Treason of the Cleric

THE September 11 terrorists lived for a long period with the certain knowledge that they were preparing their own deaths. Nineteenth-century nihilists and bomb-throwers and Bolsheviks also planned long term to sacrifice their lives for the cause. They moved in circles of poverty and desperation. It is the use of leisure time that separates out today’s Islamic extremists from their predecessors in fanaticism and terror.

For a start the September 11 terrorists had plenty of other people’s money and credit cards for the easy life. They hired cars and traveled. They bought expensive gadgets and communications systems. As Muslims, they were forbidden alcohol, but they frequented bars, and stood drinks all round. Again as Muslims, they were also supposed not to run after women, but they resorted to call girls and strip joints. A Florida lap dancer, the gorgeous Samantha, informs us that she displayed her charms a few inches from one terrorist, but the fellow then tipped her a lousy twenty bucks. What makes these men particular is that they were about to destroy what they were evidently enjoying.

THE September 11 terrorists lived for a long period with the certain knowledge that they were preparing their own deaths. Nineteenth-century nihilists and bomb-throwers and Bolsheviks also planned long term to sacrifice their lives for the cause. They moved in circles of poverty and desperation. It is the use of leisure time that separates out today’s Islamic extremists from their predecessors in fanaticism and terror.

For a start the September 11 terrorists had plenty of other people’s money and credit cards for the easy life. They hired cars and traveled. They bought expensive gadgets and communications systems. As Muslims, they were forbidden alcohol, but they frequented bars, and stood drinks all round. Again as Muslims, they were also supposed not to run after women, but they resorted to call girls and strip joints. A Florida lap dancer, the gorgeous Samantha, informs us that she displayed her charms a few inches from one terrorist, but the fellow then tipped her a lousy twenty bucks. What makes these men particular is that they were about to destroy what they were evidently enjoying.