I'm not ranger steve, but I am a member. Some weeks ago I updated my web software, and my cookie vanished with the old stuff.

How would I know about the terrorist world? How would YOU know about homosexuality and suicide rate? I presume in the same way: by reading about it and studying it. I mentioned the article in the Atlantic, which is one place you can go to. Abu Iyad, former head of Black September (Arafat's fanatical fighters), explains that the men in Black September had no real reason to live rather than die: they were young, unmarried, without good jobs or prospects. As soon as they married these men off, they ceased to want to take part in terrorist activity. Iyad even tested them by offering them missions. Wihout exception, they refused.

One more thing: without exception, the Black September members fell in love and married. It is reasonable to assume, then, that most of them were not gay.

If you imagine that Al Quaeda is unaware of the Black September case, fine. But given the way the world of Islamic terror organizations is laid out--with the same people being members of organizations in different countries throughout the Middle East--it's very unlikely. Therefore, this experiment alone is enough to tell Bin Laden that the people he needs to seek out for suicide missions are young, unmarried men.

Once again, the only evidence you've presented is that they're young, unmarried men (which is explained by the above) that they stayed away from American hookers (hardly surprising for Islamic fundamentalist fanatics), and that gay men have a high suicide rate. But this was not primarily suicide, it was primarily genocide. If I wanted to kill myself, I would NOT do it this way, and neither would you, I trust.

Therefore, I just don't see any evidence of homosexuality. As to the remarks being homophobic, it's an open question whether suggesting that something about gay men makes them more likely than straight men to kill 10,000 people is homophobic. I think many people would say it is, regardless of your intentions. I understand that you don't mean to give offense, and I, not being gay, don't personally take offense. But I have plenty of gay friends who would!

And BTW, Kat is right. In many cultures it is taboo to have sex before battle. I do not know what Afghani or Arab customs are in this regard.

Steve