Al-Maghrebi asked: "Who's more cowardly, the suicide bomber or the stealth bomber?"?

Question

Lots of people answered Al-Maghrebi's question, but then he took it off the the Yahoo Answers board. So I'm re-posting it for further discussion. By the way, Al-Maghrebi means "the Maghrebian" in Arabic -- it's an adjective. The writer is saying that he is from the Maghreb region, which includes Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

I'll post my answer to his question below and then all you kids can chime in.

They are both brave, if we're assuming that they are attacking legitimate military targets.

The Japanese Kamikaze of WWII, for example, and the attack on the USS Cole, are brave suicide operations. (I'm not a big fan of attacks on my country, though -- but the bombers were brave nonetheless).

Now, the stealth bomber is brave too. Flying behind enemy lines with just enough fuel for the mission. The weather, a mechanical malfunction or a well aimed enemy shot can bring your plane down. And if you survive the bail out, will your captors treat you well? Or will they burn you and drag your body through the streets? And if you return to base without a scratch, you've got to fly another mission all over again.

Of course, most suicide bomb missions in recent history have been against civilians at weddings in Jordan, on trains in Europe, in lines for jobs in Iraq, and even office workers in high-rise buildings. Those attacks are cheap shots -- against defenseless, unsuspecting victims.

I wish the suicide bombers would redeem themselves and try their luck against a nice, M1-A1 main battle tank.

But that's the problem, isn't it?

Answer 1

I do believe you have pretty much said it all.

Or at least all that needs said.

Answer 2

This is not a bravery issue. Remember that the Waffen SS soldiers were also brave.

This is a morality issue. The suicide bomber is worthy only of contempt because he prefers to kill innocents.

BTW bel;ow is an interesting commentary on suicide attacks:

Answer 3

The suicide bomber does it for purely selfish reasons: Get to paradise, get 70 virgins, and get $25,000 for his parents. That was the going rate that Sadaam paid, anyway. The pilot does it to defeat the enemies of civilization. Big difference in motivation.

Answer 4

I doubt each is a coward. You gotta be crazy to be a SB and pretty ballzy to be a stealth bomber