Posted on 07/13/2005 6:08:48 AM PDT by MikeJ
This is speculation on my part, but after conversations with several people I have come to believe that the London bombers did not know they were on a suicide mission. Here's why:
1) At least three of the four bombers had their ID cards with them, leading police directly back to their homes.
2) The bombs went off simultaneously, strongly suggesting they were set off by either timers or remote control.
3) The bombs were unusually small and light, reportedly only ten pounds. They were carried in backpacks, not vests.
4) There were no boasting videos left behind, no suicide notes.
5) From what I have seen in the press, the bombers did not seem to fit the profile of suicide bombers we've seen in Israel - people with a personal score to settle, people with obvious jihadist ambitions, or people who have shamed their families and who are looking for redemption. Furthermore, bombers are typically nervous and quiet when approaching their targets; these guys "were captured on CCTV at 8.20am walking through a subway at King’s Cross. One security source said last night: 'They looked like they were going for a hike. They were chatting to each other and smiling.'"
This is not to say they were likely to be entirely innocent, either; one left his car behind, presumably with more explosives inside. However, if these guys were tricked into carrying these bombs I think it would be a fairly big deal. For one, it would suggest that the bad guys have less influence in London then we feared, and secondly, it might generate some backlash against the bomb plot leaders from fellow Muslims, and make future recruits less willing to trust their handlers.
You make some good points.
Wasn't there some opinions that most of the hijackers on 9-11 did not know they were on a suicide mission and only the leaders, who were in the cockpit, knew the true nature os the hijackings.
Is this article saying that they were moderate muslims? Hated the West but not enough to be suicide bombers? Maybe transporting the bombs from one location to another and they were blown up by remote control? What about the guy on the bus who was frantically looking through his backpack? Did he have second thoughts about his role as a courier or was he looking for his detonator?
You are probably on to something. Do you remember reports that most of the 19 bombers of WTC did not know they were on a suicide mission? Can't remember where I heard that, but it makes sense. 19 wanting to commit suicide together is a lot, it seems.
interesting point
Were The London Bombers Tricked?
Lets hope so...good rumor to spread amonget the religion of peacers.
I've been wondering the same thing.
The story of the guy rummaging in his pack on the bus did not feel right. Why rummage through a pack that's about to go off.
And where's all the "Allah is great" (not!) shouting before the explosion?
Yes indeed, let us hope so. Let us hope that it's getting harder and harder for the Mullahs to find people willing to blow themselves up for the "cause".
OTOH, that's four more Islamo-facist creeps we won't have to worry about blowing people up in the future because they will be rotting with 72 virgin pigs in hell.....
I've been thinking the same thing. "Hey Abdul, take these bombs to London and drop them off on the subway. Be sure to get away by 9:30." 8:50 BOOM!
4 evil shlubs are dead, but al qaida gets to hear about "the first "suicide" bombings in Eurabia on CNN and no one can finger the leader.
If one is an unwitting martyr, does one still get 72 virgins? Is being a homicidal maniac enough to get you half credit for 36 virgins, even if you are not prepared to blow yourself up in the process of killing the infidel?
Better log on to Ask the Imam and get the definitive answer to these questions...
Maybe the bus was running late and he was trying to shut down the timer, maybe he was 'just' trying to answer the phone...
There is also the remote possibility they didn't know they were carrying bombs. Someone could have said, "Hey Achmed, how 'bout hauling this load of Korans to the mosque across town for me?"
If the bombs were set with timers, there was absolutely no need to be suicide bombers. And if they were suicide bombers with wristwatches, there was no need for timers.
Very interesting thought.
Where did I read that inspection of car bomb sites determined drivers' hands were tapped to the steering wheel?
Several have survived and told us about it. The most "famous" one was the Saudi who drove a rigged fuel truck. He survived the blast but is horribly scarred and in pain. He revealed he was told to just park the truck and walk away. LOL, he said he felt "betrayed".
I'll bet the bombers were shocked when they met St. Peter at the gate and not a dozen virgins.
Terrorist #1,2,3 & 4: What sets the bombs off?
Terrorist #5: Don't worry, they're on a timer. You have plenty of time to get away
Terrorists #1,2,3 &4: What is that stripped down Cell Phone doing in with the trigger mechanism?
Terrorist #5: Oh that. That's just in case you need to make an emergency call. Nothing to worry about.
The leaders clearly do not want anyone to just walk away, because the person who walks away has too much information...
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