This is now getting serious. The head of MI5 has said the scale of the terror threat in the UK will last “a generation”. Eliza Manningham-Buller said that the Security Service was dealing with up to 30 alleged “mass casualty” terror plots against British targets in the UK and abroad, according to BBC reports, with 200 terror cell networks under surveillance. Some of them involved plans for suicide attacks and some were being directed by al-Qaida. Ms Manningham-Buller said MI5 and the British police were tackling 200 groups or networks totalling more than 1,600 identified individuals in the UK who were “actively engaged in plotting or facilitating terrorist acts”.
This blog believes this is War, in the same way that the German 5th column acted before the two European theatre conflicts. It is also clear that those whose culture is not anglo-saxon and who do not embrace the English traditional values [the word was ‘English’], are potentially suspect. Also suspect are those anglo-saxons of a political hue, such as Red Ken and George Galloway, who do not embrace democracy as a concept. On the other hand, Blair and the whole arcane mob behind him are using this as the perfect pretext to curtail liberties for the non-suspect as well.
This blog is diametrically opposed to the attempted tying together, by people above with ulterior motives, of the two separate issues of alien cultures in the UK and the curtailing of ordinary citizens' freedoms.
Such people who are in a cultural frame which displays a proclivity towards terrorism are well known. Everyone knows of whom we speak. In the same way, over here - no matter how much I embrace Russian culture, I must still , by definition, be suspect and so it must also be in the UK and in the US with these people. The concept of internment and deportation is abhorrent and yet it must be considered. Considered seriously. On the other hand, the concept of ID cards and torture is anathema and must be resisted with everything in our power.
Of course we are waiting for the person to arise who will deal with all this. David Cameron? Ming? Arcane Hillary of the Phoenix? Condi? And of course this is no accident that there is a dearth of quality world leadership, just when it is needed most. Then, in will come the knight in shining armour and he or she will be the most suspect of them all. What can we, the people, do about it? Ah - that's the issue which would take a hundred posts or more.
This blog has its ideas and no doubt you do too.
Is that not Patricia Hewitt in a wig?
ReplyDeleteMr Eugenides, Good observation, an uncanny resemblance.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who or how this situation will be resolved, it depends very much on what happens if/when Saddam is executed, we just don't know what horrors await us.
Sprung! It is indeed Patsy in a wig. and to think I had you all fooled.
ReplyDeleteJames, we all want to believe that Mr Eugenides is right but that you are not. Let's say you are not in the grip of a classic conspiracy theory. Let's say you are right. What DO we do about it? You say there are hundreds of posts in it. I can't think of one.
ReplyDeleteOur democracy is screwed. The Opposition does not oppose. Civil liberties are being sacrificed to Daily Mail-ism - and the voters are eating it up. ID Cards? Sure. Subcutaneous RFID implants? If that's what it takes. Very few of us seem to understand the true nature of the threat - and we all seem to be talking to (or blogging at) each other.
If this is War, we are certainly not winning.
If (as is more likely) it's just the usual stupidity and incompetence coupled with the even more usual political cynicism, we are in more trouble, as there's not even the chance of an accidental revelation of the conspiracy.
Tom, you comment: You say there are hundreds of posts on it. I can't think of one. I actually said: … that's the issue which would take a hundred posts or more. And it would take that many; for a start, I have 72 documents which require collation. I haven’t come out and posted anything openly for five reasons. One is your veiled suggestion: “in the grip of a classic conspiracy theory.” It’s a fair comment, as I’ve only intimated things to date. The second is that, if one is not a conspiracy theorist and relies on research alone, it is, of course, sketchy and bitsy, taken out of context. The third reason not to post is your question: “Let's say you are right. What DO we do about it?” The answer is, “Zero. Zilch.” I could add a fourth reason and that is that it’s not going to convince anyone, even if it can be factually checked out. People have their own entrenched positions and aren’t interested. The final reason is: “What’s the point? What’s the point in trying to upset people for zero result?” And yet I feel, having mouthed off already in several posts, I should back that up and so I’m looking to Sunday to put together something printable, if I can.
ReplyDeleteI shall look forward to it. I don't think I was veiling anything, by the way! I am no oil painting, but a niqab - even a rhetorical one - wouldn't suit me.
ReplyDelete