FMS-Blog : The Wildly Whimsical, Mostly Musical WebLog
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Imminent Attack in UK Skies?
This morning all hell has broken loose in the airports around Britain, security tightened still further by officials disallowing passengers from carrying any kind of hand luggage onto their flights, with the exception of wallets and medicines, both of which should be displayed in transparent plastic bags. MI5 have raised the "threat" level in the UK to "critical" which means that they expect a terrorist attack on the mainland imminently.
But, to be honest, all this seems a little too familiar. I'm not clear what the purpose is of announcing these threat levels in the public arena when, in all reality, if a terrorist attack is about to take place there's absolutely nothing we can do about it. Some elements of the way this news broke struck me as signs of the authorities congratulating themselves on having foiled a plan made by ignorant, ill-informed individuals who allegedly hoped to cause mass panic and the deaths of many civilians this morning. But, in telling the public about what they have done they have also managed not only to cause chaos at UK airports but also increase the levels of anxiety about our safety countrywide, and probably worldwide. It is this very process that Michael Moore has been so critical of in his recent television documentaries, such as Fahrenheit 911 - this raising and lowering of threat levels, and their publication in the mass media, do nothing to help the public deal with the supposed threats and can only act to disrupt the authoritie's efforts to combat those who wish to cause the public harm. So, why tell us all about it? Well, I have a feeling the Moores of this world might be right on this point : keeping the population on the edge of their seats, scared to travel and fearful for their own and their loved ones' lives is a means of controlling them and keeping them quiet when the government carries out atrocities of its own that are clearly against the majority of the public's wishes, such as their involvement in the Iraq war.
So, if the MI5 managed to stop a group committing mass murder this morning then that's great - I'm very relieved that no planes were brought down over British skies. But please do us a couple of favours : don't tell the tabloid press about it (they only exaggerate everything the the nth degree) and please spend as much time addressing the problems that are causing certain people to try to harm us as you do foiling their attempts. Maybe if this latter request was carried out properly we would have no reason to feel terrified for our lives each time we enter a public building or get on a plane.
But, to be honest, all this seems a little too familiar. I'm not clear what the purpose is of announcing these threat levels in the public arena when, in all reality, if a terrorist attack is about to take place there's absolutely nothing we can do about it. Some elements of the way this news broke struck me as signs of the authorities congratulating themselves on having foiled a plan made by ignorant, ill-informed individuals who allegedly hoped to cause mass panic and the deaths of many civilians this morning. But, in telling the public about what they have done they have also managed not only to cause chaos at UK airports but also increase the levels of anxiety about our safety countrywide, and probably worldwide. It is this very process that Michael Moore has been so critical of in his recent television documentaries, such as Fahrenheit 911 - this raising and lowering of threat levels, and their publication in the mass media, do nothing to help the public deal with the supposed threats and can only act to disrupt the authoritie's efforts to combat those who wish to cause the public harm. So, why tell us all about it? Well, I have a feeling the Moores of this world might be right on this point : keeping the population on the edge of their seats, scared to travel and fearful for their own and their loved ones' lives is a means of controlling them and keeping them quiet when the government carries out atrocities of its own that are clearly against the majority of the public's wishes, such as their involvement in the Iraq war.
So, if the MI5 managed to stop a group committing mass murder this morning then that's great - I'm very relieved that no planes were brought down over British skies. But please do us a couple of favours : don't tell the tabloid press about it (they only exaggerate everything the the nth degree) and please spend as much time addressing the problems that are causing certain people to try to harm us as you do foiling their attempts. Maybe if this latter request was carried out properly we would have no reason to feel terrified for our lives each time we enter a public building or get on a plane.
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" I'm not clear what the purpose is of announcing these threat levels in the public arena when, in all reality, if a terrorist attack is about to take place there's absolutely nothing we can do about it."
Let me help you out a little here. If you were a terrorist, you would be a little put off by carrying out your attack if you knew that there was a red alert and it wont be as easy to slip through security as it previously was. It is basic terrorist training not to attack a country when it is angry or on top security. Best to attack when we slack off a bit.
As for Michael Moore, well he isnt the most reliable source of info. But at least he is a very rich man as a result.
If the majority of the public was so against the Iraq war, as you put it. Neither Blair or Bush would have been re-elected.
I agree with you about the tabloid press, but sadly they will get hold of the information if it is released to the media, which it needs to be to put off other planned attacks for the time being and buy our security services a little more time try stop other attacks.
As for attempting to get to the cause of the people wanting to harm us, that is all well and good. You forget, 911 happened before Iraq and Afghanistan. So did Bali, the first attack on the world trade centre and a test run of leaving explosive devices on a plane killing 1 person (the last two carried out by the same person may I add).
As for foreign policy, we are a democracy. If people are so bothered, VOTE!!! If they are not the majority, that is just tough. We will not be held to ransom, nor change our system for a bunch of Islamo-Fascists who would like to change our way of life. We have seen this in the recent demo's about the cartoons. And recently in a letter to the government basically threatening us that if we do not change our policy we will get more suicide bombers. Where do you stop Damo? Change foreign policy, then deny rights to women. Stonings for adultery, chopping the hands off theives?
Once you get one change through terror, you will get more demands and the heat will be turned up, rather than down. You may prefer we were not allies with the USA, but I do not, that would be their next demand. There is no end game in this form of terror, unlike what we had with the IRA, where also they would give us a bit of warning usually at least.
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Let me help you out a little here. If you were a terrorist, you would be a little put off by carrying out your attack if you knew that there was a red alert and it wont be as easy to slip through security as it previously was. It is basic terrorist training not to attack a country when it is angry or on top security. Best to attack when we slack off a bit.
As for Michael Moore, well he isnt the most reliable source of info. But at least he is a very rich man as a result.
If the majority of the public was so against the Iraq war, as you put it. Neither Blair or Bush would have been re-elected.
I agree with you about the tabloid press, but sadly they will get hold of the information if it is released to the media, which it needs to be to put off other planned attacks for the time being and buy our security services a little more time try stop other attacks.
As for attempting to get to the cause of the people wanting to harm us, that is all well and good. You forget, 911 happened before Iraq and Afghanistan. So did Bali, the first attack on the world trade centre and a test run of leaving explosive devices on a plane killing 1 person (the last two carried out by the same person may I add).
As for foreign policy, we are a democracy. If people are so bothered, VOTE!!! If they are not the majority, that is just tough. We will not be held to ransom, nor change our system for a bunch of Islamo-Fascists who would like to change our way of life. We have seen this in the recent demo's about the cartoons. And recently in a letter to the government basically threatening us that if we do not change our policy we will get more suicide bombers. Where do you stop Damo? Change foreign policy, then deny rights to women. Stonings for adultery, chopping the hands off theives?
Once you get one change through terror, you will get more demands and the heat will be turned up, rather than down. You may prefer we were not allies with the USA, but I do not, that would be their next demand. There is no end game in this form of terror, unlike what we had with the IRA, where also they would give us a bit of warning usually at least.
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