Those of us in the "civilized" West tend to see things from a certain perspective, when the reality may - in fact - be quite different.
First, its important to distinguish what the goal is. In the case of radical Islam, could it be that a suicide death is viewed as a way out of poverty, pain and torment - and that doing it in the "name of God (Allah, god, whatever)" is simply a way to justify what would normally be viewed as the act of a sick mind? After all, the promise to the suicide bomber is residual fame and accolades, eternal life, seventy virgins, and the everlasting love of Allah. That's quite a different existence than that which he or she is living in now.
It's also important to acknowledge that, in radical Islam, the education system, legal system and cultural code is based entirely within the power and influence of the CLERICS. In Iraq, for example, there are assassinations and assassination attempts on the clerics precisely because they are the base of political power among the various groups.
This influence spills over into other Islam-based societies, such as Saudi Arabia, which has the two most sacred shrines of Islam - Medina and Mecca - the places to which devout Muslims pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
Very limited education except religious instruction, a strong sense of "persecution" by Western cultures, wealth consolidated among the very few...create an environment ripe with resentment, hostility, a sense of helplessness, and more. Add the flames of religious "righteousness" based on a very strict moral standard for salvation, and you'll see all kinds of stuff that is unexpected and befuddling to the western mind.
No religion which bases the promise of a joyful everlasting life on the works and actions of the BELIEVER is immune to this kind of intolerance. Eternity is held out as a carrot in front of the devout, and used to make him or her do all kinds of insane things to get the reward.
Even banning Barbie Dolls. Or books. Or stone monuments.
I am not excusing uncivilized behavior. But I do think we need to strive to see things from the other guys perspective before we declare what's right and what's wrong. In looking at ourselves as critically as we evaluate others, we may just see faults and shortcomings within our own code of morals that need to be adjusted.
I happen to agree with Rich and Mac and (to an extent) TrepMan. We need to extricate ourselves from the political and religious lives of people outside the U.S. We should actively seek ways to get ourselves off the dependence for mid-East oil. We shouldn't stick our noses under other people's tents unless invited. We should hold to a rigid definition of the free-establishment clause of the Constitution (separation of church and state). We should spend money on education, health care, the creation of jobs and fair employment.
And we should stomp down HARD anyone who physically attacks us.
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