Is the definition of Jihad and what we face today actually a new concept?

[ck4829]

RW'ers will tell us that we are in a war of civilizations against Islam, that this is how Muslims have always been and will always be like.

But, is this true?

Muslims have been dealt with, both positively and negatively, ever since its inception.

Some negative meetings include:

Crusades
Barbary Wars
Colonialism
World War II

These situations were battles that involved our Civilization and the Islamic World, in the Crusades, in the Barbary Wars, it was us against Pirates who were Muslim, Europeans colonized many countries that had Muslim populations, and in World War II, we ended up going into several countries that had Muslim populations.

And during these confrontations, there were no suicide bombings, no long lasting Insurgencies that never showed signs of fading, no attacks on civilians, in the Crusades, the Muslims were far more moral than the Christian Invaders were. But, something changed in the mid to late 20th Century, the question is, what was it?

[mrcheerful]

1. The IRA came about and it was seen how suicide bombings could effect governments.

Also Viet Nam suicide bombings of american forces was seen as helping the VC claim victory.

[CJCRANE]

2. The thing that changed

in terms of suicide bombings in the West is that the neocons needed a new Pearl Harbor.

However, the first suicide bombing (as we know them today) was in 1984 (IIRC) in the Iran-Iraq War. A 14-year old Iranian boy rolled under an Iraqi tank and detonated a bomb destroying the tank. It was simply another technique of warfare.

[LynnTheDem]

5. Kamikaze pilots.

Long before 1984.

[ellisonz]

3. I dunno.

But I'm going to start Reza Aslan's "No God But God" and then I can come back and give you an educated answer. However, from what I know as of now...the current Islamist movement came as a reaction to Nasar and Arab Statist nationalism. wiki the Egyptian Brotherhood.

Although, "suicide bombings" as a historical standard is silly.

[genie_weenie]

4. During the Crusades there were suicide attacks.

The were at the behest of the Old Man on the Mountain, who would get his men high on drugs (probably Opium) and send them off to kill their target, often with the "Assassin" dying in the attempt.

The question with Islam is one that has confounded all Great Ideas. Muhammad wished to create a Universal Brotherhood. No sects, all would praise Allah, all would learn arabic, all would belong.

But, of course, ideas of this nature seldom survive the death of the founder. Islam suffered several fractions, some members considered themselves greater than others, new converts had a zeal and ferocity for bloodshed and conquest which led to terrible death and violence. The Turks and Berbers were constantly at war with Byzantium and Europe, PRIOR to the Crusades.