Three bomb blasts struck the London subway and one tore open a packed double-decker bus during the morning rush hour Thursday. Reports estimate at least 45 are dead and 1000 wounded.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Blogcritics On London Terror Attacks - Comments Page 3
Article comments
— go to most recent comments76 - Eric Berlin
Funny that Andy mentions shaking Saddam's hand.
There's a somewhat famous photo (I used to see it on a poster whilst riding the BART in San Francisco, anyway) of Rumsfeld shaking Saddam's hand during the 80s while we were helping to arm Iraq.
77 - Jon Sobel
We Hindus do not understand why on earth Islamist are allowed to run their religious school of hatred in the heart of London.
It's because freedom of religion is taken seriously in Western democracies (well, maybe not in Germany so much...) This freedom gets us in all sorts of trouble. But the alternative is worse.
The point you have raised about the authoritarianism inherent in Islam is a serious one. I wish I knew more about the Koran - I guess maybe it's time I read it through. I do know, from experience living in a Christian-dominated nation, that religious texts can be used to justify all sorts of evils. Even words attributed to that hippie peacenik, Jesus, are constantly twisted or taken out of context by cynics and "fundamentalists" to advance various agendas.
78 - andy marsh
You might wanna read this Kuwait Historical background
79 - andy marsh
against who was that again Eric that we wer arming Iraq?
You know...you help somebody out...give them the means to defend themselves...everybody thinks it's a good thing...when it goes sour...you gotta do something...
There was a time when we financed bin Laden too...and he helped the afghanis defeat the russians...what is that thing about the enemy of my enemy is my friend...what's supposed to happen when the first enemy is gone?
80 - Eric Berlin
That's to say that we're somewhat complicit in the creation of the problems we now face, Andy.
The real world is more complicated than Us = Good, Them = Bad.
(I'm not saying that was your position, btw.)
81 - andy marsh
I think it's more like...one problem at a time. We dealt with the soviets...now we deal with the islamists...and there'll be even more freedom in the world...
82 - Jon Sobel
So, I see the history of Kuwait is longer and more interesting than I knew. Doesn't change the fact that the US's interest in protecting it from Saddam was not because it was our buddy, but because of its oil.
83 - andy marsh
and that's a bad thing?
84 - andy marsh
Why we did it is irrelevent...the fact that the country was being taken over by military force is the point...becasue Saddam wanted access to the gulf!
85 - bikram
I am not an expert in politics or say international relation. But I do appreciate West's recent feeling to do something to spread democracy and economic development in the developing zones in the world. Also, I do understand that West need to stay in power in the oil reach regions of Middle east in order to maintain a stable economic order. Now, if you link these two wishes of West, than you will see a paradox. West supports Islamist in Middle East to run a dictatorial rule in Saudi Arabia and Egypt etc. so that the economy stay stable and profit making. Then, West try to use those money to help poor countries to become democratic. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia uses the same money to spread their version of Islam in Africa, South Asia and so on. This trend has been going on since the later part of 20th century. Also, the aid that West give to poor countries help dictators only. West cannot give a single example that they helped a country through their donation. China and India did not get Western aid, whereas Pakistan, Egypt and many other Islamic countries did. And, now see, China and India are going up through their self-development style, whereas other nations are becoming more dependent on West. I do not know why Western intellecutuals and policy makers does not understand this simeple fact that help does not mean giving money alone. Help/aid means creating a social condition that will help people to earn money. In that sense, be it Middle East or be it Africa, Islam and Christianity are main hurdle. In Africa, religious Christians are ruling the masses and keeping them in a state of illusion of Jesus-coming (the day of Judgement kind of belief) sort of slogans. And, in the middle east, Islam is keeping the masses in the illusion of global Jihad. My point is that West is doing harm than good eventhough the intention is surely good.
86 - Andrew Ian Dodge
In Africa, religious Christians are ruling the masses and keeping them in a state of illusion of Jesus-coming (the day of Judgement kind of belief) sort of slogans.
Last time I checked Sudan, where Christians and Animists are being slaughtered, is an Islamic country and its in Africa.
87 - HW Saxton
Andy is Kee-rect!!! about the taking of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi Army. Once he had gained control of the shipping lanes and ports in Kuwait he would've been hijacking and extorting all of those countries which use and depend on those ports for the purpose of his own personal gain.
88 - hdhntr
Some of you are real goofs, in terms of how you react and respond to these things. Just want you to know that.
The solution to the "problem of evil" is not more evil on evil ad infinitum. Solidifying one's own hatred and calling for nukes and the like is equally barbaric, or worse.
There was a young English lady on TV who best described it, and while I can't remember her exact words, they were along the lines of how pathetic and selfish and just incomprehensible such attacks are, but there was no vengeance in her, no great hatred, no evil..
89 - SFC Ski
EB, comment #56: Turkey is not an Arab country, but it is a Muslim country.
90 - andy marsh
I actually heard Eagleberger calling for limited strikes on the Syrian border yesterday!
91 - vic t
Question: How do they know its
Al C.I.A.ida?
http://www.infowars.com
92 - vic t
Original Associated Press and Israeli radio reports stated that Binyamin Netanyahu, the former Israeli Prime Minister received a warning before the first explosion that an attack was about to take place. Scotland Yard passed on a warning to the Israeli embassy who forwarded it to Netanyahu. Netanyahu was due to make a speech at a Hotel adjacent to the site of the first blast. He cancelled the speech and remained in his hotel room.
93 - Victor Plenty
Oh, brother. Yep, it was only a matter of time before somebody started claiming it was really the Jews behind the whole thing.
Next will we hear about "evidence" of involvement by the Illuminati, and the ancient space aliens from the lost continent of Atlantis?
94 - Shark
Dawn: "...the left's idea of letting the terrorists alone and embracing them with hugs and kisses isn't going to do much at keeping them from trying to kill us."
First rattle outta the box:
Leftists hug and kiss terrorists.
Leftists are the enemy.
How rational, articulate, and effective.
Dawn, later: "...But let's *stay on track, this is about a cruel terrorist attack upon our allies..."
YES.
LET'S STAY ON TRACK.
(*irony of the day award!)
PS: what JR said.
95 - vic t
Victor Plenty is one of the predictable controlled idiots who believes the news only, even though its controlled and should be called the Missing people report since that is all you see on the news. Some day you will wake up and do some research and get off your az instead of referring to the people who use their deductive reasoning among other things to discern truth. You are one of the worker bees and you will always be a follower who wouldnt know the truth if it walked up and spat on you!
96 - Victor Plenty
Suddenly I'm enlightened! It all makes sense now! Every bad thing that's ever happened to me is because of the mind control chip the aliens embedded in my brain!
None of it was my fault at all. I don't have to accept responsibility for my mistakes anymore, because I found a big scary conspiracy to blame for everything.
Give me a break. If your version of "truth" has anything to do with anybody secretly controlling world events from behind the scenes, you can keep it. I'd rather deal with the real world, where actual human beings who really exist have to take responsibility for cleaning up our own messes.
97 - andy marsh
There you go Victor...say what you really feel...cleaning up our own messes...as in...the terrorists only do this because we're so mean to them...it's all Americas fault!!! man oh man...
98 - Temple Stark
NB - FCBIIA/TIAP, Victor has become a problem specimen. Please deal with this. frqncy 9006 chn.3
99 - Victor Plenty
Andy, I hereby call you out. I challenge you to find one place, just one place, where I have ever blamed America for the terrorist attacks. Either that or retract your false accusation against me. I'm serious.
I'm sure you've seen other people make such statements, but you have never seen me say anything like that, because I completely disagree with the whole idea.
Terrorists are at fault for terrorism. Not America. Not Muslims in general. Not the Illuminati or the flying saucer aliens or the Jews. Only the terrorists are to blame.
I have been completely consistent on this point, with the sole exception of clearly humorous sarcasm such as that found above in comment #96.
100 - Victor Plenty
To clarify, "cleaning up our own messes" in the context of terrorism means using ordinary human means to capture or kill the terrorists. It does not mean blaming ourselves for their actions.
It simply means we won't solve any real human problem by searching for some shadowy conspiracy of international elderly Jewish businessmen or pyramid-building crystal-clutching Atlantean flying saucer pilots.
101 - H.W. Saxton
Vic T, Yes Netanyahu did receive a warning from the Isreali Embassy in London. The self same warning received by all of the other intelligence agencies in the U.K.
Seeing as to how these are received in Israel on a continuing basis and they are usually legitimate, Mr. Netanhayu opted to stay in as opposed to taking chances.
By doing so he likely saved his own ass from death. I don't see how you can tie practicing common sense into some sort of a conspiracy though. It baffles the mind truly.
Not everything on the planet is some sort of an evil conspiracy by the U.S. Govt. and it's operatives, believe it or not.
102 - H.W. Saxton
Vic T, Yes Netanyahu did receive a warning from the Isreali Embassy in London. The self same warning received by all of the other intelligence agencies in the U.K.
Seeing as to how these are received in Israel on a continuing basis and they are usually legitimate, Mr. Netanhayu opted to stay in as opposed to taking chances.
By doing so he likely saved his own ass from death. I don't see how you can tie practicing common sense into some sort of a conspiracy though. It baffles the mind truly.
Not everything on the planet is some sort of an evil conspiracy by the U.S. Govt. and it's operatives, believe it or not.
103 - BB
"appeasement is surely not the answer"
Maybe not, but working towards concensus is intelligent.
"shutting down mosques & deporting muslims back to the middle east they all come from"
Why not just burn the "motherf*ckers" into the ground, seize all their assets and lop off their heads? Whoah!
"Enabling terrorists by giving them support and safe harbor is as aggregious as committing the crimes themselves."
First we take Iran, then N. Korea... then CANADA. I hear they have nuclear technology. Lots of power plants over there. In fact I've heard they sold technology to Kim's daddy. They got a socialist government too. Everybody gets free medicare. And they harbor terrorists. Just ask Pat Buchanan. Or what about that red flag? Heck, we had less on Saddam. (singing to the tune of the battle hyme of the republic).
Peace be upon y'all.
104 - DrPat
I have cited this omnibus post in my Weekly BlogScan, this week titled "Live from the London Blasts." To read the citation and join in the commentary, please visit BlogCritics.
105 - andy marsh
Victor - how do they become "our" messes if it's not "our" fault?
106 - Victor Plenty
Andy, terrorism is of ordinary human origin, not caused by bizarre conspiracies of "Jewish elders" or whatever other "truth" the nutjobs want to think is out there. Only in that extremely limited sense is terrorism one of "our" messes, and I have already clarified that was the strict limit of my intended meaning.
Call me crazy, but I think of myself as the most reliable authority on the intended meaning of my own words.
Blaming the Western countries for the terrorist attacks against us is just like blaming the victim for rape. No matter how often left-wing extremists try to tell us we were "asking for it," I always have said and always will say the only people to blame for terrorism are the terrorists themselves.
107 - beadtot
'Edgeware' Road? 'King's Crossing'? Some people are really lost -- and mucking up the scenery in a foreign nation -- if they're supposed to be searching for a tiny oracle bead chronicle (an archeological artifact) in these United States.
The "London Bombings" in that way can be said to be comparable to the 'Plain of Jars' fiasco in Laos -- a result totally different from technological applications of glassware knowledge to create a one-of-a-kind special jar to contain the tiny mucousal artifact.
108 - David Barrington
Interesting postings with many valid points. I don't see mention of the group that is at the foundtion of creating the robotic mindset of mass murderers.
I recommend the following article:
http://www.freedommag.org/english/vol36i2/page03.htm
David Barrington
www.HappierLife.org
109 - Mihos
Its really pathetic how readily we mop up whatever swill comes off the media hot plate and repeat it. El Quaida doesn't exist or at least it didn't until Wolfowitz made up the term. I don't know how many Arab speakers are reading this but eani, why would idealists that think they are heading for paradise name themselves the foundation when it has no cultural relevance in the world of Mohamed's Hashemite tent. that is to say self styled mercenaries of Islam would hardly call their secret boys only club and clubhouse the foundation because there are no foundations in tents. Its an uncomfortable situation to observe Arab leaders reluctantly mention the word el quaida because they often look around at their producer or director or whomever.
Its a stupid word with an obvious origin. Its a wolfawitz.
Are there a bunch of syphalis tainted madmen plotting to murder innocent people in the name of some sick and thoroughly fucked up rationale? Yup.
And they are on both sides of the military industrialists table match.
If you want to get to the bottom of who is responsible for the violence, track down, arrest and imprison the parties responsible for the creation, marketing and trafficking of ammunitions, weapons and explosives. Period. All the links go back to big powerful companies willing to drop off tens of thousands of dollars worth of automoatic weapons in west Africa in the blood diamond business or the oil business or the war business.
Its not terrorists versus innocent people. At this late date and hour its more serious.
Its the attempted assasination of our collective conscious. The military industrialists are attempting to interupt the evoltionary potential of humanity.
110 - Eric Olsen
good God man, this sheds some light on some of the MJ slant: no al Qaeda? Pure, dangerous fantasy
111 - Eric Berlin
Right, just like there was no Holocaust, man never stepped on the moon, etc.
112 - E L Frederick
Islam, as generally practiced, is not the enemy. Islam in it's true form is a relgion of peace and can be a united and good force.
However, the terrorist Islam, the perverted ugly hate mongering that has come to be called Islam by these ignorant 3rd world radicals, is no closer to true Islam than the "spanish inquisition" is represenative of the Catholic church today.
Punishing Muslims here in the US in no more correct today, than it was when we put Japanese Americans in camps during World War II.
113 - Mihos
Bikram made some valid points in a clear and rational voice. Though there is a clear bias against Islam's influence in his writing, don't any of you find it interesting that no one has commented on this fascinating insight? Of course the two
Erics are ready to bark at my shadow on the wall and or joke about Bikram's ancient culture's lingam. The issue is referendum.
Many people especially those cultures that live side by side with Moslems have patiently waited for the day when moderate Moslems would do as the Catholics have in their awful past.
As long as the west perceives the issue as little more than for or against, greater than lesser than- what are we going to get or lose the longer the struggle between entitled exploitation and pious ignorance will go on. What is more, the casualties will continue mounting. The real issue taking shape seems to be in my eyes at any rate begging the question is every life equal in value?
114 - Eric Olsen
lingams and yonis rule
115 - Mihos
Story from BBC NEWS: Ancient phallus unearthed in cave
116 - Mihos
This war on terrorism is bogus
The 9/11 attacks gave the US an ideal pretext to use force to secure its global domination
Michael Meacher
Saturday September 6, 2003
The Guardian
Massive attention has now been given - and rightly so - to the reasons why Britain went to war against Iraq. But far too little attention has focused on why the US went to war, and that throws light on British motives too. The conventional explanation is that after the Twin Towers were hit, retaliation against al-Qaida bases in Afghanistan was a natural first step in launching a global war against terrorism. Then, because Saddam Hussein was alleged by the US and UK governments to retain weapons of mass destruction, the war could be extended to Iraq as well. However this theory does not fit all the facts. The truth may be a great deal murkier.
We now know that a blueprint for the creation of a global Pax Americana was drawn up for Dick Cheney (now vice-president), Donald Rumsfeld (defence secretary), Paul Wolfowitz (Rumsfeld's deputy), Jeb Bush (George Bush's younger brother) and Lewis Libby (Cheney's chief of staff). The document, entitled Rebuilding America's Defences, was written in September 2000 by the neoconservative think tank, Project for the New American Century (PNAC).
The plan shows Bush's cabinet intended to take military control of the Gulf region whether or not Saddam Hussein was in power. It says "while the unresolved conflict with Iraq provides the immediate justification, the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein."
117 - Eric Olsen
whoa, time warp
118 - Phillip Winn
Mihos, don't post any more long pieces here. If you want to link to an article, link to it. It doesn't belong here.
119 - bhw
I'll fix them, Phillip....
120 - SpaniardInUK
Hi guys, I have seen this image in a spanish blog. Anyone knows if it is true or a fake?
121 - Eric Olsen
I don't know if it's legit, but it sure makes sense
122 - Aaman
That is an interesting image - makes sense and good PR, I would say.
123 - Eric Olsen
sometimes reality is reality: I don't curse at the police or make quick, erratic movements around them either. It is much wiser to preclude tragic misunderstandings than to project righteous indignation from the grave
124 - Mihos
Thanks bhw for bothering and thanks Phillip for rightious indignation. How exactly does one create a link? Im allergic to technology.
As for the killing of the Brazilian guy that sucks. Were the police in plain clothes ? Where were they trained? Why was he shot nine times? All is fair in love and war.
125 - Phillip Winn
It's a fake image, but still wise advice in uncertain times.
I tend to move slowly around cops myself. Even with my pale skin, I've seen too many misunderstandings.