London hit by terrorist attacks!!!

[BillyTheMountain]

It seems sadly that all nations and most terrorist groups think that when they wage war, God is on their side. We humans can never imagine that God is on somebody else's side.

The saddest thing is that we see ourselves as separate, which allows humans to kill each other.

And now each side will escalate, which won't solve anything.

Condolences to our brothers and sisters in Britain.

Billy

[alexmay]

I had some friends of friends nearby at the time it happened.
Watching the news, it's easy to see how the media are trying to show the feelings of innocent muslims to stop an icrease in racial hatred.

[underdog]

Originally posted by yoopers
As for the war on terror, I don't believe it will ever end. If it hasn't already, living with terror will become a way of life. An generation or two down the road, terrorist acts will be second nature and give way to a new and currently unknown crisis.

Couldn't agree more. We've been living with terrorist attacks on various levels at least since the Carter administration so, about 30 years now. It's just becoming more prevalant. I think that the war on terror is every bit as winnable as the war on drugs and we all know what a huge success that's been .

[underdog]

Originally posted by yoopers
These animals need to be removed from the face of the earth, but their methods are anything but cowardly.

Your take?

Agreed again. I've often thought about this. Which requires greater bravery and commitment, strapping a bomb to yourself and detonating it or pushing a button on a computer to launch a missile from a hundred miles away.

[john_childs]

Originally posted by underdog
Couldn't agree more. We've been living with terrorist attacks on various levels at least since the Carter administration so, about 30 years now. It's just becoming more prevalant. I think that the war on terror is every bit as winnable as the war on drugs and we all know what a huge success that's been .

It's more like the war on crime. We don't give up on locking up criminals just because crime continues. To stop would create a society that civilized people do not want to live in. Same with the terrorists. You continue to go after them and don't stop. To give in or give up would lead to a society that civilized people don't want to live in.

[JJuggle]

Originally posted by john_childs
It's more like the war on crime. We don't give up on locking up criminals just because crime continues. To stop would create a society that civilized people do not want to live in. Same with the terrorists. You continue to go after them and don't stop. To give in or give up would lead to a society that civilized people don't want to live in.

Absolutely one immediate need is to deal with terrorism head on. However, like with crime, if part of the plan and policy isn't asking what role present circumstances, including the behavior of the society and/or government of the intended victims, have in creating the terrorism then it is a certainty that the only outcome will be the same cycle of violence.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

Originally posted by yoopers
My western mind has a terrible time trying to grasp the mindset of a terrorist.

If actually want to understand and try to "grasp the mindset of a terrorist" i suggest watching the film The Terrorist. It's an Indian film where the protagonist is a young girl who is going to suicide bomb the prime minister. The film does an excellent job at protraying her as neither a hero nor as a villian.

Originally posted by yoopers
Don't they know and feel inside that what they're doing is wrong?

Yes they do know that it is wrong but they feel that they have no other solution.

Originally posted by yoopers Equivocally, our enemy probably fails to understand our view on peace or more correctly, has no use for our peaceful lifestyle.[/B]

But you fail to understand that from their perspective that "our" view is not on peace. The current administartion of the United States is trying to create a U.S. dominated world. That may be a beneficial system for us. But it is very brazen and egotistical of us to assume that will be a better system for them.

The way to win the "war on terror" is not through violence, but through understanding. Our current battle plan on terrosim makes no attempts at understanding the enemy. We say call them "evil-doers" and blame it on their religion.

Anyone who thinks the terrorist attacks on the United States, and now England as well, were unprovoked is foolish.

[munipsycho]

Originally posted by mscalisi
I think the big difference is that all the individuals/organizations you listed are completely disconnected and disorganised. You'll always have your loose canons.

I don't think I agree completely. It's true that TK was a loner. But Rudolph and McVeigh were both clearly part of larger organizations. The violence in the South was also well organized.

[dogbowl]

I was in Paris during a terrorist bombing campaign back in the 90's. In fact, there was a huge explosion on a subway just under Notre Dame that I missed by a few minutes--my train passed just before the explosion, and I did not find out till I got home.

It was a terrible time--the terrorists were Algerian Islamic Fundamentalists. The bombings were, according to the charming fellows who were carrying them out, in retaliation against the French government for supporting a suspension of elections in Algeria because it was feared that the fundamentalists would win. The same terrorist groups carried out some horrific actions in Algeria as well. The bombings in Paris really (and literally) brought it home. They did not get any sympathy from the general population and a number of them were caught.

It was, needless to say, a terrible time to be in Paris (despite the excellent wine and good eating)--but people went on with their lives. The terrorists placed bombs in metal trash cans--these trash cans were removed, and soon, the subways will filled with huge piles of junk--it was the only humorous thing during an otherwise sinister time. Now, they have clear plastic bags where the metal cans used to be.

But this rotten business in London feels worse in a way. The Paris bombings, as cruel and insane as they were, were directly related to a clear policy position of the government--it had a warped and insane logic, but still it was clear who it was and they stated why they did it. The London tragedy feels more abstract, more terrible, more international, more senseless, more like the bombings in Madrid, more like 911.

[Tim]

Originally posted by munipsycho
My condolences to all our bereaved friends in London!

Yes very. I'm going to have to go with everyone though. France might be safe though. I think its insane to say that people who dont beleive what you do should die. I cant understand how some one could blow up people just because their kuran book belief thing said they should die. How could someone join a hateful and opressive faith?

[john_childs]

Originally posted by ThisGuyIKnow

But you fail to understand that from their perspective that "our" view is not on peace. The current administartion of the United States is trying to create a U.S. dominated world. That may be a beneficial system for us. But it is very brazen and egotistical of us to assume that will be a better system for them.

You do realize that 9/11 and previous terrorist acts were planned out while President Clinton was in office. It's not the current adminstration that is the instigator. Jimmy Carter could still be in office and the terrorists would still be planning and executing terrorist acts against the US and other Western civilizations.

They don't like Western civilization. They don't like a global economy where the world interacts with each other. They want to live in a backwards world like a 3rd world existence and blame all their problems and their poverty on the Western world. They don't want the world to interact with them. Unfortunately for them they've got oil and neighbors which means the rest of the world is going to interact with them.

And it's not just the US that they don't like. They don't like any western country that has a modern standard of living and does business on a global scale.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

Originally posted by john_childs
They don't like Western civilization. They don't like a global economy where the world interacts with each other. They want to live in a backwards world like a 3rd world existence and blame all their problems and their poverty on the Western world. They don't want the world to interact with them. Unfortunately for them they've got oil and neighbors which means the rest of the world is going to interact with them.

And it's not just the US that they don't like. They don't like any western country that has a modern standard of living and does business on a global scale.

That's an easy way to dismiss what's actually gonig on here. Since you of course have it pinned right on the nose, you obviosly truly understadn the terrosit mindset, you sum up their justification for their acts so perfectly

Who is to say it's not our world that is backwards, and their third world existance isn't better? Maybe they think our imperialistic attitude is harmful to them. You need to think a little more outside the box, rather than assume simply repeat the propaghanda yo're being fed.

[Borges]

I'd like to hear from the London unicyclists on the forum.
Just post a "hi" or something to let us know you're ok.

[Catboy]

NEWSFLASH!!!


People are being evacuated due to bomb threats.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally posted by john_childs
It's more like the war on crime. We don't give up on locking up criminals just because crime continues. To stop would create a society that civilized people do not want to live in. Same with the terrorists. You continue to go after them and don't stop. To give in or give up would lead to a society that civilized people don't want to live in.

The only hope [aside from world peace, or peace in our corner] is that we can cash in on these wars. England would solve their unemployment problem is they made prisons a major industry like the USA does. Investing in prisons is one way to profit from the drug war or crime war.

Just after 9-11 there were ways for the clever investor to recognize how Bush would make government bigger and bigger, and corporations would reap huge profits from taxpayer dollars. Of course, we're no safer. But it stemmed USAs growing unemployment.....

By the way, the Federal Air Marshalls are hiring again. You get a gun, travel, and stewardesses.....

Billy

Billy