Terror Threat 'Real And Serious'

David Blunkett has refused to give more details of the terrorist threat which has sparked a huge security alert in Britain - but insisted it was "real and serious". The Home Secretary said it would not be "responsible to provide a running public commentary" and the public must be "alert but not alarmed".

Mr Blunkett was speaking after demands from Tories and Liberal Democrats to give details of the threat facing the country.

He said: "We face a real and serious threat. We know that al Qaeda will try to inflict loss of human life and damage to the UK.

"I do not believe it is responsible to provide a running public commentary from the dispatch box on every end and turn.

"We must do nothing to undermine the work of the the police and security services.

Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin said a running commentary from the despatch box was better than the "confused and conflicting signals" sent out by other ministers over the airwaves.

He had called for a statement from Mr Blunkett after Labour Party Chairman Dr John Reid said Britain faced a threat of the nature of the September 11 attacks on America.

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith accused the Government of fuelling fear among the public by sending out "confusing, almost contradictory, messages".

He added: "I think the Government has to be as explicit as possible, not to scare people or worry them, but to reassure them that they have these eventualities covered and that they are doing the right thing."

Let me.

It's about oil, it's about his dad, it's usimperialismhegemony, its the poverty, its other root causes, Osama has legit gripes, it's about palistine, operation northwoods, it's all about Duct tape and plastic sheets to jumpstart the economy.

Would eating breakfast at Windows on the World September 11 2001 have convinced you.

I have to say that the conduct of British government has been outstanding recently. Their seriousness and professionalism is admirable, even more so under a Labor government. Maybe this just demonstrates something more telling about British character than British politics. If this situation continues, I may even be forced eventually to say a few nice things about Tony Blair even if he is a euroweenie from time to time.

It's good to see that there are some grownups in charge in Britain lately. What's the reaction from ordinary people to the terror alert? Police carrying guns yet? Troops and anti-aircraft visible? That might snap some sense into the remaining holdouts against action in Iraq when people grasp that these people want to come into our countries and kill us in large numbers.

It's entirely possible the terrorists will try to hit Britain even harder than hitting the U.S., in an effort to punish Britain for supporting us and to demonstrate to the rest of Europe that it might be dangerous to side with the U.S.

A prayer for the safety of our good friend, Britain.

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