THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA

A JOURNEY TOWARDS PEACE ~ 165 ~ opportunity to point out that there is also another field which we have to consider in connection with this peace mission—that of terrorism. That is, armed action by private groups and individuals. And let us not forget that where a super power cannot afford an endless war, terrorists can. These terrorists are people of a different breed: their ultimate goal is not necessarily victory. Death is also a desired goal for them. According to their selfstyled ideology, they believe that if they die in their militant struggle, they will instantly enter paradise. According to their beliefs, therefore, both victory and defeat have an equal value for them. In either case, they believe that they are the winners. Because of this unique ideology, these terrorists can continue their militancy for an indefinite period of time, generation after generation. But they are not a people apart. They are an integral part of their own whole generation. One of their great strengths is that the militants have an ideological factory for brainwashing their youths. This brainwashing process goes on unceasingly, and there is always a long queue of those who want to be recruited and be martyred.