Female Suicide Bombers

Abstract

Suicide bombers are today's weapon of choice. Terrorists are using suicide bombers because they are a low cost low technology and low risk weapon. Suicide bombers are readily available require little training leave no trace behind and strike fear into the general population. The success of suicide bombers is dependent upon an element of surprise as well as accessibility to targeted areas or populations. Both of these required elements have been successfully employed in the recent use of women as suicide bombers. Female suicide bombers were used in the past; however the recent spate of female suicide bombers in different venues in different countries and for different terrorist organizations forces us to study this terrorist method. This research paper reviews historical female suicide bombers focuses on female suicide bomber characteristics analyzes recent changes in application by various terrorist organizations and provides implications of change within a strategic assessment of future female suicide bombings.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 19, 2004
Accession Number
ADA424180

Entities

People

  • Debra D. Zedalis

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Counterterrorism
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Explosives
  • Homeland Security
  • Information Operations
  • International Relations
  • Man Borne Improvised Explosive Devices
  • Middle East
  • National Politics
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Students
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • Training
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Strategic Security Studies