Summary of “The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism" by Robert Pape.

Basically, what Pape is saying in this article is that our
common views of why people commit suicide bombings is incorrect.  We tend to see it as
an act of desperation and of religious fanaticism.  Pape argues instead that it is a
strategically logical action that is not unique to religious
fanatics.

Pape points out a couple of important things. 
First, he says the at the leader in suicide attacks have been the (non-religious) Tamil
Tigers on Sri Lanka.  Second, he points out that suicide terror campaigns have generally
worked to pressure democracies to give in to the
terrorists.

So he's saying it's logical to do this (for the
groups if not for the individuals) and that liberal democracies need to be sure to avoid
giving in so that more groups will not see this as a way to
success.