Surge in Suicide Bombings in Iraq
After months of relative calm, Iraq has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of suicide attacks in the month of April. From 2005 to 2007, Iraq experienced a spike in suicide attacks, many of which were indiscriminately aimed at Iraqi civilians. Previously, suicide attacks globally tended to target military forces, police forces, and economic institutions, primarily in the hope of driving foreign occupiers out of real or perceived homelands. Examples of this include Hezbollah's attacks against Israeli and coalition forces in Lebanon in the 1980s, Hamas' attacks against Israelis in the 1990s, and Al Qaeda’s September 11th attacks to draw the United States into a protracted war. Al Qaeda-in-Iraq's rampant suicide attacks on Iraqi civilians—usually planned and executed by non-Iraqis—was a novel and foreboding trend in suicide terrorism. The motive of national liberation degraded into merely causing chaos to create a neo-Caliphate in Iraq and attaining a quick path to heaven for the so-called martyr.
The spate of civilian deaths damaged Al Qaeda's image, in Iraq and abroad, and contributed to the willingness of former Sunni insurgents to cooperate with coalition forces. The Army's surge in 2007 helped to reduce the number of suicide attacks, as former insurgents and American soldiers cracked down on Al Qaeda safe havens and human smuggling routes along the Syrian border. These recent attacks, however, suggest that Al Qaeda in Iraq and its comrade group Ansar Al-Sunnah are attempting to make a statement about security in Iraq, or lack thereof, once the United States military draws down. It remains to be seen whether this is a last-gasp effort or a genuine resurgence of jihadist activity.
For more information on suicide bombers, click here.
Can Improved Battery Technology Make the Army Greener?
Rechargeable batteries were first invented in the mid 1850s. Since then, battery technology has allowed for more powerful applications and longer battery life. Recently, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering developed a new lithium ion battery that is capable of recharging in only a few seconds.
The increased focus on alternatives to fossil fuels has led to a shift in the domestic emphasis on commercial hybrid electric vehicles and other battery-related technologies. This advancement in battery recharging technology, coupled with a decrease in development costs (driven by wider commercial use), could possible lead to a wider adoption of these batteries by the armed services. Potential applications include:
- Rapid re-charge stations for common personal-use equipment (laptops computers, cell phones, radios, etc.).
- Unmanned vehicles
- Hybrid electric vehicles
For more on battery technology, click here and scroll down to section 4.2 "High Energy Density Battery R & D."
Video: When Mothers Become Suicide Bombers:
This short clip highlights the actions of an elderly Palestinian woman who decided to do more than just protest the presence of Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip. The UWAC has published several reports on suicide bombers.
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