London 07/July/05

AD Polanski · Post by **AD Polanski** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:39 pm

Following on from the events of today, I would like to pass my condolences to the people in London affected today.

Having watched news all day whilst at work; I don't want to go in details. Visit the BBC website for more info...

Mike Mar · Post by **Mike Mar** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 8:50 pm

I pass my condolences as well.

COL Nexant · Post by **COL Nexant** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:39 am

there is truth in Blairs "We Will Prevail" ya'll held out against the Nazis for years with aerial raids and ya'll have remained tough with the IRA terrorists so what chance does a few "The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe" or whatever stupidity they want to call themselves stand against the United Kingdom? none, of course

RES Mitchell · Post by **RES Mitchell** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:45 am

My sincere condolences to all in London. Be assured that we'll be behind Britain throughout this tragedy.

LC La Forge · Post by **LC La Forge** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:11 am

Oh dear... my thoughts and prayers to all those in the London area.

CM Jamie · Post by **CM Jamie** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:18 am

Having been lucky enough to been spared by being on a later train, my thoughts go out to any of those who were not so lucky...

Laithlis · Post by **Laithlis** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:57 am

Just. Can't. Understand.

And, London has terrific shock value. Nearly everyone is bound to know someone visiting London at any given time

Post by **Vortagh** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:25 am

Allthough there have been quite a number of deaths and many many many wounded people, I have to say that I am thrilled to see how few people got seriously wounded, or worse, killed. I read that police, ambulance, firefighters and the likes trained hard for something like this and went on *very* professional, saving a great many.

Thinking how many people are on any train at any given time, I am very glad that this did not result in a massacre worse than Madrid, allthough I am still still in a state of surprise (shock isn't the right word for it), after hearing that we have something like that in Europe again.

What sickens me is that, at least here in Germany, certain politicians imedeately jump on the "we need more big brother stuff" band wagon, allthough it's prooven to not do anything good. Looking at the UK, I am pleasantly surprised that politicians handled it not only well, but very professional, sending clear messages to the terrorists involved, instead of spraying hate and FUD everywhere. Kudos.

But then again, after surviving our bombardments in the 1940ies - what could those bastards do to you, that would be worse?

My thoughts go to the families who have dead to mourn over.

RES Mitchell · Post by **RES Mitchell** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 11:58 am

I have also been very impressed with the Britons' handling of this tragedy. Without much false bravado, they have sent a clear message of unity and strength in dark times. Ditto to Vort's kudos.

Syrtaras · Post by **Syrtaras** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 6:43 am

Regarding the professionalism: That's because the Brits are cool.

However, in my own personal opinion, it was Very Stupid (tm) of them to join in for the Iraq War. If you want to avoid being shot at by someone, you do not shoot that someone's friends.

Also, let me pass on my condolences to the tens of thousands of people in Africa and other parts of the world, who have lost family members on the 7th of July who died of hunger or easily preventable diseases, because us rich countries spend more money on insane (and largely unsuccessful, it seems) "Anti Terror" stuff than on development aid.

God bless the Western world in its greatness, and may he further prevent us from realizing just why there are some people out there who do not like us.

AD Polanski · Post by **AD Polanski** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:32 pm

Syrtaras has a good point. I agree with him exactly about joining in with the Iraq war. I also don't think that the "War on terror" has overly achieved much, except for loss of life on everyone but the terrorist cells (in most cases). There are so many problems inside our own country, and indeed in other parts of the world that need to be fixed, that we don't need this excessive spending on military.

I think the greatest fear for me is that considering that they attacked in the financial sector of london, is that I work in the other financial sector, which has around 70000 workers each day there... I just hope that nothing happens, but why am I unsure in my hopes ?

Wedge · Post by **Wedge** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 7:43 pm

I've refrained from posting a response until now because I just haven't been able to find the words to properly articulate how I feel about the situation. Honestly, I can't imagine the sheer malice and cold heartedness it would take to attempt to kill innocent civilians. That a personâ€™s hatred could be so great that they would purposefully bring pain and suffering to a people they probably donâ€™t even understand is utterly repugnant to me. But given the current state of affairs Iâ€™m still trying to figure out if that inability to understand is due to naivety, or enlightenment.

My condolences to all those affected by this tragedy. I hope the perpetrators find comfort in their belief that they will be forgiven by their god for their acts, because as long as they live the lives that they have taken from others neither I nor the rest of the world will grant them the same favor.

RES Mitchell · Post by **RES Mitchell** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 9:51 pm

Well said, Captain. I have also waited to say too much about this, as I have had a hard time figuring out what to say. I too cannot really comprehend the evil that one must feel if he feels justified, if not honored, to kill innocents. At best, it is a problem of confusion, at worst, a problem of cowardice. If you have a beef with a government or society, you fight the people who are the cause of your beef, not innocent bystanders who have done nothing to slight you.

But these Islamists lack this courage, and rather than work to achieve lasting peace through diplomacy and understanding, they take the coward's path of winning hearts and minds by killing civilians who bear no culpability in the crimes that these terrorists feel have been committed against them. They help to bring about war, chaos and division through their cowardice and anger, dragging other nations like us into their petty power trips.

You could say that war is the path of cowards who choose conflict to mask their own internal problems. Playing to both sides, at the risk of making people like Syrt feel good, the West goes to war with terrorists to feel like it is making a difference in oppressed parts of the world, when it might be able to make a difference without violence by working to build up a stable Africa, and perhaps indirectly deal a blow to terrorism and build democracy there through sustainable development. This could even be cheaper than war, but we choose war, not because it is the answer, but rather a glamorous means of avoiding the question, and a more nationalistically appealing prospect than bloodless economic assistance.

But why do the terrorists choose war? What question are they avoiding through their war? Is it the threat of liberation of women and minorities to their misogynist egos? Is it as simple as an outright hatred of our culture? Our occasionaly exploitive policies? A general sense of xenophobia? It could be any of those problems and more that they are avoiding through war. None of these problems cannot be resolved through diplomacy and peaceful negotiation. Both sides could live in peace.

But we choose not to. For whatever reason, both sides in this war find solace, even honor, in our cowardice, and fear, even self-loathing, in the path of peace, the path of courage. I pray for peace, and I refuse to believe that it is not possible. I pray that justice will be served to the people who are responsible for this horrible tragedy, whatever that means. But most of all, I pray for the family and friends of those who have lost loved ones, and I hope they take comfort in the fact that their loved ones are in a better place now. May they rest in lasting peace...

Robert Lee · Post by **Robert Lee** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:36 am

this may sound a bit dumb, but i cant find the news about it, so i was wondering what happend, but thats just because my computer skills are rusty

LC La Forge · Post by **LC La Forge** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 4:16 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/ ... efault.stm

Here.