A major crackdown on Islamo-facists in both the UK & the US, sending a very strong message is required. Host nations beware no matter how much oil they might export.
Posted on 07/07/2005 2:20:43 PM PDT by smoothsailing
July 07, 2005, 3:20 p.m.
Londonistan No More
A new Finest Hour?
By John F. Cullinan
As London copes with the aftermath of Thursday morning's terrorist bombings — and braces for the possibility of fresh attacks — some sobering thoughts on causes and effects come immediately to mind.
After the Madrid bombings in March 2004, London's senior police official revealed that British security services had thwarted several major terrorist attacks targeted against London. But he grimly acknowledged that "there is an inevitability that some sort of attack will get through." "This is not just about the railways, the underground," he added with eerie prescience. "It's about buses, roads, pubs, nightclubs and the like."
TARGET CHOICE
Britain's special relationship with the United States — broadened and deepened since the 9/11 attacks and its shoulder-to-shoulder collaboration in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — certainly makes the British capital a prime target for jihadists. But there are deeper causes at work, beginning with the long-time status of "Londonistan" (see here and here) as the principal mecca for various Middle East exile groups that were allowed to set up shop on condition that their activities remain focused elsewhere. Among their ranks is the extremist Egyptian cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri, whose trial for incitement to murder and other terrorist offenses began this week.
A less openly acknowledged cause for concern is deep disaffection among portions of Britain's Muslim population (about 2 million of 60 million Britons). A 2002 Daily Telegraph poll found that "one in five British Muslims feels little loyalty towards Britain." As for Osama bin Laden, the same poll found that 13 percent regarded his attacks against Western targets as justified, 11 percent had no opinion one way or the other, and 26 percent denied bin Laden's responsibility. It is from this particular subgroup that nearly all of Britain's homegrown terrorist suspects have emerged, including the group arrested last August and charged with plotting attacks in London as well as in New York, Newark, and Washington.
Also relevant is the Labor government's equivocal and inadequate responses to the patent threat of Islamist terror. To take just one example, the British governing class has tied itself in knots over the fate of eleven foreign nationals detained without charges as "terrorists" engaged in "international terrorism" under the Anti-Terrorist, Crime and Security Act of 2000. It was a classic Catch-22 without any possibility of (a) prosecution under British law (without exposing intelligence sources and methods in open court); (b) deportation to the suspects' home countries under applicable European and international law (given "substantial grounds" for believing torture might ensue); or (c) deportation to third countries, with none willing to accommodate these individuals.
Britain rightly sought to justify the unsatisfactory expedient of detention without charges for this handful of manifestly dangerous men by opting out of the relevant provisions of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights, which the Blair administration unwisely incorporated into domestic law in 1998. That convention expressly permits suspension of certain rights "in time of war or other public emergency threatening the life of the nation."
Last December Britain's highest court ruled these detentions — which the liberal chattering classes had likened to Guantanamo — incompatible with the ECHR and therefore invalid. According to one of the judges, "Whether we would survive Hitler hung in the balance, but there is no doubt that we shall survive al Qaeda.... The real threat to the life of the nation, in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws and political values, comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these."
So far Lord Hoffman, author of these irresponsible and insouciant remarks, has not been heard from in the wake of this morning's murderous attacks.
HOW WILL BRITAIN RESPOND?
Initial commentary has focused on Britain's Finest Hour, the stalwart response to the Luftwaffe Blitz. But a more relevant precedent may be the reaction to the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings (21 killed, 182 wounded), when the Irish Troubles first spilled over onto the British mainland. Parliament responded almost instantly with the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, which set a modern record for enactment within 48 hours of its initial introduction.
Look for Tony Blair to sever the Gordian knot manufactured by Britain's Law Lords and to take the fight to the enemy. Britain is not Spain, which responded to the Madrid attacks with surrender and appeasement. Last week Britain celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, which turned the tide against Napoleon's totalitarian project. It is to be hoped that Blair will rise to level of Nelson's exhortation that "England expects that every man will do his duty."
— John F. Cullinan formerly served as a senior foreign policy advisor to the U.S. Catholic bishops, focusing on international law, human rights, and the use of force.
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/cullinan200507071520.asp
Oh, I agreee about our country, but I have faith in our English Brethren.
When you're wounded and left on Afganistan's plains
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
And go to your God like a soldier.
Britain isn't finished. I think now, they'll fight, it took a hit like this to get them to focus on the radical Islamic invasion sweeping the UK. Like the Dutch after filmmaker Van Gogh's murder, the Brits will wake up.
Interesting short article, interesting comment. This has been a while in the making. Here in the US too, other than to those who consider the first Trade Center bombing a routine criminal act.
The scenes emerging from the string of terror attacks today in London are both terrifying and eerily familiar.
A bombed-out shell of a bus, shaken victims covered with blood and soot, emergency services crews evacuating the injured – it was jarringly reminiscent of the carnage that has appeared on the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba over the past several years.
London, England, as it were, has now become London, Israel.
The UK has long been one of the Jewish state’s best friends in Europe – though of course that is not really saying very much. Our hearts go out to the victims – innocent men and women on their way to work, fighting the daily struggle to make a living, improve their lives and take care of their families.
It was just a few weeks ago that reports emerged of contacts being held between British officials and Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group waging war on Israel.
One can only hope that in light of the atrocities carried out in the heart of Britain’s capital today, Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government will gain a renewed sense of moral clarity, as well as determination to do battle with terror – wherever it might be.
...............
Most of my life I had grown up in the serenity of England.Having travelled from Scotland down to Cornwall many times.I grew up with very little racism,My friends were from every culture.The police were friendly and so was the neighbourhood.
Eight years ago as I walked through the streets of London,in the areas that I had grown up in,remeniscing on my childhood.The schooling had been excellent.As children we went to the park to play football and tennis.To visit London after many years was great. Until I saw small stickers on the lamp posts promoting a jihad in England.There was a time ,date and place for the conference to take place.Angered by the ads.I would tear them of whenever I would see them. Eight years ago the propagating of the mustafarian islamic jihad had already begun. Today eight years later it is no surprise of what I have read in this article.
Posted by: yehudah pritt sehmi at May 18, 2005 10:57 AM
That requires the guts to admitt that the Islamofascist are among you and get rid of them.
It might also be a good idea to get a law passed for private gun ownership.
"Oh, I agreee about our country, but I have faith in our English Brethren."
A major crackdown on Islamo-facists in both the UK & the US, sending a very strong message is required. Host nations beware no matter how much oil they might export.
"It seems to be a little late for the Brits. The camel is already in the tent. We need to go on a camel hunt in this country. And close the tent."
Why can't Britain screen their 2 million (out of a nation of 60 million)?
The US successfully interned suspect groups during WWII (Japanese, German and Italian).
After WWII De-Nazification in Germany involved screening everybody, for possible Nazi sympathies.
Should be easy in Britain, what with many being native or naturalized citizens, or legal immigrants. Records, paper trail.
If in doubt, come down real, real hard.
"The British response to the attack on their soil, if there is any response, will be weak and ineffectual. All the Anglo-Saxon/British cojones reside in the New World now."
I guess the families of the British soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines that have died in Afghanistan and Iraq would find your remarks disrespectful, ungrateful, insulting, and WRONG.
(If you said France, Spain or Canada I might agree with you.)
"What subtle wisdom am I missing in your words? They paid for three boats?
They made the decision to send Columbus towards the West."
I thought that you were referring to the Spanish Inquisition, and the expulsion of the Moors (Muslims) from Spain.
I guess they'd have to ask the French.
I don't know how London can accomplish a new finest hour with Red Ken Livingstone at the helm.
The people who did this will be arrested within a few days or weeks. I'd be extremely surprised if this were not so.
The only way the military will be involved is if the police hand control to the SAS because they've holed up somewhere.
If that happens, they'll all die.
This entire world better wake up and smell the terrorists. They are among us all, and we need to say the heck with PC behavior, and liberals and do something about it!
While I hope the UK stands firm on the WOT, I think there's a very good chance that they'll fold instead.
It's finally happened, London has indeed become London Israel. I stated it on numerous occasions post 9-11, that London would be Jihad Inc's next target, even going so far as to state the Tube would be an easy target for the 'enemy within greater London.
"A bombed-out shell of a bus, shaken victims covered with blood and soot, emergency services crews evacuating the injured – it was jarringly reminiscent of the carnage that has appeared on the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba over the past several years."
There is one thing which is predictable concerning the jihadic serial killers, trains, planes and buses. What's next, automobiles with self detonating crazed Islamists in the middle of Times Square during another morning or afternoon rush hour?
In relation to Tony's statements thus far - sounds okay but only words will not take the war to the domestic enemy. A duel US/UK crackdown on 'any' potential jihadist lurking in either nation is an absolute must regardless of outcries from the appeasing 'p/c' elite.
If these flags are ever replaced with Islamic green, it's our own bloody fault for not taking decisive steps to counter the enemy lurking in our own backyard.
The very same enemy agents who triggered the deadly explosions of today, can strike again, since there are no tangible reports indicating any suicide bombers were involved. The enemy's hierarchy is waiting for what type of reaction shall be forth coming in retaliation for their most recent mass murders.
"To visit London after many years was great. Until I saw small stickers on the lamp posts promoting a jihad in England.There was a time ,date and place for the conference to take place.Angered by the ads.I would tear them of whenever I would see them. Eight years ago the propagating of the mustafarian islamic jihad had already begun. Today eight years later it is no surprise of what I have read in this article."
The jihadist enemy technically plotted right out in the open for a number of years on the streets of London. It's incredible, and must be reversed across the board.
The continuing preplanned objective of Jihad Inc, is to bring about absolute chaos in the entire western economy ('World Trade' Center) in order to establish a world-wide Muslim caliphate which will exterminate the 'infidels'.
I think that all Englanders should gather up all the Korans they can get their hands and head over to Stonehenge and make the biggest barn fire the world has seen in a long time to whatever druid god of their choice. They want a Jihad they should get one. Lets show them what Celtic blood is actually made of. Enough of this pussy footing around with this crap. In fact, I think every non-muslim country should do the same. Pick an important location in their country and do the same.
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