To the Point

Suicide Bombings and Extremism in the Middle East

Suicide bombers have wreaked havoc in Israel, but Israel's military reaction has caused more Palestinian suffering. So it's no surprise that a practice, deplored by much of the world, is hotly debated by Muslims. Militant groups cite the promise of martyrdom for striking fear in the heart of a hated enemy while others maintain that suicide is a sin. Still others justify the practice against military targets as long as it does not harm innocent civilians. As Israel braces for more attacks, we hear about the complex, confounding background of suicide bombing from historians, and political and religious experts. Newsmaker: Logging Policy Helps Kindle Nation's Fires - America's fire danger has reached a feverish peak with so many fires burning that crews and equipment are nearly exhausted. Mike Milstein, of The Oregonian, identifies several of the causes, including a national logging policy that provides plenty of kindling. Reporter's Notebook: California Judge Removed from Bench for Falsifying Personal History - The defendant claimed a lifetime of lying was due to a psychological disorder, but state Commission on Judicial Performance didn't believe it. Now the California judge has been kicked off the bench. Donna Domino, of the San Francisco Daily Journal, updates the unusual case of the well-respected jurist who couldn't tell truth from lie.