The use of the word "cowardly" to describe assassins & suicide bombers is perfectly correct: a brave person stays and fights, deals with his problems here on earth however great; he does not escape by blowing himself up (and often innocents along w/ him) thus catapulting himself into a "problem free" state (heaven, oblivion, whatever). Bravery, in this sense, is staying and fighting and facing life, come what horrors (real or imagined) that may. Suicide, in the case of suicide bombers, is indeed cowardly. It is escapism. This is what is meant (whether you agree with it or not) when people say suicide bombers are cowardly, and it makes perfect sense.

Why do think dying for a cause is so brave? You're down, you're out, you're benched, you'll never get back in the game. Whatever "bad thing" you fear will happen to you and/or your people if "your side" doesn't win--well, you've conveniently escaped that fate and left it others to live through out without you. And there are some fates worse than death. That's what you all do not seem to understand.