"It is hard to think of a more compelling issue in the international arena today than the question of who exactly is carrying out the suicide attacks in Iraq that have done so much to turn the country into a failing state. Mohammed Hafez has done the world a favor by producing this balanced, clearly written, and well-argued account of who the suicide attackers in Iraq are and why they are carrying out their deadly missions."

—Peter Bergen, author of The Osama bin Laden I Know

"Rich in information and balanced in its comments, this volume helps us understand how terrorism and repression feed each other, reducing the chances for a peaceful evolution in Iraq. Hafez applies social movement theories to help interpret radicalization processes by focusing attention on the interaction between direct experiences with violence and sentiments of victimization. He combines the analysis of macrohistorical conditions, inter-organizational competition and individual paths into the underground, without losing sight of the diverse strategies of both oppositional groups and state agencies."

—Professor Donatella della Porta, European University Institute

"Suicide Bombers in Iraq makes a signal contribution to the literature. Hafez has written what is the most detailed and authoritative account to date of suicide terrorism's impact on Iraq, along with its broader international implications. The book is especially noteworthy for its combination of meticulous research and incisive analysis. Suicide Bombers in Iraq is required reading for anyone seeking to understand the dynamics of the conflict in Iraq and the concomitant rise of this devastating tactic."

—Professor Bruce Hoffman, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, and Senior Fellow, Combating Terrorism Center, U.S. Military Academy

"Brilliantly considered, crisply written, unsparing in its conclusions, Suicide Bombers in Iraq is an absolutely essential contribution to understanding the factions that are warring over the future of that shattered country, the region, and Islam." 

—Lawrence Wright, author of The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11

"Mohammed Hafez has produced a compelling book, which is both wide-ranging in debating the phenomenon of suicide bombing in Iraq and pertinent in terms of the future of this pivotal state in the Middle East. The work combines a forensic approach to the reasons why suicide bombings occur with an analysis of the myriad motives of the suicide bombers. This is a trenchant text for all who wish to understand the complex politics of Iraq." 

—Professor Beverley Milton-Edwards, Queens University Belfast

"No better or more detailed analysis exists in making sense of the raging violence within Iraq and the nature of the terrorists. Mohammed Hafez’s mastery of the Iraqi insurgency and the forces behind it is unrivaled. No one better explores in detail the issue of foreign fighters in Iraq and the local forces of the insurgency. This seminal work is essential reading for anyone wanting to truly understand what is going on in Iraq and why the conflict is so intractable."

—Dr. Magnus Ranstorp, Research Director, Center for Asymmetric Threat Studies, Swedish National Defense College