejecting, the pilot keyed the microphone and broadcast a curious mixture of terrified screaming and his final prayers. It's not easy for a westerner to give up like that but from what I heard/read, it made perfect sense to his peers.
