Terrorists in the dark?

Question

When terrorists kidnap and execute hostages as a means to coerce the United States into leaving, is it because they are unaware that the United States can never give into terrorists' demands, no matter how extreme?

I mean, do they actually think the following: "Hey, it hasn't worked so far, but we just kidnapped Charlie Smith from Nebraska, and this is going to be the straw that will break the camel's back. After Bush knows that Charlie is a hostage and he is from the US. He's going to start withdrawing troops by our deadline of next Tuesday."?

Is this truly the pathology of the terrorist mind?

Answer 1

That's part of it. And terrorists aren't the only ones that will keep trying more of the same thing that hasn't worked 100 times before.
The fact is that, for many years, the US simply absorbed attacks (most of which were not on US soil, though) and even retreated. So, the terrorists have seen this tactic work in the past. It worked very well in Spain, where a few coordinated terrorist attacks turned the election in the direction the terrorists wanted.

Answer 2

The sad truth is, taking & threatening to execute hostages works. The kidnappers seldom get all they ask for, but when everything else fails, they almost always get something in return. We are just never told what it is.

IOW, "We do not negotiate with terrorists!" is a crock of moose puckey & always has been.

Answer 3

the terrorist's who want to kill the idea of freedom and democracy that the west must defend know that they have no chance to beat american military so they must carry out these sensational attacks such as suicide bombing and beheadings that make some would say great news inwhich to influence the civilian population into thinking that we are not making progress fighting these radical muslims who will not stop killing innocent people and brave members of the armed forces unless "the west" helps the moderate muslims spread the idea of religious tolerance and liberty for all.