OB-GYN-L Messages for July, 2005: Re: London Bombings

Re: London Bombings

From: art fougner, md

evsono@pipeline.com

Fri Jul 8 08:53:29 2005

Terrorists have attacked multiple nodes of the London public transportation system according to CNN. At least 90 persons were injured in Aldgate Station alone. The BBC is reporting attacks on other stations:

Large numbers of casualties have been reported after at least six explosions on the Underground network and a double-decker bus in London. UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke said several explosions in central London had caused "terrible injuries". The BBC's Frank Gardner said Arab sources said the blasts were probably the work of al-Qaeda but police have not confirmed a terrorist link.

One caller to BBC Five said his friend had seen "the bus ripped open like a can of sardines and bodies everywhere". ... British Transport Police said incidents took place at Aldgate, Edgware Road, King's Cross, Old Street and Russell Square stations. ... Hospitals have said they are no longer accepting non-emergency cases, BBC Five Live reported.

These coordinated attacks are, technically speaking, at far higher level of sophistication than the Madrid attacks of 3/11 which involved a single train. The attack on London was a "time on target" attack which required simultaneity so that one incident did not compromise the subsequent. By implication the personnel involved received some degree of training and planned the operation in sufficient secrecy to prevent British security services from getting wind of it. The six attacks probably mean that a minimum of forty persons were involved, if those in support roles are included. The attackers must have an egress plan or access to safe houses where they can weather the inevitable crackdown.

Insular Britain, which fought a long terrorist war against the IRA is one of the hardest targets in the Western world. There is no reason, in principle, why similar attacks cannot happen on a larger or deadlier scale in some American or Australian city, less prepared than London -- or indeed anyplace in the world -- such as Thailand, India or the Philippines -- where they have happened already. As long as Islamic fundamentalist terror exists danger will exist. Liberals may believe that accommodation, appeasement or flattery can change this correspondence. But terrorism will remind the world as often as it needs reminding that there isn't room enough on the planet for Islamic terror and civilization.

art

At Fri, 8 Jul 2005, DoctorJoe@aol.com wrote: >
>In a message dated 7/8/05 7:31:32 AM, aippg@aippg.com writes:
>
>> As a responsible member of Society I believe that we docs should also
>> condemm such barbaric attacks in which innocent bystanders are killed.
>>
>Just as a tangent, there was a question on one of the radio shows about
>whether the listeners considered this "murder" or "war." My point is, it's neither.
>
>1) War is fundamentally soldiers killing soldiers so one side can beat the
>other side.
>
>2) Murder is individuals killing individuals because of some connection
>between them (e.g. money, domestic, etc.).
>
>However, HERE we have a third situation, terrorism.
>
>3) Terrorism is visiting violence on a civilian population to force them to
>change their political activities.
>
>The terrorist doesn't know the innocent bystanders or have any real
>connection with them (it's not murder). The terrorists don't expect to militarily beat
>the other side (it's not war). They simply want to shake our reserve,
>demoralize us, and make us change our political stances (e.g. support of Israel,
>non-Muslim religion, etc.).
>
>So what we're dealing with is, by design and definition, violence against
>innocent non-combatants simply for the sake of terrorizing the population and
>causing the most demoralization possible.
>
>All I can say is: "Kill them all and let God sort'em out."
>
>Of course, that's too simple and not P.C. But it's a feeling - nothing more
>than feelings. And if THAT'S the way I feel, then I'm sure not demoralized.
>
>Joe P.

-- art fougner, md

"If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else." Lawrence Peter Berra

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