Another suggested name for Palestinian murder-suicide bombers
Andrew Sullivan says that one his readers suggested that the Palestinian murder-suicide bombers be called, "Islamikazes."

I know that people have been searching for a handle for these murderers who take their own lives in the process, and Islamikaze has a catchy ring to it. But for some reason I can't bring myself to adopt it. I find myself reacting, incredibly, that it tarnishes the image of the Japanese kamikaze pilots of World war II.

All of Japan's kamikaze pilots were properly enrolled members of the national armed forces of a legitimate nation-state. They wore regular uniforms. They did not attack by deceit, but openly. They attacked only completely legitimate military targets - American ships - and so all the casualties kamikazes caused were military casualties. When the Japanese surrendered, there were no rogue kamikaze pilots who continued to attack. When ordered to cease, they ceased. They picked up their lives as best as they could, and lived in peace with the American occupiers.

Compared to Palestinian murder-suicide bombers, the Japanese kamikaze pilots now seem positively noble.

So I can't use "Islamikaze." Compared to the Palestinians, the Japanese kamikazes seem like straight-up guys.

-- Andrew also linked to a "gripping piece" in the Toronto Star. He's right. It's a kind of analysis of the bombings I haven't seen in any US media.