The Foreign Service Journal, September 2004

Center a logical target in the twisted minds of the al- Qaida plotters. The Pentagon was another logical objec- tive, particularly if one thinks of the ubiquitous U.S. mil- itary presence in friendly Arab countries today as the lat- est incarnation of the 12th-century Crusaders. Finally, the 9/11 terrorists and the kamikazes shared a fanaticism with religious overtones. The al-Qaida plotters saw themselves as moral crusaders against the infidels of the West, and claimed paradise as their just reward. In February 1998, al-Qaida formalized this crusade under the banner of “The International Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders.” Mohammed Atta’s final sheet of instructions to fellow 9/11 hijackers read in part: “Shout ‘God is great!’ Know that the gardens of paradise are waiting for you in all their beauty, and the women of paradise are waiting, calling out, ‘Come hither, friend of God.’ They have dressed in their most beautiful clothing.” For their part, the kamikazes hewed to the bushido version of Japan’s Shinto religion that states “an honor- able death in defense of the emperor is a great blessing.” They were, in the words of their commander, “gods with- out earthly desires.” In one fell swoop, the kamikaze’s nosedive glorified religion, patriotism, tradition and ter- ror — the key elements in understanding the use of sui- cide terrorism by America’s adversaries today. Fortunately, contemporary Japan is a far cry from Islamic societies that spawn religious terrorists. The rich Japanese live in a pacifist, cohesive and high- achieving culture. Today the kamikaze’s bushido spirit is manifested in the salaryman’s proverbial loyalty to the company. He spends an entire career as a desk- bound corporate warrior, making it far more likely that he will die from karoshi — death from overwork at the office — than seppuku. His loyalty is reinforced by such company benefits as borrowing against his retire- ment account to buy a house or to send his children to the university. Will a similar peaceful transformation be the fate of today’s would-be religious terrorists? Let us hope so. F O C U S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 4 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 57 Interim Accommodations for Corporate and Government Markets Apartments, Townhouses & Single Family Homes “FOR THE EXECUTIVE ON THE MOVE” finder5@IX.netcom.com Locations throughout Northern Virginia and D.C. Units fully furnished, equipped and accessorized Many “Walk to Metro” locations Pet Friendly 5105-L Backlick Road, Annandale, Virginia Tel: (703) 354-4070 Fax: (703) 642-3619 Executive Lodging Alternatives Open 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Open all year, closed federal holidays. Full-time and drop-in care for infants and children, from six weeks old to kindergarten. Computers, music appreciation, foreign languages, and dance. Tuition assistance available for qualified families. CFC (#7861) Contributions and recycling funds used for tuition assistance. U.S. Department of State Child Development Center 2401 E Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20520 (202) 663-3555 e-mail:ecdcdiplotos@yahoo.com CFC #7861 DiploTots Diplotots Child Development Center services State Department and federal employees