London Underground Explodes

[ibm]

trotsky, i didn't say hatred is good or bad, just or unjust. i was just saying there's a reason for everything to happen.

[rcne]

We are very good in the West in dealing in the abstracts and morality issues, but can not consider that for some barbarisms is a way of life.

How do you reason with a mad man?

I hope all your friends are safe Matt.

[popi]

exactly why jesus advocated turning the other cheeck so as not to proliferate the atrocities but its awfully hard to do in practice especially when the murderers don't seem open to reason

[Jack]

How do you reason with a mad man?

That's the problem, we (the U.S. anyway) have little or no experience in dealing with people who are willing to blow themselves up. We're trying to react in the same ways we have to past threats, and it's not working. We can't rely on history now, we have to start coming up with new solutions. We have to develope ways to protect ourselves while at the same time not creating more martyrs for our enemies.

[ibm]

Quote by: rcne How do you reason with a mad man?

if you already have assumed the man is mad, then there is no way you can reason.

[tinybear]

CAIRO, Egypt - A group calling itself "The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe" posted a claim of responsibility for Thursday's blasts in London, saying they were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in
Iraq and Afghanistan.

The statement, which also threatened attacks in Italy and Denmark, was published on a Web site popular with Islamic militants, according to Elaph, a secular Arabic-language news Web site, and Der Spiegel magazine in Berlin, which published the text on their Web sites.

"Rejoice, Islamic nation. Rejoice, Arab world. The time has come for vengeance against the Zionist crusader government of Britain in response to the massacres Britain committed in Iraq and Afghanistan," said the statement, translated by The Associated Press in Cairo.

In the new statement, the group said "the heroic mujahedeen carried out a blessed attack in London, and now Britain is burning with fear and terror, from north to south, east to west."

"We warned the British government and the British people repeatedly. We have carried out our promise and carried out a military attack in Britain after great efforts by the heroic mujahedeen over a long period to ensure its success."

"We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all crusader governments that they will receive the same punishment if they do not withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan," the statement went on.

It was signed "The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/britain_explosions_al_qaida

[Jack]

And I applaud the people in London for not being terrorized, not reacting with panic and vengence. A rational reaction does much to disarm the purposes of the terrorists, whoever they may be.

[Whodoe!]

The Islamic extremists have stated clearly their intention to kill westerners at any opportune moment. I fail to see any reason for sensitivity and understanding in dealing with this mindset of a group bent on the destruction of their version of non-believers. What historical example is there for successfully understanding and helping to appease people who want to kill you? They don’t want a seat in the Senate or on Wall Street. No special education or health care system. They just want to exterminate us. Also, it is important to note that their minds are in a place most of us would describe as ancient history. Appeasement in their mind is weakness.

Their ultimate governmental design was the Taliban. The Taliban dealt with dissenters by dragging them out into soccer stadiums and beating them and/or shooting them. Men, women, elderly or young people had no separate distinction. Either conform or die were instructions for their own people. Die is their instruction for us.

If the West fails to render these people harmless, they will keep trying to kill us. What is confusing about that? What is the need for understanding? Think they would accept our apology for existing and not kill us?

[Prometheus]

I am continually baffled by how/why we feel we have to justify the actions of terrorists. I don't care why, I just care that they stop. You can blame the US and Britain all you want - it dosen't matter. Terrorism cannot be tolerated, no matter how shitty we may have been in the past.

[ibm]

Quote by: Prometheus ... Terrorism cannot be tolerated, no matter how shitty we may have been in the past.

agree. no question about it. it has to be stopped. the question is how. what has been done post-911 obviously is not working.

[Matt W]

Y'see, folks, if we go ahead and kill everyone who thinks a way we don't like, how is that good? I mean, if the British army had thought that way in the early 1900s, there wouldn't be many Catholic Irish alive right now! Hell, even the Nazis didn't stoop THAT low - they'd've shot every Frenchman except the collaborators in Vichy if they had!

It's not about understanding and sympathising and apologising and being a good 'surrender-monkey' like some of you advocating a 'harsher' solution seem to think. There ARE no quick fixes to terrorism - and the best way to deal with it is 'softly softly'. Look at N.Ireland - terrorists turned politicians. Look at Palestine - I don't THINK so.....

[tinybear]

Hey, who said anything about killing everyone who thinks a way we don't like? I certainly did not. We're talking about killing murderers who have declared all-out war against us; people who will cold-bloodedly kill us, our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers and babies and will rejoice after they have done so.

[Chalk]

I think my friend will be cancelling her shopping trip she had planned for tomorrow... could be a lot worse though.

[Chris the Chees]

Hmm, well the terrorists are in for a bit of a shock, if they think that this is going to shock people. This is the UK guys; terrorists, been there done that, got the t-shirt.

[fedfem]

Quote by: Prometheus I am continually baffled by how/why we feel we have to justify the actions of terrorists. I don't care why, I just care that they stop. You can blame the US and Britain all you want - it dosen't matter. Terrorism cannot be tolerated, no matter how shitty we may have been in the past.

You can never stop terrorism. You would have to stop war, inequality, religous fundamentalism, politics etc. first.

[Whodoe!]

Quote by: Chris the Chees Hmm, well the terrorists are in for a bit of a shock, if they think that this is going to shock people. This is the UK guys; terrorists, been there done that, got the t-shirt.

I think dealing with terrorists with a yawn is perhaps the most immediate cushion to their threats. Like bad children, they thrive in and demand attention!

[Chalk]

Quote by: Chris the Chees This is the UK guys; terrorists, been there done that, got the t-shirt.

I know.. I got in from work and it's like 'Did you hear about that London disaster?' 'No, what happened?' 'Some bombs went off' 'oh right. Thats not good.' Funny my mum mentioned bombs not terrorists.

[Zeebadee]

If this wasn't so tragic, it would be funny. The same people that dismissed innocent civilian deaths in Iraq with statements like "collateral damage", "hey, it's war, shit happens", "they were probably supporting the terrorists", and "kill 'em all" are now outraged at a retaliatory attack. What the hell did you think was going to happen? One of the fundamental rules of war is to take the fight to the enemy. Is there really much difference between this attack and dropping a 500 pound bomb on an occupied apartment building in Fallujah because there might be suspected terrorists in it? Like Mr. V puts it, " Freedom is freedom. And it requires blood.". Ok, here's your blood, are you happy now?

[tinybear]

Something tells me you're the only one who thinks this whole incident is evenly remotely funny.

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: tinybear Something tells me you're the only one who thinks this whole incident is evenly remotely funny.

No, tinybear, it's not funny. And Zee said it was tragic, not funny.

The US and Brits have been playing with fire. Should we be surprised when our citizens get burned? Sad part is the victims have nothing to do with the wars. And if this attack can be linked to Islamic Fundamentalism, it still must be viewed as a retaliatory lunge from an enemy who has little military resources. Asymmetrical warfare targets the enemy where he is weak. My sympathies to the innocent transit riders in London. And my sympathy to the hapless villagers of Afghanistan and the civilian dead and injured of Iraq. Who to blame?

You folks probably know my unpopular views...

Tinybear says, "Hunt them down"

Agreed . It is an international police effort, not workable on a military level in the Middle East. THAT engagement is about something else entirely, and amounts to hitting a hornet's nest with a stick.