The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan
More Books by James Dunnigan
|
Dirty Little Secrets
Sex and the Suicide Bomber
by James Dunnigan
December 18, 2005
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
Some young Islamic radicals have been
going to Iraq, not for suicide, but for sex. Islamic radicals all over
the Moslem world have been exhorting young men to go to Iraqi and join
the jihad against the foreign invaders. Many have answered the call,
even those outside the Moslem world, especially in Europe. But in
countries closer to Iraq, the objective for taking the journey is
sometimes more sensual than suicidal. In Syria, where the poor economy
creates few jobs for young men, the result is not much sex for these
lads either. If you want to get married, you need a job. If you want to
hire a hooker, you need money. If you try to get fresh with the girl
next door, you’re liable to get killed by her father or brothers.
What’s a horny young man to do? Well, there’s always Iraq. For years,
Syrians have looked with envy on oil rich Iraq. There were plenty of
wealthy Iraqis driving through Syria, on their way to the pleasure
palaces of Lebanon, or to spend their money on Syrian women, to feed
the fantasies. After the United States invaded in Iraq in 2003, stories
started circulating in Syria that Iraqi girls would put out for young
foreign men who volunteered to fight the invaders. Failing that, it was
said that prostitutes were much more abundant, and cheaper, than in
Syria.
Unsubstantiated stories like this are common in the
Arab world (and when they involve sex, are common the world over among
young men.) So groups of young Syrians began going off to Iraq, partly
to fight the hated foreigners, and partly to get a little trim. It
turned out that it was a lot easier to get killed, then sexually
satisfied, in Iraq. But many of the young fellows who survived and got
back, were too ashamed to admit that there were no eager young women
for them in Iraq, and hookers were no easier to find, or pay for, than
in Syria. So the legend continued. The al Qaeda recruiters stayed out
of it. Why screw up a great recruiting incentive.
|
|
