Clarification/Follow-up by tomder55 on 02/09/07 3:38 pm:
I don't see a pyshcological comparison at all. A kamikaze was heroic . A homicide bomber performs cowardly acts against innocent civilians . He is given a false promise of a reward for his act . It is not courageous ;it is not selfless.

What is a sucicide mission in military terms ? Joshua Chamberlain leading 300 tired troops of the 20th Maine ,who were out of ammo ,in a bayonet charge down Little Round Top during the battle of Gettysburg is one .

During the battle Gen Winfield Scott Hancock found a gap in the Union Center that the Confederates were poised to exploit . He needed to quickly plug the gap . To make time he ordered 262 men of the 1 Minnesota to charge a Confederate postion of 1600 men. 47 returned ;but they gave the General time to plug the gap. That was a suicide mission worthy of a soldier.

In a desperate move to destroy the Union position on the 3rd day of the battle General Lee sacrificed the entire Pickett corp. Their charge was a suicide mission that was honorable .

I see no heroism in homicide bombers at all.