Robert Fisks' article “The Cult of the Suicide Bomber”, published in 2008, addresses the rise and cult like glorification of suicide bombers in Middle East. Fisk speculates that this increase is, in part, due to the declaration of a "war on terrorism" by the United States and coalition forces. Fisk offers a unique perspective on the life of a man, Khaled, conditioned to be a suicide bomber. The article touches on the social, cultural, and familial influences that encourage self-liquidation as an extreme method of religious devotion. Fisk offers a perspective rarely presented by Western media, which commonly views these people as “faceless cowardly lunatics bent on senseless destruction.” Humanizing these people, he depicts suicide bombers as a cross between people seeking the glory of fighting for their beliefs in a war with that of a victim, who have been brainwashed into this "cult" to sacrifice themselves for the the goal of others. Fisk's classification of suicide bombers as a cult highlights the strong psychological control exercised over those trained to become suicide bombers, controlling when and how they end their lives. Fisk also highlights fear as a motivation for these actions. A quote taken from Saddam Hussein's vice president, Taha Yassin: "The US administration will turn the entire world into people ready to die for their nation", believing that this was the only way to counter US forces and warring allies . Middle East. Suicide bombers have a distinct image in Western media and academic literature. Gilbert Burnham argues that suicide bombers arise where there is widespread suffering and anger with a desire for revenge on the part of those who have experienced personal or communal loss. United States Senator ...... middle of document ...... atori/fisk/robert-fisk-the-cult-of-the-suicide-bomber-795649.html 04/15/14Hicks, Madelyn Hsiao-Rei . Dardagan, Hamit. Bagnall, Peter M. Spagat, Michael. Sloboda, John A. "Coalition soldier and civilian casualties from suicide bombings in Iraq, 2003-2010: a descriptive study" The Lancet, volume 378, number 9794, 3-9 September 2011, pages 906-914 Lester, David. "Are suicide bombers heroes?" Psychological reports vol. 106, n. 2. 2010, pp. 499-500Pape, Robert “Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism” Australian Army Journal Vol. 3, No. 3, 2006 pp. 25-37Tobena, Adolf and Scott Atran. “Individual factors in suicide terrorism.” Science vol. 304 No. 5667 2004 pp. 47+. Online access < http://go.galegroup.com.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA115495163&v=2.1&u=macquarie&it=r&p=EAIM&sw=w&asid=58a10bc2894e4b0625a274e61edab41c > 14/04/14