Archive for the ‘London’ tag
Fear and Loathing in London
Yesterday London’s Mayor Ken Livingstone warned two groups to stay away from the protest in London’s Trafalgar Square. He singled out football thugs and extremists saying police would halt any attempt to disrupt the demonstration.
As the protests were specifically to explain the views of moderate Muslims towards the Danish cartoons, it is not surprising that Mr Livingstone used the phrase “extremists” and not “Islamic extremists”. More surprising is his emphasis on ”football thugs” rather than just “thugs”.
Presumably thugs who do not like football are more than welcome at the rally. They are definitely more than welcome in New Labour. In fact they are indispensable for roughing up elderly men who heckle Government Ministers.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Reassuring the Public
UK blogs are full of the call for a public enquiry into the London bombings of June. There are many good reasons to have a public enquiry. See Rachel From North London and BlairWatch for a start.
One thing I would like to see examined is the policing that followed the attacks.
People I know working in central London tell tales of continuous police sirens, repeat security alerts, helicopters overhead throughout the day. Central London swamped with Police with automatic weapons.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Absolutely Compelling
This week the government published its proposals for new anti-terrorist legislation allowing detention for 90 days without charge. The provision – first suggested by ministers after the July 7 London bombings – would extend the present limit of 14 days in police custody without charge for terror suspects by more than six times.
Tony Blair insisted the case for holding terror suspects without trial for up to 90 days was “absolutely compelling” He said his concern was “to protect people in this country and to make sure their safety and their civil liberty to life come first”.
The formulation “civil liberty to life” is something government lawyers recently dreamt up to allow them it ignore any human rights legislation they do not like. If the government really thought that the “civil liberty to life “ was more important than any thing else it would reduce the speed limit on the roads. Far more people are killed on the roads in the UK than by terrorist activities.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Terror Lite
A second attack in London has been described as a failed attack as the bombs failed to cause any deaths or appreciable damage. The first attack on London met with almost universal condemnation in the Muslim world.
If the object of the attack was to raise the wider Muslim world in jihad against the west it has failed completely. All it has done is underline exactly how little in common the fanatics of al-Qaida have with a typically devout Muslim. If the government can keep its head then the political cost to the attackers so far out weigh the likely gains.
The second attack, where all four bombs failed to detonate has taken this lesson on board. The objectives of spreading fear and discord in the UK are advanced with little political cost to the attacker. This suggests an intelligent analytical mind co-ordinating the campaign. Not unconnected, self directing terror cells.
Now is the time when everyone in the security forces must keep a calm head and steady aim. What could be better from al-Qaida point of view, if UK security forces kill an unarmed civilian. What propaganda usage could be made of that.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Designer Terrorism
Or how to get your enemy to defeat themselves.
Firstly persuade some young men to do something horrific and terrifying without explanation or time table. Then when the act is carried out, claim it is in retaliation for what ever is bugging you at the moment.
Then a whole host of people with varying degrees of sympathy to your cause (which you must define as widely as possible), can claim the act was provoked by their particular bête noir.
Wait and see which cause generates the most sympathy then claim it was this all along which provided the provocation that justifies the act.
Divide and Conquer
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