Mickey GralMrs. BoneshoComparative Cultures12 December 2013Islamic terrorism: motivations and rational responsesThe Middle East is a place rooted in the traditions of many religions, including Islam. Not limited to jihadism, Muslims believe that there is only one true God and their goal is the promotion of the religion and its ideals. Islamic terrorists try to achieve this goal often using violence in the name of religion. While terrorism practiced among Islamic organizations such as Al Qaeda is conducted under the influence of passion and fanaticism, acts of terror are perceived by the world as an irrational act of chaos and mental confusion. Given this dichotomy, the global community must respond rationally and with coherent policy. Body: On August 14, 2007, numerous car bombs in Al-Adnaniyah and Al-Qataniyah in Iraq killed over eight hundred people (Cave). The operation consisted of four suicide bombings. Behind the attacks of September 11, 2001, it was the second worst act of terrorism in history. It was also the deadliest of the entire Iraq war. The apprehension leading to this deadly car bomb included tension between Sunni and Yazidi Muslims. Sunni Islam, which is the largest branch of Islam, is often called the orthodox and most zealous branch of all the branches of Islam. The Yazidis, on the other hand, are an extremely small religious minority found in northern Iraq. Although no group took responsibility for the act, the United States believes that the terrorist organization Al Qaeda was the perpetrator (Tait). Abu Jassam, considered the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq during the attacks, was killed in 2007 by the US army (AFP). This attack is a... means of paper......n Truck Bombings in Iraq Increase to More than 500", New York, NY: New York Times. August 21, 2007: Web."Christmas Attacks in Nigeria by Muslim sect kill 39." USAToday.com. USA Today Digital Services, 25 December 2011. Web.Cruickshank, Paul. Al Qaeda: Critical Concepts in Political Science. Milton Park, Abringdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2013. PrintFalk, Avner. Islamic Terror: Conscious and Unconscious Motivations. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International, 2008. Print.Mshelizza, Ibrahim. “Christians Flee Attacks in Northeast Nigeria. Reuters.com,” January 7, 2012. Obinna, Ogbonnaya. “Boko Haram is the fight for 2015, says Chukwumerije.” The Nation Online NG, September 29, 2011. Web. “Progress in destroying Syria's chemical weapons.” CNN, December 6, 2013. Web.Tait, Paul "Al-Qaeda blamed for Yazidi massacre"..