Martin2005

did we just agree???

jonc

My biggest fear is not the threat of terrorist attack, but the real threat of this country becoming bankrupt. If this were to happen, this would have a greater impact than any dirty bomb attack.

Guv

iTrader: (8)

I saw this, very chilling programme but again it could be spin. Our goverment is truly a mess, just finished watching Question Time and nothing they say holds any weight anymore even is it is ture.........

Everything about the country is really screwed up.

CrisPDuk

Of course the 11th of September wasn't a government conspiracy

It was however a direct result of over a decade of arrogant, ignorant, complacency on the part of several US government agencies

The blood of the victims of the 7th of July bombings is on the hands of Tony Blair and his cabinet who lied us into a poorly concieved and badly executed invasion of a sovereign country with absolutely no connection to the events above

Terrorist incidents against America and it's allies were bound to increase after the invasion of Iraq, simply because the hardline Christian fundamentalists dictating US foreign policy did most of their Muslim counterparts' recruiting for them

Now we are at the point where liquid bombs, dirty bombs, biological attacks, etc, are weapons more likely to be founds in an increasingly desperate labour party spin doctor's arsenal than they are in a terrorist's carry-on luggage But that doesn't stop them practically strip searching you before you can get on an international flight now, despite the fact that they were perfectly secure beforehand

Martin2005

Of course the casues of terrorism are multiple and complex I agree. Our policies and those of the US have inflamed muslim extremism no doubt. This doesn't excuse their actions of course, and I strongly believe that we antagonise parts of the muslim world simply by existing. We shouldn't base our foreign policy on what the muslim world likes or dislikes, we should base it on doing the right things and being consistant.

None of this means that the government shouldn't be doing all it can to protect the public though does it?

I agree that some of the security measures are extreme and frustrating, but you have to understand the kind of outcry there would be if we relaxed our security and an attack was able to be executed as a result. There would be absolute hell to pay, and of course SN would be in full on indignation mode.

CrisPDuk

I agree we shouldn't base our foreign policy on what the Muslim world likes/dislikes, but niether should we really have been basing it around the practice of merely asking 'How High?' whenever the US government shouted 'Jump!'

And the problem with governments introducing more and more legislation to 'protect the public', is that said legislation always ends up being used against the very people it is intended to protect
Just look at how many local councils are now utilising their newly acquired anti-terrorism powers to spy on people overfilling wheelie bins, or daring to want their kids to get in at a decent school

Somewhere along the way over the last 12 years to many people in government (national and local) have forgotten who is supposed to be working for who

Leslie

Well you just carry on and dont worry about it then!

Why do you know people who are working in anti terrorism then if the threat is not really there?

Did it not occur to you that those who plant such a weapon dont need to be that quick off the mark especially if they are suicide bombers. the clever ones are those who supply the wherewithall and organise them into detonating it?

Better you wake up while there is time!

Les

OllyK

Some may argue that a scared populus is easier to herd and it's easier to push through draconian laws with less resistance in such an atmosphere.

It's certainly interesting how many people have been subject to the new terrorism laws vs. how many convictions there have been!

Martin2005

Certainly is interesting...how many is it exactly?

STiFreak

iTrader: (4)

Exactly! This technique was used by the ****'s, probably before that and certainly by many goverments since.
Make the population think they are in mortal danger. Brand all those that are intelligent enough to see through the bull**** unpatriotic and tell the rest of the population that these people are placing them in more danger (thereby marginalising them). Once the population is in a state of fear, you can get away with pretty much anything under the guise of making the people safer.

Just think about the run up to the Iraq war as a prime example ... the amount of nonesense that was presented as fact by the government was astounding!

IMHO, the majority of people in this country seem to be prepared to give up their rights with little more than a whimper, which is shocking considering what people went through to secure those rights in the first place.

MJW

I'm far more worried about the UK turning into a totalitarian state than I am some starry eyed snot making home made pipe bombs. Believe all the crap that's spouted by the government and the media if you like, but I'd rather not live in fear thanks.

Tam the bam

It's already heading that way and there is **** all you or I can do to stop it!

Leslie

I share your worries as has been evident for a very long time now.

We were not talking about pipe bombs however,but a nuclear bomb designed to produce a very large amount of deadly radiation. not a difficult thing to do if they can get hold of such a weapon, and I bet they can too.

On another tack, I think Olly is right. The use of what is apparently anti terrorist legislation for improper suppression of the public has occurred in some instances and that is also very worrying.

That elderly man who was dragged out of the Labour conference for uttering one word in criticism of Straw by two fat thugs was held for some hours by the police under the prevention of terrorism act! I think that was the first time it was used improperly.

Les

Coc-ker

iTrader: (1)

And that's the attitude the government would want us British ''stiff upper lip'' citizens to adopt. We just sit back and get shafted by the government again and again.

At least that's one thing you can admire about terrorists, they fight for their beliefs, albeit in a flawed way.

GC8WRX

Racial profiling.

I know its a dirty word in these PC times but a 28 white male from manchester on his way to ibiza is very unlikely to blow up a plane, or try to, so why search me so much?

But if mohammad jaffir is on a plane to washington, that to me, is a potential security risk so he should be searched properly!

I dont care if its not PC, but the fact is young white males dont blow up planes, young muslims do, so if you fit the profile you should be properly searched, and leave the rest of us alone and not subject me to a 2 hour wait in security cos im not gonna blow anything up!

And if the muslims dont agree with this, they should stop the extremists themselves, then we can ALL get back to easy flying!


Not every muslim is a terrorist, but every terrorist is a muslim!

OllyK

Apart from all the ones that aren't, the Real IRA and Continuity IRA to name but 2

richieh

Arghhhh am off to work once again but this time I'm in agreement with martin2005 the terrorism threat is real and further to that a dirty bomb would be very easy to make as there are several cobalt 60 sources in the country which are under minimal or no security.
In fact i've just googled it and the helpful search engine has given me a list of places i could find said isotope should i be so inclined and it would not need a lot of it in the city of London to make it a no go area for several years.
cheers richie

Martin2005

+ ETA, Tamil Tigers, KKK, Fathers for Justice, and according to most on here the Climate Lobby

CLSII

At least they're not bleating on about Global warming for a change..