The Orlando Shooter's Desire for 'Martyrdom'

After each jihadist attack in the West, our society rehearses the same ritualistic debate over what the terrorists' motivations really are. It is true that "radicalization," as it is often described, is a complex process. The men who become terrorists may have psychological or other issues that compel them to act.

But ideas matter. And the early reporting on Omar Mateen's life shows that one idea in particular wormed its way into his brain: the supposed glory of jihadist "martyrdom."

Earlier today, FBI director James Comey discussed his bureau's investigation into Mateen, the terrorist who killed and wounded dozens at an Orlando nightclub. The FBI first looked into Mateen in 2013, closed its investigation in early 2014, but opened another just a few months later. During the first investigation, Comey said, the FBI found Mateen's comments to be contradictory.

"First, he claimed family connections to Al-Qaeda. He also said that he was a member of Hezbollah, which is a Shiite terrorist organization that is a bitter enemy of the so-called Islamic state, ISIL," Comeyexplained. "He said he hoped that law enforcement would raid his apartment and assault his wife and child so that he could martyr himself."

Let those words sink in: Mateen wanted to "martyr" himself.