This past fall marked the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America. While most of us paid homage to those lives lost in the form of a simple tweet or even a Facebook status update, I began to reflect not only on my life since that morning but also educating myself in understanding the motive behind acts so terrible. If our goal is to prevent another 9/11 and other anti-American terrorism, we must focus our efforts in understanding the individuals and societies that spawn the real weapon of mass destruction, the suicide terrorist.

One common misunderstanding is the presumption that modern suicide terrorism is solely the product of Islamic fundamentalism. Religion is merely a tool used by terrorist organizations to assist the broader strategic and political objective – that bottom line being nationalism and the expulsion of a foreign democratic occupation. That is not to say that religion isn’t a factor in any way, but is revered to as the most feasible way to associate an identity amongst the people of an occupied nation and create a sympathetic community. Another common stereotype of the modern suicide terrorist is that they are typically young, uneducated, poverty-stricken males that believe in their sacrifice in exchange for a form of paradise. A study done by the Chicago Project on Suicide Terrorism, showed that Arab suicide attackers are typically from the working- and or middle-class and are seldom unemployed, uneducated, or poor. Many of whom were regarded as contributors to the community. This type of cognizant individual is more likely to join a grassroots movement than most true religious fanatics.

Over the last ten years we have gained a better understanding of the identity of the enemy, and how he operates. It is evident that our massive military presence to promote and secure democracy in foreign nations invokes terror activities often resulting in suicide bombings. If we want to make progress in the war on terrorism, there must be a paradigm shift in how we carry out the mission of rooting out this terrorist breed. Understanding the human element down to its core communities (from which terror organizations gain sympathy) should be the primary focus. Being conscious of the patterns and trends of not only how terrorist groups operate but also of the confines where they exist will prove to be a far better weapon than boots on the ground.

Next week during the Special Operations Summit in Tampa, we’ll have the opportunity to engage regarding our experiences and capabilities within this community to create better understanding of the human terrain, and how to succeed in the mission at hand.