To: The Sydney Morning Herald

Sent: Thursday, 4 October 2001 5:57 PM

Subject: Perpetual pleasure

Status: Published

When U.S. psychological warfare experts sit down for a long overdue look at the Muslim belief system, they might gain some useful insights. For example, the faithful who die during a jihad go straight to paradise, where houris
welcome them to perpetual pleasure. (My memories of the Qoran and a smattering of Arabic learnt in XXX in the late 'Fifties have become rather vague after 50-odd years...)

Considering the sexual repression in most Islamic societies, it should not surprise that lots of fired-up young men might consider a "hero's" death as a valid shortcut to instant bliss. Perhaps the West should consider offering some equivalent attraction THIS side of death's door? How about a Feast Corps, with all the trimmings?