The track has a controversial history , since it has often been viewed as promoting violence against Arabs . In the US , The Cure 's first compilation of singles , '' Standing on a Beach '' ( 1986 ) , was packaged with a sticker advising against racist usage of the song-after a student DJ on WPRB Princeton provided an exacerbating talk-up prior to playing the record in October 1986 . Smith and Elektra requested that radio stations discontinue airing the song and saw the sticker as a compromise to prevent having to pull the album from sale entirely . It saw controversy again during the Persian Gulf War and following the September 11 attacks . " Killing an Arab " was the only single from the '' Three Imaginary Boys '' era not to be included on that album 's 2004 remaster although it remains available on the albums '' Boys Do n't Cry '' and '' Standing on a Beach ''
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Killing an Arab