7-7

Terrorist bombings have struck the public transportation system of the British capital. The London blasts have left at least eight dead and scores injured. I am finishing my day and watching the event unfold online. At first it was reported as a “power surge” that stopped and damaged trains. Shortly after, eyewitness reports of bloodied civilians fleeing the tube came in. Buses were also hit—shredded like tin cans. Traffic has stopped. The city has shut down.

Over the next few days we’re going to hear the same pathetic shits who came out from their holes on 9-11 to quasi-justify the attacks. Like when Michael Moore said shortly after 9-11 that the terrorists were dolts. . . because “there are no Bush voters in New York!” (As if Al Qaeda backed Democrats?) Thus far, the only blogger dare go down that road is this tool at the blog Olive Branch:

This is a sad day in history, and hopefully a day the stupid FUCKING G8 LEADERS WILL LEARN FROM. Some asshole has gone and attacked the London Public Transport system, unjustified attacks against civilian targets.

If you want to attack the G8, Go to Scotland and attack the G8. I understand how important the date to do this on is, today, and the idea they are trying to achieve. But that just does not excuse destroying public transport and killing civilians.

By now if it was in the USA, we would have the media buzzing with terrorist alerts, why haven’t we? Where are the media?

You tell ‘em, Tiger! If you want to protest the G8, go assasinate the leaders up in Scotland!

(I say “thus far.” I’m sure plenty will follow in his footsteps.)

For a terrorist, today’s timing couldn’t be better. Britain is riding high and everything was peachy until today, as noted by Tim Heywood:

G8 in Scotland. Olympic success yesterday. We really seem to have the focus on us at the moment. Certainly a good time for a terrorist group to get themselves noticed.

Exactly. Make no mistake: this was not a protest of the Iraq War, or an attack by opponents of Bush’s reluctance on global warming, or angry Frenchmen unhappy about the 2012 London Olympics, or righteous demonstrators demanding more aid for Africa. This was the criminal act of fanatics seeking to damage the soft underbelly of the globalized world as best they could. Jet planes are no longer an option, so they’ve gone to the ground: first train attacks in Madrid, and now subway and bus attacks in London. Carried out during rush hour, clearly they are trying to hurt as many people as possible with the limited means they have available. We are dealing with the lowest form of human existence. I implore you: take no prisoners.

More from the Olive Branch:

I hope the G8 learn something from this, I hope change comes now, before it is far far to late for them.

So we agree! Here’s my proposal for change that should come now: a Patriot Act for Europe. There is a very good reason that no attack on US soil has happened since 9/11. The same police search and seizure laws that have applied to suspected mafiosos for the past half century now apply to terrorists too. Is that so outrageous? Since the WTC attacks, America has been spared a second wave of terrorist attacks while Europe has become the target of choice. Extremist Islamic communities seeking to undermine the very free society that has taken them in are throwing their weight and not enough is being done to stop them. (The background to this story is beautifully outlined in this PBS Frontline documentary, which you can watch online.)

Iraq and the US war on terrorism are not irrelevant to the situation. To a certain degree they are connected—but only so far. Europe must tackle its growing extremist minority populations or face an emboldened and growing network of Islamo-fascists. Terrorist attacks in Europe are not something you can blame on America and wish away. I will repeat myself: We are dealing with the lowest form of human existence. Take no prisoners.

UPDATE: Younghusband, how does this fit into your Al Qaeda numerological attack strategy theorum?

UPDATE 2: Quote of the day, from Slate.

This has been an extraordinary 24 hours for London. Yesterday afternoon, the International Olympic Committee awarded London the 2012 Summer Games. I was in Trafalgar Square when the announcement came, and the place went crazy. There was shouting and hugging and dancing. It seemed somehow bizarre. It seemed very … un-English. But the reaction to today’s attacks feels incredibly English.