Disturbing
One of the most disturbing things I’ve seen in recent days is the political reaction to the London bombings from outside the UK, and particularly from west of the Atlantic. For some seem to be reacting with the sort of secret smug glee you might feel when your disliked neighbour’s house gets burgled instead of yours. On America’s Fox News an anchorman declared that it ‘works to our advantage, in the Western world’s advantage‘, the implication being something along the lines of ‘maybe those inconsiderate Brits will understand now’.
Meanwhile our old and beloved friend George W Bush is busy telling us how we need to step up the war on terror as a ‘robust reponse’. And you can be sure that when there’s a perceived opportunity to get public opinion behind more death and destruction in far-off lands Russian president Vladimir Putin is right there looking for a piece of the action.
Of course, all of this completely ignores the fact that London was a major terrorist target long before American politicians even knew what that meant. The idea of Washington and Moscow preaching to us about how to deal with terrorists would be funny if the timing wasn’t so gratuitously opportunistic. Thankfully the British public simply aren’t that stupid. John Simpson says it all in his BBC article and Robin Cook’s opinion in The Guardian is also definitely worth a read. Plus there are some great humorous quips on this forum here.
Simply put, terrorism is a crime. In our civilised, free society crimes are dealt with by solid police investigation, trial and appropriate punishment. Not by dropping bombs on innocent people whose only crime is being far enough away that we can choose not to care. The ‘war on terror’ is morally equivalent to dropping bombs on Liverpool because some people claim it’s full of petty thieves. Last Thursday also proved it to be a complete and utter failure.
July 13th, 2005 at 3:14 am
The comments on American Fox News may explain why the 10,000 American servicemen from Mildenhall and Lakenheath were initially banned from going inside the M25 road round London. The ban was lifted only after protests by the tourist board and government.
July 20th, 2005 at 10:22 pm
Given that my home town of St.Albans was bombed three times by the IRA, not to mention the fact that Paul and I were living in Manchester when that truck of semtex tore through the city centre, I am somewhat bemused by the US’s response to this recent incident.
In terms of damage and loss of life, it’s an underachievement compared to what the IRA or the provos managed to acheive through the 80s and 90s.
I don’t remember any anti-irish feelings coming across the atlantic back then, so why all this drama now? Surely this is our problem to be getting on with? I think Bush’s little team of hawks should f**k off and die.
July 22nd, 2005 at 11:24 pm
Blimey, a lot’s happened since I wrote that last comment.
Yesterday: 13:00hrs . Four more bombers, three more trains and one more bus. Only this time they screwed up and the detonators failed to get their explosives to sympathise with them. A man in chased from Warren Street tube, though UCH and onwards.
Today: 10:00hrs A man is chased onto a populated tube train at Stockwell, pinned to the floor and perforated four times by armed police. The man dies of his injuries whilst ambulance crews try to revive him.
To those who wish to terrorize, watch your step. It’s Belfast rules now.
July 22nd, 2005 at 11:39 pm
Bloody hell! Harrow road has just had an incident. More shootings apparently…?