[lbo-talk] London bombings

James Heartfield Heartfield at blueyonder.co.uk
Thu Jul 7 23:15:38 PDT 2005


The difference between Spain and Britain has already been described. I would just add that the Spanish PM was extremely defensive, and was seen to attempt to shift the blame onto the Basque separatist group, ETA, at a time when public hysteria and suspicion were at their height, which meant that he became the target of popular distrust.

Maybe if the London bombing had taken place during the election campaign here the results would have been different. But it would be wrong to hope that the bombers would achieve the change in political direction that those of us opposed to the war have not.

The following statement was posted on LBO, and I intersperse commentary:

"In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, may peace be upon the cheerful one and undaunted fighter, Prophet Muhammad, God's peace be upon him."

Merciful and compassionate? Strange tribute to God to murder his creation.

"Nation of Islam and Arab nation: Rejoice for it is time to take revenge against the British Zionist Crusader government in retaliation for the massacres Britain is committing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The heroic mujahideen have carried out a blessed raid in London. Britain is now burning with fear, terror and panic in its northern, southern, eastern, and western quarters."

No doubt the Arab nation has more than enough legitimate grievances against Britain. But are these really its representatives? Wouldn't they attack popular movements in the Arab world, too? The mood in Britain is definitely nervous and disturbed, but not 'burning' with terror.

"We have repeatedly warned the British Government and people. We have fulfilled our promise and carried out our blessed military raid in Britain after our mujahideen exerted strenuous efforts over a long period of time to ensure the success of the raid."

Well, sorry, I must have missed that communique! But it is pointed that the authors elide the government and the people. Of course most British people were not supporters of the war, and a sizeable minority actively opposed it. We do not know who the dead are yet, but there is a good chance that some of them marched against the war in London.

"We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all the Crusader governments that they will be punished in the same way if they do not withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. He who warns is excused."

The desire to be excused expresses a justifiable lack of confidence in the use of terror. But others who bombed London, like the IRA, gave specific warnings before each bombing, ensuring that infrastructure not people were destroyed.

"God says: "You who believe: If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly.""

Believe or die, is that the message? Submission before God on pain of death? Some God, some worship.



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