Comparing the Japanese to modern suicide warriors brings little satisfaction. Their suicide was in defense of a nation with borders, not some vague fanatical notion Of a Muslim people. Thus, defeat or victory was easy to define.
In addition, the suicide spirit was cultivated in wartime Japan, amidst all the isolation that entailed. This is a far cry from wandering thru airports, western colleges, strip bars, and various part time jobs in western businesses. A few officers like Yamamoto had extensive exposure to western lands and culture. His experience therefore made him more realistic - and somewhat pessimistic - about war with the US. He knew they needed a quick victory - something very different from the twisted schemes of Muslim fanatics. Shinto was the religion of a single nation and not something easily exported by missionaries, unlike the aggressive claims of Islam. The recent attempted bombings in London did not manifest a great deal of invested money - plane tickets and peroxide bombs are the weapons of the poor. Pakistan is not an oil power. On the other hand, loss of oil money might dry up some Wahabist schools. I also see some value in the current Shia/Sunni divide coming out in the open. It may be best to keep them divided and killing each other, if rationality cannot otherwise prevail.
