'Blair's dramatic warnings ring terrifyingly true'

http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=285612004 ^

[empirekin768]

Blair's dramatic warnings ring terrifyingly true

JASON BEATTIE CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

LAST WEEK, Tony Blair delivered a speech in Sedgefield which has proved horrifically prescient.

In words he wrote himself, Mr Blair used the address to defend his fears. Britain and other developed countries were in mortal danger, he said, from a threat "different from anything the world has seen before".

This threat was defined not by Iraq but by 11 September, 2001 - an event which crystallised in the Prime Minister’s mind the dangers posed by global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

"The threat we face is not conventional. It is a challenge of a different nature from anything the world has faced before. It is to the world’s security, what globalisation is to the world’s economy," he said.

Contained in the speech was a frequent refrain of Mr Blair. Those who committed the atrocity were prepared to wage that war without limit. "They killed 3,000. But if they could have killed 30,000 or 300,000 they would have rejoiced in it," he said.

If that were not enough he chided those who scoffed at the severity of his warnings. One commentator was later to accuse Mr Blair of indulging in "heebie jeebie" politics.

Mr Blair’s response to this was to quote at length his words at a January 2003 press conference: "And I understand, of course, why people think it is a very remote threat and it is far away and why does it bother us. Now I simply say to you, it is a matter of time, unless we act and take a stand, before terrorism and weapons of mass destruction come together."

Mr Blair is unlikely to take any satisfaction from the atrocious events at Madrid’s Atocha station but one could understand if, privately at least, he muttered with concern to a colleague: "I told you so."

Not only have his worst fears materialised, but they have manifested themselves on the brutal scale which he envisaged. While the Spanish government initially blamed only ETA for the terrorist attack, it was last night seeming increasingly likely that it was linked to Islamic fundamentalism.

While Spain had learned to be alert to terrorism, as has Britain since the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it had been used to individual assassinations, car bomb attacks and kidnapping.

Yesterday, we saw killing by the hundreds - fulfilling Mr Blair’s prophecy that if such organisations can kill 190 people they could easily kill 1,900 or 19,000.

Unspoken by Downing Street but prevalent elsewhere in the government was a sense of vindication. It takes a particularly perverted mind to find pleasure in the worst terrorist atrocity in Europe since Lockerbie, but one government insider could barely contain his thoughts at yesterday’s events. "Let us hope there is an al-Qaeda connection," he said.

In the arguments over pre-emption, balancing civil liberties with security needs, and collective action against isolation, the pendulum has swung back towards Mr Blair. Europeans never fully comprehended 11 September, now they have their own version, 11 March - a coincidence of dates not lost on the Spanish press. Making the leap from the twin towers to the reasons behind the occupation of Baghdad is more comprehensible.

Eric Joyce, the Labour MP for Falkirk West and a consistent supporter of Mr Blair’s foreign policy, said the devastation in Madrid justified the Sedgefield address.

"Whether or not this was al-Qaeda, it is a very important indicator that international terrorism is with us. These actions are designed to cause maximum carnage, to put states in that destabilising position where they fear the bombers or they over-react against them," he said, before giving warning: "This brings home how this could easily be something that happens in Britain."

A true loyalist, Mr Joyce pointed out that this omnipresent risk will infect British politics.

He suggested that those who had criticised the detention of terrorist suspects in London’s Belmarsh prison may be less forthright in their condemnation.

From asylum laws, to the stock market - which fell dramatically at one point yesterday - the agenda will be shaped by the spectre of another terrorist attack.

Mr Blair said 11 September altered crucially the "balance of risk," whether "to deal with it or simply carry on, however imperfectly, trying to contain it." What influence will 11 March have on this argument?

Some doubt that the scale of the tragedy will add strength to Mr Blair’s cause.

Opponents of the military action against Iraq may claim that those countries which backed the US war - ostensibly Spain, Britain and Australia - have fuelled the passions of the terrorist and placed their citizens most at risk.

This is an argument rejected by the government, who point out that France, an opponent of the war, has been a terrorist target.

"They [the terrorists] are indiscriminate about who they attack and I am not convinced the attack yesterday was simply because Spain took a tough line on the war on terror," said Mr Joyce.

A question remains about ETA’s involvement. If it is a Basque organisation then it may be premature to place the events in Madrid in a multi- lateral context.

This could be a purely domestic issue, executed entirely in the context of this weekend’s Spanish elections, and without regard for the wider, international implications.

The scale of the atrocity may be greater but the goal has remained consistently limited. If this is the case, then Mr Blair may be better worrying about the consequences for Northern Ireland, where the parallels are closer, than for the global security.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Thanks to the UK, Spain, Poland, Austrailia, Denmark and all of our partners in the war against terrorism. United we stand, divided we fall.

Prayers to our Spanish friends in their time of pain. I hope the vermin behind this attack are hunted down, brought to swift justice, and shot at close range in a pool of pig excretion.

[cardinal4]

Recapping since 2001 we have NYC, The Pentagon and Shanksville. Then Bali, the French Tanker, and the shooting of the ElAL taking of from Kenya. In Russia, chechens targeted apartments and took over a theatre in which over 160 died before it was over. In Turkey, two Synogogues and a British Diplomatic bldg. Morocco joined the fraternity of victims as did the British when "5" caught some Algerians on their way to put Ricin in a Military establishments water. The carnage in Iberia this morning was classic Al-Qaeda. Not to mention countless acts of barbarism in Israel and the Anthrax attacks here.

Im sure I have missed some and the timeline is out of order, but most people understand what is facing us. What I have trouble with is that most of your liberal opposition is well educated. Therefore, they should be smart enough to to see whats coming. But they deny it, and fight it in the name of politics. Are they really willing to to risk horrible consequences for all of us, just to score at the booth or to smugly say , "Bush lied and people died......?"

[Samwise]

I had honestly always thought of Blair as a Clinton clone. But 9-11 brought out a side of him Clinton never pressed. A resoluteness, a moral line he refused to cross, and a willingness to sacrifice his political career in the service of his country if necessary.

I am guilty of the same. But I thought about it and I realized that my opinion of Blair was based on what the media had told me about him--the British Clinton. After 9/11, I saw Blair for myself because his speeches were covered here. When I heard him speak with passion, conviction, and yes moral clarity, I saw him without the media filter. Thank God, Blair is no Clinton.

[cardinal4]

After all, it's just a case of "heebie jeebie" politics.

That same commentator probably thought the Bush ads were innapropriate as well...

[cynicom]

9/11.... 3/11....6/11 ?????

[Steven W.]

Are they really willing to to risk horrible consequences for all of us, just to score at the booth or to smugly say , "Bush lied and people died......?"

the answer - sadly - remains simple ... yes! this goes back for years & Hanoi John Kerry still complains that his commie brethren & Ortega thugs were voted out of power in Nicaragua as he was more than willing for the soviet union to use the port there as a pacific coast submarine base and aircraft carrier turning basin.

One other terrorist attack of late that fits this pattern - the Phillipines cruise liner that was confirmed sunk by terrorists there just a couple weeks ago.

[bootless]

He is one of the most ELOQUENT speakers in the world today who UNDERSTANDS the threat we face.

Bump that.

[cardinal4]

Three hours after 175 went down in PA, Blair was adressing Parliament. 3 days later he was here. He was the first leader to come out and uncondtionally stand with us. I, too, thought we was a British Clinton. I stand corrected.

[danamco]

Tony Blair is one of those unusual politicians who now and then leaps onto the world stage. He seems like a typical, say anything-to-anyone liberal sort. Then, suddenly, something happens that seems to bring out the very best in him. To transcend politics and become a statesman.
I had honestly always thought of Blair as a Clinton clone. But 9-11 brought out a side of him Clinton never posessed. A resoluteness, a moral line he refused to cross, and a willingness to sacrifice his political career in the service of his country if necessary.

I still can't say I like his politics. But I admire the man.

Political he is a Clinton clone and in that respect has absolutely nothing in common with GWB. But it's very interesting that they both are on the same level after 911. To me it indicates that they both know something terrible can happen and which they for security reasons and intelligence knowledge cannot reveal to us and the public!

[philetus]

What the peaceniks of the world do not understand, is that if the "war against terrorism" was halted, the worlds terrorists would see it as a big victory for them and a show of weakness
for the rest of the world.

They would believe we quit because we are weak and cannot beat them. They would not care why we quit.So what if we quit because of our own peoples anti-war efforts. We must be weak if we let ordinary citizens push us into it.

It would be a battle cry for the terrorists of the world and you would see terrorist attacks like never before.

[Steven W.]

They would believe we quit because we are weak and cannot beat them

That is exactly what UBL proclaimed in his fatwah and statements first heard on 9/11 ... that Somalia was the model they saw Clinton leading the US running away.

[KC_Conspirator]

In commenting on Blairs speech last week, Hans Blix like monsieur kerry, claimed the threat of terrorism is exaggerated

Yes, Kerry did claim the threat of terrorism was exaggerated. It should automatically disqualify him. Apparently 3000 deaths, the destruction of the WTC and Pentagon, and the wrecking of the American economy does not concern Kerry.

[Brian_Baldwin]

REPORT: Rescue workers were overwhelmed, said Enrique Sanchez, an ambulance driver. "There was one carriage totally blown apart. People were scattered all over the platforms. I saw legs and arms. I won't forget this ever. I've seen horror.'' Anibal Altamirano, a 26-year-old survivor said: ``After a second explosion, people dropped everything, bags and shoes and ran, many trampling on others,'' he continued. "People didn't know which way to go. Some even went into the train tunnels without thinking other trains could be coming.''

Coming to a subway, BART, train, in the US.

And, it will COME OVER THE MEXICAN BORDER.

Basque? Palestinian? Leftsists? Muslim terror?

Heck. ALL OF IT WILL BE COMING OVER THE MEXICAN BORDER!

All of it.

Basque? Palestinian? yadda?

Yeah. Let's say it was the Basque who did it.

Balkinized.. Did the Basque "assimilate" with Spain? The ones throwing the bombs?

Balkinized.. Did the Palestinians "assimilate" with the Jews? The ones throwing the bombs?

Balkinized.. Will the Mexicans, the illegal horde invading America, "assimilate"?

or ... sort of become like the Basque. Demanding. A tower of Babel. And, maybe... start throwing bombs? Like, WE ARE THE JEWS?

I mean, the terrorists are coming over the border. From Mexico. And, with the Bush Amnesty, more and more and MORE are now coming over the border - and it A LOT HARDER NOW TO PROTECT THE BORDER WHEN YOU HAVE MORE AND MORE AND MORE COMING OVER THE BORDER, a lot, a LOT of work.

You see?

They already CAME over the border. And more are coming.

Muslim terrorists. Coming over the border. Working WITH the drug dealers and drug runners. And the Mexican police. And the Mexican army. And the Mexican government.

They are coming.

And you are the Jews. We are all the Jews, my friend.

They are going to do that to us, just the Basque or the Muslim or the whatever did in Madrid.

[bootless]

The memory of him sitting in the First Lady's gallery during the President's post-9-11 address brought tears of pride and gratitude to my eye. He has been a true friend to this country.

[Tunehead54]

Well said. My very thoughts. Thanks.

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;-)

[infowarrior]

I can't say I like his politics. But I admire the man..

I second that motion, Snuffington. Like you, I had considered Mr Blair a sort of Clintonesque politician. That perception changed post 9-11-01, simply because, of all the smarmy, feel-good leftist politicos in the world, he actually got it, and further never lost it, even when the going got tough for him. Mr Blair, far from being Clintonesque, is actually much closer to Churchillian, at least as regards this one singular issue...

the infowarrior