In my book there's a distinct difference between 'suicide bombers' (including the murderers of 9/11/01) and Japanese pilots on 'kamikaze' missions: One are terrorists who target innocents, the other are military personnel willing to die to destroy enemy military personnel, equipment, etc.
Terrorist suicide bombers don't deserve to be grouped in the same company as 'kamikaze' pilots. Suicide bombers are not brave in my opinion - they're indoctrinated to the point of insanity and pointed at women and children. Big difference between that and deciding you're willing to fly into an enemy warship.
There was no romance for 'kamikaze pilots'. Their Nation was on the verge of defeat and as members of that Nation's military they felt obligated to do whatever necessary to prevent defeat (and assumed destruction of their Nation, culture, etc.). Those Palestinians who strap a bomb on and 'bravely' target a bus, or a resaurant, or who 'bravely' infiltrate a suburban area to gun down little boys reading a bedtime book with Mom are under no such pressure. If Israel wanted to wipe the Palestinian people off the face of the earth tomorrow it could be done. Also, if their fellow Arabs truly gave a damn about the Palestinians (instead of seing them as expendable proxy forces for use vs. 'the hated jews') they could improve their living conditions 100x very easily and very cheaply.
If I met the Japanese pilot who volunteered for a Kamikaze mission and his aircraft engine failed, I'd respect his commitment to his duty towards his country, even though I'm in the U.S. armed forces and he was trying to kill U.S. personnel. While an enemy in wartime, he's not breaking any of the 'laws of humanity' in my book.
If I met some brainwashed kid who failed to detonate his bomb on board a bus full of school kids...well...being disciplined I'd turn him in for interrogation if possible. But I'd spend alot of nights thinking about what he really deserves.
The 'solution' to suicide bombing is to kill the experts who run the machine. There is no unlimited supply of such experts. The average # of years of 'experience' among terrorist cell leaders has been steadily declining since the end of the cold war (not as many secure training patrons and training areas). The time will come when the support personnel (people who conduct fraud and scams to generate $$$ for terrorist operations, people who can keep up with cutting edge ID data to forge IDs, people who can accquire explosives and make relaible, super-effective bombs, etc.) are almost wiped out...if the pressure is kept up. Lost in the media assault on Israel is the fact that they have killed or captured alot of very well known and very dangerous terrorists in the past 5-7 years.
It's no different than attrition in warfare. By 1945 the LW was almost out of experienced, competent fighter pilots. Experienced terrorists don't grow on trees. They need training, and they need to survive operations to learn from mistakes.
Ah, sorry to wander all over with the reply.
In short -
Kamikaze pilots = enemy combat pilots with serious dedication
Suicide bombers/people who support suicide bombing = refuse in need of disposal, after questioning if possible
Also, suicide tactics are generally not a good idea. Japan went to Kamikaze tactics because they had no other real choice. But losing a trained pilot *for certain* to get a *chance* and damaging, and maybe sinking an enemy warship - bad trade there.
However, if the Allies went for invading the Japanese home islands, I think that Kamikaze wave that they 'saved up for' (what was it? More than 2,500 aircraft and pilots for use in one big wave if memory serves) would have been horrific.
Mike/wulfie
