Baghdad - (AP) - It goes against religious taboos in Iraq to involve women in fighting, but three recent suicide bombings carried out by women could indicate insurgents are growing increasingly desperate.

The female suicide attacks come as U.S.-led coalition forces are increasingly catching militants suspected of training women to become human bombs or finding evidence of efforts by al-Qaida in Iraq to recruit women, according to military records.

"There's a sense that this is an act of desperation," said Col. Donald Bacon, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad.

"Women should be in the last rows" of fighting. "So to see women (suicide bombers) shows an abnormal situation - the absence of men."

Because of Muslim cultural sensitivities, women can be excellent candidates for suicide attacks when there are no female security guards. Most Iraqis are conservative Muslims who believe physical contact is forbidden between women and men not related by blood or marriage. As a result, women are often allowed to pass through male-guarded checkpoints without being searched.

Although use of women can be a sign of desperation, female suicide bombers also help extremist groups attract male recruits. Militants exploit the image of desperate women fighting because there aren't enough brave men, taunting would-be male suicide bombers into action.
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Informative post owls.

Al-Qaida, Pigs.
I reckon if you wanna start something then be the one to take the blame.
How dare they use women, as if there lives arent hard enough.
God bless shrouded women.

You are not going to be able to please anyone. If the islamo-fascits forbid women from sacrificing their lives for Jihad, you would likely get some people saying its sexism.

Its a tragic situation no matter the gender and I fail to see how the sex of the person behind a suicide bombing make any differance.

You are absolutely right...
Be it a man or woman, I believe there is no difference in the sin or deed based on the sex, because at the end of the day, another life is lost, more lives taken with it.
Its sad, and I pray, no matter how unrealistic my prayer may be, I pray that one day... you know, simply put... there be peace in the world...