Joanna
James Heartfield wrote:
> 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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